I've always been amazed at how a little acorn can grow up to be such a mighty oak tree. Metaphorically speaking, human ideas can do the same.

A case in point is the idea that was planted some 30 years ago when the Holland Society wanted to resurrect a 17th century manuscript project.

Imagine how daunting it must have been at the thought of transcribing and translating thousands of pages of 17th century Dutch records housed in the manuscripts and history section of the State library- many of them charred from the disastrous 1911 Capitol fire. Yet, this acorn of an idea has indeed become a mighty oak, and today is called The New Netherland Institute.

Its director, Charly Gehring, a former German and linguistics instructor, and whose own doctoral dissertation was on the NY Dutch, found himself in charge of this fledgling project. At the time of inception, it was called The New Netherland Project.

The Project consisted of Charly, a chair, desk, pad and pencil, and thousands of documents in 17th century Dutch (quite different from modern Dutch). He was also stuck away in Albany in the recesses of the old State Library, located in the education building on Capitol Hill. His corner of the world was so makeshift that one winter morning he had to work with a snowdrift next to his chair, and wear gloves to transcribe and translate his documents. On top of that, the Project was only funded by the State for one year, and since then, the Project must reapply to the NEH for a matching grant every three years.

Yet, you can't keep a good project down. Since 1974, Charly has transcribed and translated some 17 volumes of Dutch documents into English, but that's not all. Much of the work is promoted through a newsletter, De Nieu Nederlanse Marcurius, which is distributed by a support organization, The Friends of New Netherland (now with the "Project" called collectively The New Netherland Institute), a non-profit organization with 400 members worldwide. Since 1979, they host an annual public Rensselaerswijck Seminar, where speakers present their latest research on a specific aspect of the Dutch experience in North America.

Charly has given talks around the world and has organized a collection of manuscripts, books, and reports on New Netherland that fill a whole aisle on the 8th floor of the State Library, where research is conducted daily. Ironically, I might add, his office has a great view of Beverwyck, the original Albany.

In the last year, two major contributions to our knowledge of early America have been published as a result of using the translations and archives.

Janny Venema, who has been working with Charly for the last 20 years, conducting research and also transcribing/translating, has recently completed her doctoral dissertation and has released it as a book called, Beverwyck - A Dutch Village on the American Frontier, 1652-1664.

Russell Shorto, who also utilized the rich collection of the Institute, has written a book about Dutch Manhattan and New Netherland that will be released this March titled, The Island at the Center of the World.

Both these books, which I'll review in future columns, are major original contributions to our knowledge of early America, and in case you didn't know it - our region was the genesis of the definition and type of person that we now call American.

The Institute has partnered with SUNY Central and many local historical organizations and together will host an exhibit on the history of New Netherland sometime in 2006, in the Flemish Gothic designed D&H building in downtown Albany.

There are still 8 volumes of Dutch manuscripts that need translating and these last few are perhaps the most difficult since some were most affected by the 1911 Capitol fire. These need translation, but also a great deal of research must be conducted to fill in the obvious missing pieces caused by the fire.

And there still is the topic of funding. The next three-year cycle from NEH is coming up. The "Friends" group was formed to help raise money, and the State library has been superb in their support by giving office space. However, one never knows these days if a grant will be approved, and if it is, the Institute still needs to provide a match for every dollar granted.

The Institute provides education materials for the 4th and 7th grade NYS social studies curriculum; provides student internships; and provides awards to scholars who contribute to the body of knowledge about New Netherland. A web site (www.nnp.org) allows you to read past newsletters, seminar papers, and enjoy a guided virtual tour of New Netherland.

People often ask what is the price for knowledge. I know the answer. A dollar given to the New Netherland Institute is worth a hundred in knowledge gained.