Oneida County History Center will host a special presentation, Rough Notes, How Scribbles Charted the Erie Canal, by esteemed historian Craig Williams on September 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Williams will delve into the significance of the early canal survey books, a pivotal document utilized by Benjamin Wright in 1817 during the early stages of the construction of New York’s iconic waterway. Rare survey books owned by the History Center will be displayed for this program.

The Erie Canal, which ran 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo, was a monumental feat of engineering that profoundly reshaped the economic and social landscape of the United States. Williams’ presentation will explore the contents of this groundbreaking survey book, shedding light on the initial planning and technical challenges faced by engineers in the early 19th century.

“These early Erie Canal survey books are a window into a pivotal moment in American history, offering crucial insights into the vision and hard work that went into creating the nation’s first major artificial waterway,” says History Center Executive Director Rebecca McLain. “Craig Williams is uniquely qualified to bring this essential piece of New York’s past to life, revealing the fundamental steps that set the stage for a monumental project that transformed New York into an economic powerhouse.”

Craig Williams is a retired senior historian at the New York State Museum and a trustee of the Canal Society of New York State. He has spent over 50 years researching and documenting New York’s canal heritage.