On April 28, 2022, Dr. Dennis J. Maika, Senior Historian at the New Netherland Institute, gave a virtual talk as part of the History Room‘s Local History Lectures in collaboration with the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History. Click here for the 95-minute on-line presentation.

(Above) Hudson Area Library History Room Coordinator Brenda Shufelt welcomed viewers to meet Dr. Dennis J. Maika who gave the on-line presentation on May 18, 2022.

This talk addressed the institution of slavery as practiced by the Dutch colonists in New Netherland, near what is now New York City, and looked at historical documents to glean information about the lives, experiences, and acts of resistance of the enslaved people in the Dutch colony.

Dr. Maika describes the extensive slave trade that began in the 16th century and involved Dutch traders during the 17th century.

By the latter half of the 17th century, Dutch slave trading of African people was carried out by the West Indian Company from Curacao. (Above, right) Documents showing sales of enslaved persons from Africa are included in his presentation.