Conference to explore women’s lives during L.I.’s British occupation

During the American Revolution, Long Island remained under British occupation for more than seven years—longer than anywhere else in the country.

On Friday, March 20, the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library will host a conference exploring how women across the island endured and navigated that extraordinary period in history.

The conference, “Women and the American Revolution on Long Island,” will take place Friday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley.

Long Island played a pivotal role during the Revolutionary War. After the Battle of Long Island in 1776, the region remained under British occupation for more than seven years—longer than anywhere else in the country. During that time, many women were forced to house British officers, saw farms and food supplies confiscated, and struggled to maintain their households amid the uncertainties of wartime.

“Libraries are places where communities can explore history from new perspectives,” said Lonna Castro, director of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library. “This conference highlights stories that are often overlooked in traditional accounts of the American Revolution and brings attention to the experiences of women who endured extraordinary challenges during that time.”

The conference will feature four historians and researchers whose work examines different aspects of women’s lives during the Revolutionary era, from the impact of British occupation on Long Island households to the experiences of enslaved women, Quaker pacifism, and the daily realities faced by women who supported military camps during the war.

“We are proud to host a program that contributes to the region’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary while also honoring Women’s History Month,” said Joseph Maiorana, president of the Library’s Board of Trustees. “Programs like this help connect our community with the rich and complex history of Long Island.”

Featured presentations: Natalie A. Naylor will present “Surviving the Ordeal: Long Island Women During the Revolutionary Era.” Naylor is a retired professor of history at Hofstra University and one of Long Island’s foremost historians. She is editor of Nassau County Historical Society Journal and author of “Women in Long Island’s Past,” along with numerous articles and presentations on regional history. Dr. Naylor has written on Long Island’s Revolutionary era and is widely recognized for bringing women’s experiences into the historical narrative.

Melanie Cardone-Leathers will present “Bearing the Nation: Enslaved Women, Labor, and the Creation of the United States.” A certified archivist, she is head of the Thomas R. Bayles Local History Room at Longwood Public Library, where she has worked since 2007. She holds a Master of Library Science from CUNY Queens College and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from SUNY Empire.

Karly Hoenzsch will present “Pacifism is Not Neutrality: Quaker Women and the ‘Answer of Peace’ during America’s Founding.” She is director of Library Program and Information Resources at Friends Academy in Locust Valley and manages the Friends Academy archives, which contain more than 300 years of historical records documenting Quaker life on Long Island. Hoenzsch holds a Master of Library and Information Science from Queens College and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Seton Hall University.

Diane Schwindt will present “Unspoken: Lice, Lard, and Lust, or, the 18th-Century Woman’s Battle Against the Odds.” A culinary and cultural historian and founder of Stirring Up History,

Schwindt has spent more than two decades researching early American foodways and domestic life.

Trained under historic cooking expert Alice Ross, she leads educational programs and immersive historic cooking demonstrations exploring the daily lives of women in the 18th century.

Several of the presenters have conducted extensive research in Long Island’s local archives and historical collections, bringing new attention to stories rooted in communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include a continental breakfast, refreshments during the program, and a networking and dessert reception beginning at 1:30 p.m.

During the program’s 1:30 p.m. networking break, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy desserts based on authentic 18th-century recipes, including ice cream and cake attributed to Martha Washington, offering a taste of the era explored in the conference presentations.

The event is free and open to the general public, though registration is required.

To register or learn more about the program, visit: www.tinyurl.com/MMSCL250.

The conference is one of many events taking place across the region as part of Long Island’s participation in the nationwide America 250 commemoration. Additional information about Long Island’s 250th anniversary programming can be found at www.suffolk250.org.