QUEENSBURY, NY (NEWS10) – What’s the best way to connect people with the local history that surrounds them? One is through museum exhibits, with well-researched exhibits and artifacts from bygone eras. Another is through re-enactments, using period-appropriate clothing and an understanding of how a major battle unfolded.
A third way is in the pages of a book. A local history organization is taking this method on board, one paperback spine at a time.
The Warren County Historical Society announced the creation of a new publishing arm, Warren History Press, as a new way to bring rich regional history – including the Battle of Lake George, past presidents and the birth of the American industry – to more people, through more works. At its inception, the press is already in conversation with its first couple of authors – and has been led by someone who is himself no stranger to the world of writing in his region of origin.
“I’ve written 11 books on Troy and I could probably do 11 more,” said Don Rittner, the company’s executive director and author of more than 50 books, including 30 on the history of the capital region and from the north of the country. “I don’t think people realize that the greater Capital District area is where American history began.”
Upstate New York’s slice of American history has many roots. Lake George carries stories of the Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War, remembered today through the Four Unknown Soldiers Memorial and the Fort William Henry Legacy.
This is just the beginning. South of Warren County, Albany was one of the first cities founded by American settlers. Glens Falls has a long history of logging, using the Hudson River to transport goods.
Rittner’s 30 history books are joined by three encyclopedias and a book on how to use the internet for social causes in the early days of the online world. He’s also not the only Warren County Historical Society author. The publishing arm is made up of him and two other people, requiring no new hires, and nothing but the experience and relationships Rittner has built since college.
So far, the company has been in conversation with the author of a book about Susan B. Anthony, whose childhood home is still in the town of Greenwich, Washington County. Another is a columnist for Ian Fleming, the author of the original “James Bond” novels, one of which has a connection to Lake George.
At the heart of the project is a desire to amplify local history through writing. The publishing world is tough, especially for writers exploring stories on a local scale.
“National publishers don’t want to look at this kind of thing,” Rittner said. “It won’t make any money. We would like the author and us to make money, but more than that, we have a great story – and one of the easiest ways for us to publish that story is in book form.
Despite the breadth of his work, there are many topics that Rittner feels have not been as focused as he would like. He would like to see and publish books about the area’s Native American prehistory, the suffering movement, and the history of African American life and slavery throughout the North Country. His hope is to see the publishing branch release three or four books a year.
Editing is hard, but getting these books into your hands is the easy part. Books published by Warren History Press will be on sale in the historical society, but also through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets, with a focus on social media marketing.
Those interested in working with the press, who have a book idea or an area already in progress, can contact Rittner at execdir@wcnyhs.org, or the company’s president, Dr. Stan Cianfarano at publications@wcnyhs.org. The company can also be reached by telephone at (518) 743-0734.