Staff Report

Dr. Gilbert T. Vincent, president of The New York State Historical Association and The Farmers' Museum, has announced that he will be leaving his position in June after more than 20 years in various capacities at the two Cooperstown-based institutions.

Vincent said this week that he had come to the decision to step down late last year in order to move in a new direction in his career.

"Over the past decade we have expanded both institutions in dynamic and exciting ways, and with a very talented and forward-looking staff, I feel as though the institutions are now well-positioned to continue to achieve much greater recognition both nationally and internationally. In that respect, many of the goals of my administration have been accomplished and I see this as an opportune time to take up some of my other interests in writing and research of the arts, history and architecture that I have been unable to pursue fully while managing the day-to-day affairs of the museums." Vincent said.

"We all greatly appreciate the many contributions made by Dr. Vincent during his tenure at the Museum, and I know I speak for the staff and Directors of the Museum in saying that we are very saddened that he is leaving us," said Jane Forbes Clark,chairman of The Farmers' Museum. " We are grateful that he will serve in an advisory capacity going forward and wish him all the best with the other projects that he will be undertaking in the future."

Anne G. Older, chairman of The New York State Historical Association, said, "Dr. Vincent's leadership and vision on behalf of the association, its members, trustees and staff have shaped what our institution is today. He has been a singular figure in our growth and development. While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we are heartened by the fact that he will continue to maintain a productive interest in our programs and activities in the future."

Vincent will continue to play an active role in the search for a new president and the transition of leadership of the institutions. He has also agreed to serve as a consultant for the two institutions for the next year and will act as advisor on special projects and historical research.

"My long association with these first-rate institutions will doubtless continue in a variety of ways for many more years," Vincent said, "but the daily demands of the office of president would preclude me from undertaking a number of projects that I have put on hold for quite some time."

During Vincent's tenure, both The New York State Historical Association and The Farmers' Museum have grown from insulated regional institutions to nationally and internationally recognized institutions. In the early 1990s, Vincent oversaw the construction of the American Indian Wing at the Fenimore Art Museum and the installation of the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art. He wrote and published a number of scholarly articles and books on the subject, culminating in a complete catalogue of the collection in 1999.

He initiated a traveling exhibition program that brought important parts of the Fenimore collections to audiences in New York City, Santa Fe, Orlando and Palm Beach as well as Paris and Tokyo. Under his leadership, all the galleries at the museum were renovated with sophisticated environmental controls and a program of annual changing exhibitions was begun. Important additions were made to the art collection and the research library, including James Fenimore Cooper's original library, and both collections were automated to be made available throughout the world via the Internet.

Vincent oversaw the implementation of innovative public education programs, including a unique combination of the American Indian objects in the art collection with a living history experience in the 18th century Iroquois bark house and nearby 19th century log house at The Farmers' Museum. Collaborations with such organizations as Glimmerglass Opera, The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Schomberg Center at the New York Public Library and the Historical Society of Early American Culture have extended the reach of both institutions to new audiences.

He oversaw the founding in 1997 of The Otsego Institute, a scholarly organization that brings together the leading scholars of American Indian art with students in Ph.D. programs in North America and Europe.

The Farmers' Museum has seen a dramatic transformation with new layouts based on historic precedent for the village center, Lippitt Farmstead and the Seneca Log House, as well as the addition of a dozen newly re-erected historic structures, 100 more acres to the museum site and the inclusion of historic fencing, signage, lighting and heritage gardens.

The Louis Jones Center was created for public meetings, lectures and performances. The museum's traditional handcraft program was greatly enhanced with the introduction of hand-blocked wallpaper, the only such program of this historic and widely popular craft in North America. He also initiated a rare breeds program that brought historic and endangered breeds to the museum for greater authenticity and gene pool preservation. A similar program was initiated with historic grains.

"I have been privileged to have played an instrumental role in the revitalization of these superb institutions," said Dr. Vincent, "and I look forward to continuing to assist the museums in their growth and development during the months and years ahead."