Irvington Historical Society

05/31/2026

PRESENTING: Spies and Lies: Double Agents in Treason’s Crosshairs

Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET

Our current exhibit - Treason of the Blackest Dye: The True Story of Arnold, André and Three Honest Militiamen - proves that Revolutionary War truth is more fascinating than fiction. This presentation will explore new research included in the exhibit about the hidden world of Hudson Valley espionage and Arnold’s treason. The paper found in André’s boot had huge consequences for the two double agents whose names were revealed to the British. Who were they? What happened to them? Join us to find out!

Char Weigel is the author and a curator of the Irvington Historical Society’s current exhibit. She is a board member of the Odell Rochambeau Museum, the Vice President of Special Projects for Revolutionary Westchester 250 and a researcher, author and presenter on Westchester’s Revolutionary War history.

Free Admission
Register below or via our website
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fxBOestyQO66QZCM5TKeAg #/registration

05/17/2026

Stop by the McVickar House 11-1:30PM Sunday to see the “Treason of the Blackest Dye” exhibition. 131 Main St, Irvington, NY.

04/26/2026

You can now watch Chris Barry’s presentation via our website www.irvingtonhistoricalsociety.org

Longtime Irvington High School social studies teacher Christopher Barry is giving a presentation this Sunday, April 19, at Main Street School, on finding familial connections to the Civil War. Supported by the Irvington Historical Society, the program was conceived after Barry uncovered details about one of his own ancestor’s involvement in that conflict.

Read more on our website with the link in our bio.

04/17/2026

Researching Your Civil War Ancestor:
What Studying My Great-Great Grandfather Timothy Carroll Taught Me Special Talk with IHS’s own Chris Barry

April 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET, Main Street School

AND….BONUS for this Sunday, April 19th

*Special Hours for our current exhibit, Treason of the Blackest Dye

Come Visit Us at McVickar from 11:00 and 1:30 before the presentation at Main Street School (we’re right up the street!)

03/25/2026

Researching Your Civil War Ancestor:
What Studying My Great-Great Grandfather
Timothy Carroll Taught Me
Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET

This presentation will help one learn how to do historical research on a family member who fought in the Civil War. It will describe the historical resources at both the National Archives and more local archives that can help one find genealogical information about family members and their time fighting in the war. The presentation will also discuss Christopher Barry's own research and how it resulted in a book about his relative's Civil War regiment.
Christopher Barry has been a high school history teacher for the past 37 years, and for the past two decades has taught Advanced Placement United States History and American Civil War history at Irvington High School, where he currently serves as Department Chair. He graduated with a B.A. from Hamilton College and has an M.A. in Social Studies from Wesleyan University. His interest in the 65th New York Volunteer Infantry began when he researched his great-great grandfather's role in the regiment. “No Flinching From Fire: The Sixty Fifth New York Volunteers in the Civil War” is his first book.

Admission is free
No Registration Required

03/07/2026

Irvington Historical Society Presents —
“Incomprehensible Friends and Rebellious Enemies: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War”

Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET

Between 1776 and 1783, Great Britain hired more than thirty thousand German soldiers to fight
in its war against the American rebels. Collectively known as Hessians, the soldiers and
accompanying civilians, including hundreds of women and children, spent time in locations from Canada to West Florida. Drawing on extensive research in German-authored records, this presentation explores the experiences of these individuals, with particular attention given to those in the New York region.

Dr. Friederike Baer is Professor of History at Pennsylvania State University Abington College.
Her publications include Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War, which won the Society of the Cincinnati Prize and the American Roundtable of Philadelphia Annual Book Award. She also served as a historical advisor for The American Revolution, a
documentary film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.

Admission is free
Online meeting by Zoom Webinar pre-registration is required.

To register visit
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yQi2fCbbQwivG9UD-Auw_w

02/28/2026

Exhibit open from 1-4PM today, Saturday. Visit the McVickar House at 131 Main St to see the “Treason of the Blackest Dye” exhibit. The photo features Char Weigel and Marion Osmun two of the key organizers.

The McVickar House open every Thursday and Saturday from 1 to 4 PM.

02/22/2026

Read coverage of our new exhibit

The exhibit explores local revolutionary war history as part of the U.S. 250th Commemoration, and details Benedict Arnold’s betrayal and the capture of Major André.

02/22/2026

Scenes from an exhibit opening

02/16/2026

This February marks the 100th anniversary of what we now celebrate as Black History Month. WNYC’s Brian Lehrer show featured a highly informative conversation about its roots with Prof Karsonya Wise Whitehead of Loyola University Maryland. Have a listen to the podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brian-lehrer-show/id73331636?i=1000750010864