Virtual Parlor Chat “Roots of Remedy: Herbal Traditions in Colonial New York”

A history of different herbal healing traditions in 18th Century New York.

As the colder months approach and seasonal ailments return, discover how New Yorkers of the 18th century turned to the natural world for healing.

From Indigenous plant knowledge to Dutch household remedies and African healing traditions, herbs played an important role in medicine and everyday life in colonial New York. Through the lens of the Morris-Jumel Mansion’s early history, this program explores the ways different communities understood and used plants to treat illness and promote well-being.

Drawing connections to the Lenape people’s longstanding stewardship of the land, Mary Philipse Morris’ Dutch heritage, and the experiences and knowledge of enslaved Africans, this presentation offers a look at the cultural histories of herbal medicine and the people who practiced it. Explore the cultural traditions behind historical herbal remedies and reflect on how our relationship with plants and medicine has evolved over time.

This program will be presented by City College of New York history students Jaelynn K. Smyth and Nia Mills, whose research was conducted through a semester-long internship at Morris-Jumel Mansion as part of the Humanities Experiential Learning Partnership Seminars.