Cordell Reaves
Cordell Reaves serves as a Historic Preservation Program Analyst with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, developing educational programming and events that enable sites to tell complete and inclusive stories. He has a MA degree from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in Museum Studies and a background in African American History with over 20 years of experience working with historic sites and museums. His research interests cover a broad swath of New York State history: from early Dutch settlement in New York, colonial slavery, the Underground Railroad, anti-slavery movement and the Great Migration. He has also spoken extensively on the relationship between tourism and historic sites and has worked with tourism professionals to share NYS history with a broader audience.
Cordell Reaves currently sits on the advisory board for the Historic House Trust of New York City and the Albany Cultural Heritage Advisory Team. In 2017 Cordell was the recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion award from the State University of NY at Oneonta. Cordell was also recently awarded the Herbert H. Lehman Prize for Distinguished Service in New York history from The New York Academy of History and the Huttleston Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Cordell now resides in Troy NY.
Radio Shows featuring Cordell Reaves
The Importance of Expanding America’s Hidden Historical Narratives
Expanding America’s historical narrative to include enslaved and Indigenous people and their contributions to the country.
United States Insights History