New York State Archives Partnership Trust Announces Launch of Education Forward Endowment Fund with Historic Gift from the Rutledge Family Foundation

The New York State Archives Partnership Trust today announced the creation of the Education Forward Endowment Fund, established through a $500,000 grant from the Rutledge Family Foundation. The largest single contribution in the Trust's history, the grant will help support long-term sustainability and growth of the Trust's educational programs, furthering its mission to increase access to primary source materials for educators and students of all ages. The endowment will support integrated resources for educators focused on the analysis of primary sources and the development of critical thinking skills.

New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, "The creation of the Education Forward Endowment Fund represents a powerful investment in the future of teaching and learning in New York. We are deeply grateful to the Rutledge Family Foundation for this historic $500,000 gift, which will ensure long-term support for expanding access to primary source materials and strengthening critical thinking skills for students and educators statewide. This endowment advances our shared commitment to educational excellence, equity, and opportunity for all."

Stephen Pagano, Chair of the New York State Archives Partnership Trust Board, said, "The Trust's Board is profoundly grateful to Tom and Karen Rutledge for this historic investment in New York's students. This gift is a testament to the Trust's commitment to meet educators where they are and to work with them to provide the tools and resources they need to incorporate primary sources into the classroom so they can educate the informed citizens of tomorrow. We are committed to ensuring our educational programs remain a permanent and accessible resource for classrooms across the Empire State."

Janet Braga, Director of the Archives Partnership Trust, said, "The Rutledge family's transformative gift redefines what is possible for history education in New York. Together with our statewide partners, including historical organizations, libraries, local governments, and cultural institutions, the Fund will help ensure the state's rich and diverse documentary history is available to educators and students through Trust programs designed to evolve, inform, and inspire their connection to our shared past for generations to come.

Tom Rutledge said, "Having supported the New York State Archives Partnership Trust for many years, we have seen firsthand the incredible quality and reach of their statewide education programs. We want to help expand the Trust's unique ability to help local historical organizations across the state unlock their own records and share those hidden stories with teachers and students everywhere. By helping to establish the Education Forward Endowment Fund, we want to ensure that our shared past is brought directly into the classroom to inform and inspire a new generation who will write their own stories."

The Trust's current educational programs include:

• ConsidertheSourceNY.org, a premier online resource providing educators with primary sources from over 300 historical and community organizations and local governments, inquiry-based activities, and professional learning services that help connect students with local resources.
• New York Archives Magazine, a quarterly education magazine designed for a general audience, offering engaging stories and photographic essays on history found in local and state records. For younger readers, New York Archives JR! featuring Archie the Jr! Archivist was created in Fall 2023 and is used in over 490 school districts across 61 counties. The Jr! magazine is free for educators, offered in print and digital formats, and features supplemental resources on ConsidertheSourceNY.org.
• In its 36th year, the Student Research Awards Program helps students build research skills and encourages them to explore the wealth of historical records held in repositories across New York State. The program also serves to increase cooperation between schools and organizations that administer historical records useful for education.
• Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program supports advanced research on New York State history, government, or public policy in the New York State Archives. The program serves university and college faculty, graduate students, historians, educators, and researchers.

More details about the New York State Archives Partnership Trust can be found on its website.

About the New York State Archives Partnership Trust

The Archives Partnership Trust, a 501(c)3 organization, works to advance New York State History by making the voices within over 350 years of colonial and state government records in the State Archives accessible, relevant, and heard. Education, preservation, and outreach programs unite scholars, students, and the interested public in the discovery, interpretation, and promotion of our shared history. Programs created and supported by the Trust include: ConsidertheSourceNY.org; Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program; Student Research Awards; countless preservation projects to help stabilize and rehabilitate fragile records; and outreach programs such as New York Archives Magazine, the Empire State Archives and History Award, and other public education programs. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely updates.