NEWSLETTER
Poughkeepsie, NY—Three days of peace and music were actually almost a decade in the making. This summer, Marist College will hold a conference, “1969: When Woodstock Changed the World,” examining the events that led to the iconic music festival. Marist’s conference, which will be held June 13-14, 2019, is the definitive—and perhaps only—academic conference on this key anniversary. All events are open to the public (registration required; see below for details).
“With the site of Woodstock essentially in our backyard, it is fitting for Marist to take the helm on an event like this,” said President David Yellen. “This conference curates key historical milestones to fully examine the circumstances that culminated in the unprecedented three-day concert that was the Woodstock Music Festival.”
The Hudson River Valley Institute (HRVI) at Marist focuses on studying and interpreting the history and culture of the Hudson River Valley, is the lead organizer within the College. Working in collaboration with The Museum at Bethel Woods, site of the original event, and the New York State Museum, Office of State History, HRVI has organized a multi-day event that explores the social history of the transformative decade leading up to the Woodstock festival.
“Looking at this historic event through the lens of social movements has allowed us to construct panels that explore the impact of that transformative decade, the 1960s, and its most memorable event, the Woodstock Music Festival,” noted Dr. Thomas Wermuth, Director of HRVI and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
A Series of Events with Wide Appeal
Careful effort was made to construct a conference that will appeal to a broad audience.
“This is not strictly a scholarly endeavor,” said Dr. James M. Johnson, Executive Director of HRVI. “The events planned do offer something for everyone: those who attended Woodstock, those who want to learn more about the 1960s, and anyone with an interest in the social movements of that time and how they impact life and politics today.”
The conference will feature a series of events that explore the social history of the tumultuous decade leading up to the Woodstock festival.
Key events will include:
- - A by-registration only field trip to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, including a visit to The Museum.
- - Panel discussions on: music in the ‘60s; social movements, including civil rights and black power, communal living, feminism, and the Vietnam War and peace movements.
- - Keynote lectures by CNN Presidential Historian Dr. Douglas Brinkley of Rice University, author of the forthcoming book, American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race, and ‘60s historian Dr. David Farber, University of Kansas.
- - A Woodstock festival panel discussion moderated by Wade Lawrence, Museum Director at Bethel Woods, featuring music and a brief film screening.
All events are open to the public, but pre-registration is required. A full schedule of events and registration information can be found here.
Festivities Planned at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to tour the historic site and visit The Museum, featuring the 2019 Special Exhibit “We Are Golden—Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival and Aspirations for a Peaceful Future.” This exhibit examines the festival and what the youth of 1969 wanted for the world, while placing it in the context of the positive societal impacts that followed, and seeks to provide inspiration for today’s youth, while asking what they want their legacy to be.
Registration
To register for events at Marist’s conference, please click here. Capacity for the Bethel Woods field trip on June 13 is very limited; early registration is encouraged. The field trip cost is $30.
About the Hudson River Valley Institute (HRVI)
The Hudson River Valley Institute is a Center of Excellence at Marist College that studies and promotes the history of the Hudson River Valley. The Institute provides information about the region’s culture, economy, environment, and educational resources through https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=b4fd0c3a-e8deebe1-b4fff50f-0cc47aa8c6e0-a346a97f6ff05260&u=http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/, public programming, and The Hudson River Valley Review, a biannual peer-reviewed journal covers all aspects of regional history. HRVI is supported by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
About Marist
Located on the banks of the historic Hudson River, in midtown Manhattan, and at its Florence, Italy campus, Marist College is a comprehensive, independent institution grounded in the liberal arts. Its mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global community of the 21st century.” Marist is consistently recognized for excellence by The Princeton Review (Colleges That Create Futures and The Best 384 Colleges), U.S. News & World Report (8th Best Regional University/North, 2nd Most Innovative School/North), Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (“Best College Values”), and others. The College is top-ranked for long-term study abroad (#7 in the U.S.) by the U.S. State Department’s Open Doors report. Marist educates more than 5,000 traditional-age undergraduate students and 1,400 adult and graduate students in 47 undergraduate majors and numerous graduate programs, including fully online MBA, MPA, MS, and MA degrees. Pending accreditation approval, the College plans to open the Marist Health Quest School of Medicine in 2022. www.marist.edu
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