Edward “Eddie” Moran III is the county’s new official historian, Acting County Clerk Taylor Bruck announced Tuesday.

Moran, a lifelong Wallkill Valley resident, is tour and interpretation manager for Historic Huguenot Street, which he joined in 2017. He is a 2020 graduate of SUNY New Paltz, holding a bachelor's degree in history, and a descendant of the region’s Huguenot and Dutch colonists.

“During my time at Historic Huguenot Street, I was fortunate to carry forward a legacy of research and public programming on each of the diverse cultural groups who called New Paltz home,” Moran said in a press release. “These include Esopus Native Americans, enslaved and free African-Americans, and European colonists. Our county is awash with historical resources testifying to the experiences of these groups and others.”

Moran said he wants to work on bringing forward the history of Ulster’s enslaved African and indigenous residents. “[The] attention and infrastructure of the history community was for too long dedicated almost exclusively to the stories, experiences, and possessions of European residents and their descendants. I'm proud to facilitate bringing forth the stories of enslaved and marginalized residents whose impact on our county was previously overlooked, and to facilitate programs in venues where residents may confront that history with thoughtfulness and context.”

Along those lines, Moran said his current research projects include: documenting references to enslaved Africans and Native Americans in the mid-18th century account book of Louis Bevier Jr. of Marbletown; the experiences of two enslaved Africans named Anthony and Susanna in 17th century New York; and the story of Jack and Betty, first enslaved Africans to have been recorded in New Paltz.”

“The role of county historian has existed as an unfunded mandate in New York State law since 1919,” Bruck said in a press release. “With the passage of Ulster County Proposition 2 in November of 2024, the responsibility for appointing and supervising the county historian has become the purview of the county clerk.”

Bruck said Moran will be a welcome addition to the county clerk’s office and play a key role in bringing more of Ulster’s history to more of its people.

“Our office, as keepers of a large portion of the most historic records of the county, has often shouldered the burden of interpreting that history for the public,” Bruck said. “Having Mr. Moran as part of our team ensures that we can continue the vital work of preserving these records while giving more attention and scrutiny to the stories these records represent.”

Moran, who goes by Eddie, can be reached via email at countyhistorian@co.ulster.ny.us or reached via phone at the Ulster County Records Center at 845-340-3415.