Women’s History Month: Women, Immigrants, and the Working-Class Battle in Little Falls, NY

J.N. Cheney is an independent historian focusing on the labor movement, radical politics, and community action in the Mohawk Valley. He is the author of Women, Immigrants, and the Working-Class Battle in Little Falls, New York: The Textile Strike of 1912-1913.

Jennifer Lemak is the chief curator of history at the New York State Museum. Prior to this appointment, she served there as senior historian/curator of social history. Major exhibition and publication projects include Revolutionary New York (2026), Votes for Women: Celebrating New York’s Suffrage Centennial (2017) and An Irrepressible Conflict: The Empire State in the Civil War (2012). Lemak is the author of Southern Life, Northern City: The History of Albany’s Rapp Road (SUNY Press, 2008), and several articles on the Great Migration to Upstate New York.     

Lemak serves the history field as a member of the New York State Preservation Board and as co-editor of the New York History journal. She earned her MA in Public History and PhD in American History, both from the University at Albany. She is also a fellow of the New York Academy of Historians.

Thomas J. Ruller recently retired from his position as New York State Archivist, a role he held since 2015. An active professional for 35 years, he is the author of several peer-reviewed journal articles and reviews on the use of technology in Archives and the preservation of records in electronic form. Tom has been a consultant for several State governments and other organizations focusing on electronic records management and preservation. He remains actively engaged as a Board Member and Steward of the Archives Partnership Trust.