Alf Evers
Encyclopedia
Alf Evers was an American historian
who lived in Ulster County, New York
for much of his life and wrote lengthy, definitive histories of the Catskills
and Woodstock, serving the latter as town historian. At the time of his death his history of Kingston was nearly complete and awaited publication.
. He developed a passion for history from the many stories of the farmhands, the work of British naturalist Gilbert White
and collecting Native American arrowheads with one of his high school teachers in New Paltz
.
He attended Hamilton College and, after graduation, returned to the city and the Art Students League
, where he met his wife, illustrator
Helen Baker. They eventually settled in Litchfield, Connecticut
, where they wrote and illustrated 50 children's books together, most telling fable
s in a simple prose style that earned comparisons to Aesop
, and raised three children Jane, Barbara and Christopher Evers.
In 1950 he and his wife divorce
d. He chose to return to Ulster and begin the first of three histories that would define his later career.
The Catskills: From Wilderness to Woodstock, published in 1972 (with a later afterword to the 1984 edition) is a comprehensive 720-page history of a region that had previously been lacking for one. Extensive research went in to covering every aspect of a long and tangled story, with special attention paid to the folklore
that Evers had first heard from inhabitants of the region as a boy.
His home in Shady, New York
, which served as a Catskills museum, library, and archive, has been listed on the State Registry of Historic Places. A park honoring Alf Evers is located outside the Woodstock Historical Society museum on Comeau Drive in the town of Woodstock, New York
.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who lived in Ulster County, New York
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
for much of his life and wrote lengthy, definitive histories of the Catskills
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
and Woodstock, serving the latter as town historian. At the time of his death his history of Kingston was nearly complete and awaited publication.
Biography
Evers was born in the Bronx neighborhood of Williamsbridge and lived there till the age of nine, when his parents moved to a farm near TillsonTillson, New York
Tillson is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,709 at the 2000 census.Tillson is in the Town of Rosendale, along routes 32 and 213.-Geography:Tillson is located at ....
. He developed a passion for history from the many stories of the farmhands, the work of British naturalist Gilbert White
Gilbert White
Gilbert White FRS was a pioneering English naturalist and ornithologist.-Life:White was born in his grandfather's vicarage at Selborne in Hampshire. He was educated at the Holy Ghost School and by a private tutor in Basingstoke before going to Oriel College, Oxford...
and collecting Native American arrowheads with one of his high school teachers in New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
.
He attended Hamilton College and, after graduation, returned to the city and the Art Students League
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
, where he met his wife, illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
Helen Baker. They eventually settled in Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
, where they wrote and illustrated 50 children's books together, most telling fable
Fable
A fable is a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized , and that illustrates a moral lesson , which may at the end be expressed explicitly in a pithy maxim.A fable differs from...
s in a simple prose style that earned comparisons to Aesop
Aesop
Aesop was a Greek writer credited with a number of popular fables. Older spellings of his name have included Esop and Isope. Although his existence remains uncertain and no writings by him survive, numerous tales credited to him were gathered across the centuries and in many languages in a...
, and raised three children Jane, Barbara and Christopher Evers.
In 1950 he and his wife divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d. He chose to return to Ulster and begin the first of three histories that would define his later career.
The Catskills: From Wilderness to Woodstock, published in 1972 (with a later afterword to the 1984 edition) is a comprehensive 720-page history of a region that had previously been lacking for one. Extensive research went in to covering every aspect of a long and tangled story, with special attention paid to the folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
that Evers had first heard from inhabitants of the region as a boy.
His home in Shady, New York
Shady, New York
Shady is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Woodstock and lies on New York State Route 212.-Notable residents:*Henry Cowell, composer...
, which served as a Catskills museum, library, and archive, has been listed on the State Registry of Historic Places. A park honoring Alf Evers is located outside the Woodstock Historical Society museum on Comeau Drive in the town of Woodstock, New York
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
.