Research


Detailed Description

Subseries 1: Video Recordings

Dates:
1972-1981
Physical Description:
36 video recordings

Scope and Content Note:

This subseries contains video recordings of speeches, television appearances, and news footage featuring Gordon M. Ambach. Some of the videos were created when Ambach was Deputy Commissioner of Education under Ewald B. Nyquist. These include speeches delivered via videotape to meetings of education organizations in New York, meant to show the benefits of videotape for educational communications and instruction. Also in the subseries are a number of television programs and portions of television programs intended for broadcast on New York public television stations, and for distribution via videotape through the communications networks of school districts and BOCES. These include appearances by Commissioner Ambach in videos on the Degrees of Reading Power test (regarding reading comprehension), the selection of district superintendents, school breakfast programs, and the importance of instructional television. The subseries also contains segments and interviews from Albany-area television news programs, including those reporting on Ambach's appointment to the post of Commissioner of Education, and on a 1980 scandal involving the illegal sale of questions from that year's Regents examinations. In addition, there are television programs in which in-studio and telephone audiences ask Commissioner Ambach questions about educational issues and NYSED policies. Also included are public service announcements for American Education Week, in which Commissioner Ambach encourages parents to visit their children's schools, and for the Parent Reading Partners program, which advise parents to read to their children for at least 15 minutes a day.

Arrangement:

Chronologically

  

Dates Contents Reel

Accretion: B0563-05
1972 November 9 Keynote address delivered via videotape at annual meeting of New York State Educational Communications Association, Grossinger's Hotel, Liberty 1
1974 October 7 Address delivered via videotape at meeting of New York State Council of School Administrators 1
1976 May 3 Address at Inauguration of Chautauqua County BOCES Translator System 1
1976 October Introduction to GERIS (Graphics Expression Reading Improvement System) Mobile Studio 1
1977 May 27 News broadcasts from Channels 6, 10, and 13 in Albany covering the selection of Gordon Ambach as New York State Commissioner of Education 2
1977 May 29 Interview with Nick Lawler of WTVH-TV Syracuse. 2
1977 September Introductory segment to television program, "ITV and You and Us Too", on importance of instructional television. 2
1978 April Introduction to closed-circuit television program intended to raise awareness and support of bilingual education 2
1979 January 9 Closed circuit television program, "Investing in Success", featuring Comm. Ambach with Louis Rukeyser and Dr. Robert King from NYSED, intended to publicize U.S. Office of Education's National Diffusion Network 2
1979 April 11 Two public service announcements for Parent Reading Partners program 2
1979 May 19 Address delivered via videotape to Tri-State Media Conference, Binghamton 2
1979 June 29 Still images from party given by NYSED staff to commemorate Gordon Ambach's second anniversary as Commissioner of Education 2
1979 July 24 Videotaped orientation for teachers to Degrees of Reading Power test 2
1979 October Introduction to "What Can Johnny Read?", a television program broadcast on public television and closed-circuit TV, designed to introduce public to Degrees of Reading Power test. 2
1979 October 2 Television program, "Call Gordon Ambach", broadcast on WMHT Schenectady, featuring questions phoned in from viewers and answered by Comm. Ambach. 2
1979 November Public service announcements for American Education Week, encouraging parents to visit schools. Taped at Albany High School. 2
1979 December 31 Short clip from Comm. Ambach's inauguration, from WTEN Albany television program, "10 Years of 10", a retrospective of news stories that occured during the 1970s. 2
1980 April 11 Instructional video for BOCES members on selection process and roles of district superintendents 2
1980 May 10 Videotaped message shown at retirement dinner for Phil Loguidice, district superintendent for Chautauqua County 2
1979 October 2 Live phone-in program broadcast statewide from WMHT, in which viewers around the state ask Commissioner Ambach questions on a wide range of issues 3

Accretion: B0563-98
1980 May 27 News segment from WRGB TV, Schenectady, on press conference with Comm. Ambach and others, addressing streamlined methods for discipline in licensed professions 1.01
1980 June 17 Television news segments from WTEN Albany and WRGB Schenectady on illegal sale of questions from Regents' examinations 1.01
1980 September 24 Address and presentation of awards at Regents External Degree Program commencement 1.01
1980 October 15 Televised roundtable discussion between Ambach and members of Commissioner's Advisory Council on Interfaith Education 1.01
1980 November Public service announcements for American Education Week, featuring Comm. Ambach and Buffalo Bills QB Joe Ferguson 1.01
1980 November Television program on Albany cable channel 16, featuring Comm. Ambach and Rabbi Martin Silverman from Interfaith Education Advisory Council, discussing council's paper affirming importance of public education 1.01
1981 February 10 Interview with Comm. Ambach during evening news broadcast of WRGB Schenectady, concerning proposed cuts in state education funding 1.02
1981 February 17 Interview of Ambach by student from Herkimer County BOCES at Instructional Technology Fair, on importance of computers in education 1.02
1981 May 26 Segment of program, "A Good Start for Learning", about the importance of school breakfast programs for improving student behavior and performance 1.02
1981 May 27 Address at conference in Albany on occupational and practical arts education 1.02
1981 July 5 Interview of Comm. Ambach for television program, "Face to Face", on WTEN Albany 1.02
1981 September Segment from videotaped program, "From Assessment to Improvement", sent to BOCES communications centers, explaining statewide occupatioanl education evaluation system 1.02
1981 September Televised editorial by WPIX-TV New York City, praising Board of Regents and Comm. Ambach for requiring high schools to maintain 90% graduation rate 1.02
1981 October Introduction to televised in-service training program stressing importance of language development in the classroom to improve reading 1.02
1981 October 17 Television program, "The 21 Report", on WXXI Rochester, featuring Comm. Ambach answering questions from audience of educators, parents and students 1.03
1981 November Public service announcements for American Education Week, publicizing achievements of New York students on standardized tests and educational competitions 1.03
1981 December 15 Television program, "Catholic Schools in New York State", distributed to public television stations, featuring Comm. Ambach interviewing Catholic school officials on history and achievements of Catholic education. 1.03

Subseries 2: Audio Recordings

Dates:
1979-1981
Physical Description:
13 audio recordings

Scope and Content Note:

This subseries consists of audio recordings of Commissioner of Education Gordon M. Ambach. Included are speeches and addresses given at Nazareth College and State University of New York at Geneseo, as well as at meetings of education-related organizations. These organizations include the New York State School Boards Association, the New York State Council of School District Administrators, the American Association of Museums, and the New York State Retired Teachers Association. Also recorded are two appearances on call-in radio programs in Albany and Schenectady, as well as a Christmas Eve 1979 recording of a bell-ringing ceremony at the State Education Department in solidarity with the American hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Iran. Educational topics covered by the recordings include Regents Competency Examinations, public attitudes toward education, teacher education and recruitment, school discipline, the role of libraries and museums in education, standardized test scores, and federal and state funding for education.

Arrangement:

Chronologically

  

Dates Contents Reel

Accretion: B0563-80
1979 May 15 Guest appearance on the Ellie Pankin Show, WGY radio station, Schenectady, N.Y. 1.01
1979 August 17 Alice L. Foley Lecture at Nazareth College, Rochester, N.Y. 1.01
1979 August 17 Alice L. Foley Lecture at Nazareth College, Rochester, N.Y. (continued) 1.02
1979 October 11 Guest appearance on Steve Squire Show, WQBK radio station, Albany, N.Y. 1.02
1979 December 24 Bell Ringing Ceremony at New York State Education Building 1.02

Accretion: B0563-98
1979 October 12 Mary C. Richardson Lecture at State University of New York at Geneseo 2.01
1979 October 20 Closing address at meeting of New York State School Boards Association 2.01
1981 January 26 Luncheon address at mid-winter conference of the New York State Council of School District Administrators 2.01
1981 May 13 Address at spring luncheon of the Long Island Zone of the New York State Retired Teachers' Association, LaGrange Inn, West Islip 2.01
1980 June 10 Networking for Museums - Address at joint annual meeting of the American Association of Museums and the Canadian Museums' Association, Boston, MA 2.02
1981 July 13 Ambach address at Superintendents Work Conference, Columbia Teachers' College, New York 2.03
1981 September 9 Ambach address at State Education Department staff meeting 2.03
1981 September 25 Commissioner's press conference from Board of Regents meeting 2.04
1981 October 6 Commissioner's press conference regarding increased SAT scores in New York State 2.04