Many CBH Talks were recorded. To view, visit the Center for Brooklyn History Talks YouTube channel at bklynlib.org/CBH-Talks.
Past Events
The Salon at CBH, Curated by Nikole Hannah-Jones
We’re thrilled by the overwhelming response to the Salon. Please understand that we expect a full house. If we reach capacity our staff will admit as space becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure a great experience for all.
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CBH Workshop | Exploring the Archives with Historian Prithi Kanakamedala
How do historians approach the vitally important work of conducting research in an archive? Where do they start? What is the process? And for those researching under-documented peoples and topics, how do they solve for the silences in the archives?
Join historian…
NYCHD 2025: Crafting an Argument
In this virtual workshop we will learn about how to turn our research into a historical argument. We will discuss what a thesis statement is and how to write our own. Come ready with a topic and questions the NYCHD Coordinator!
Open to all NYC teachers and students. Teachers will be…
CBH Talk | Mourning and Adorning: Woven Hair Jewelry and Victorian Mourning Traditions
Mourning jewelry – jewelry created to remember deceased loved ones – dates back to the Middle Ages, but its popularity in Western Europe reached a peak with Queen Victoria whose mourning customs following Prince Albert’s death were imitated throughout Britain and beyond. In addition…
CBH Talk | Uncrusted! A David and Goliath Story of Patents, Pizza, and the Invention of Stuffed Crusts
What better way to pay tribute to October's Pizza Month than by spending an evening with Anthony “The Big Cheese” Mongiello, whose David and Goliath fight with Pizza Hut over who owns the idea for Stuffed Crust Pizza played out three decades ago, and continues to be an…
CBH Talk | Indigenous Languages at the Brink
The violent history of erasing First Nations language and culture, and decades of assimilation, threaten to end once and for all the rich linguistic heritage of Native Americans. Language is critical to keeping Indigenous cultural heritage alive. Language is inseparable from cultural…
NYCHD 2025: Beginning your Research
In this virtual workshop we will learn about the stages of research and how to find sources for your History Day Project. We'll discuss the many kinds of questions researchers ask and the many places they look for answers. Come ready with a topic and questions the NYCHD Coordinator!
Open…
Fall Educator Open House
The Center for Brooklyn History invites teachers and educators to our Fall Educator Open House! Unwind from your Wednesday with drinks and snacks while learning about the many ways that CBH can support you and your students throughout the year in our beautiful, landmarked building in Brooklyn…
CBH Talk | The Meaning of Everyday Places
Much of the work of being human happens in everyday places.~ Dr. Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani
Sometimes the places we take most for granted are the heart and soul of our communities. For two decades Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani has studied the…
CBH Talk | The Remarkable Story of Brooklyn’s Nineteenth Century Free Black Communities
The widely held belief that New York was one of the first states to abolish slavery is a myth. In fact, New York was almost the last Northern state to put slavery to an end. Brooklynites, with their farming economy, were especially vested in the perpetuation of enslaved labor. That…
NYCHD 2025: Choosing a Topic
In this virtual workshop we will consider how to choose a topic for this year's History Day theme, "Rights and Responsibilities in History." Come ready with ideas and questions the NYCHD Coordinator!
Open to all NYC teachers and students. Teachers will be eligible for 1 CTLE credit. This…
CBH Talk | “Excited Delirium: Race, Police Violence, and the Invention of a Disease” with Aisha Beliso-De Jesús and Elizabeth Hinton
“Excited delirium syndrome” is a controversial medical diagnosis often used in cases of police encounters that end in sudden death, especially those involving Black and Brown people. It was famously used by Derek Chauvin’s legal defense team to justify his killing of George Floyd.…
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