Empire State Exploration: Mohawk Valley

Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar, a Canajoharie native and Siena College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, has worked for the Montgomery County Department of History & Archives in Fonda since 1996 and was appointed Montgomery County Historian/RMO in 2000. Her work includes the publication of two books in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series—Montgomery County and Amsterdam (co-authored with Scott G. Haefner). She also collaborated with Dr. Judith Wellman on Uncovering the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism, and African American Life in Montgomery County, New York 1820–1890, which examines the county’s role in this movement of social reform and explores the lives of African Americans in the region. More recently, the Montgomery County Department of History & Archives was featured on the NBC program Who Do You Think You Are? as part of actor Nick Offerman’s search for his Mohawk Valley ancestors.

In 2013, the New York State Archives and the Archives Partnership Trust honored the county with the William H. Kelly Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Local Government Archival Program Development, recognizing its leadership in creating a well-administered archival program. The New York Association of Local Government Records Officers (NYALGRO) presented Farquhar with its Robert Arnold Award for Distinguished Service in 2014 for her guidance and assistance to local officials in advancing records management programs. In 2019, the Capital Area Archivists of New York (CAA) awarded her the Sister Elaine Wheeler Award for Distinguished Service.

Farquhar and her husband, Bryan, have two daughters.

Samantha Hall-Saladino is the Executive Director of the Fulton County Historical Society and serves as the appointed historian for both Fulton County and the City of Gloversville. She has over a decade of experience in the museum field and has worked with organizations across the Capital Region and southern New Hampshire. Hall-Saladino is the President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Public Historians of NYS (APHNYS) and sits on the boards of the Museum Association of NY (MANY), the Glove Theatre, and the Memorial Hall Cultural and Arts Center (MHCAC). She’s a lifelong resident of the Mohawk Valley and currently lives in Gloversville with her husband, dog, and cat.

Jenny Rizzo Irwin is a Certified Genealogist® and Accredited Genealogist® specializing in United States research with a geographic focus on New York State, New York City, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Connecticut. Jenny is also an experienced forensic genealogist, specializing in kinship research for attorneys in probate, real estate, and mineral rights cases.

An active member of the community of professional genealogists, Jenny serves as a Trustee for the Board of Certification for Genealogists (BCG), Trustee for the Board of Certification for Genealogists (BCG) Education Fund, and editorial assistant for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. She is the past president of the New England chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).

Michelle Dowd Torosian is a professional genealogist and founder of Torosian Genealogy, LLC. Her extensive research experience and sharp analytical skills enable her to work with clients undertaking family history research as well as probate attorneys needing forensic genealogy expertise. A former CPA, Michelle is a certificate holder from Boston University’s Genealogical Research program and the ProGen Study Group. Michelle serves as president of the Westchester County Genealogical Society and Treasurer of the Westchester County Historical Society.