Announcing the Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends Class of 2025!
Oneida County History Center is excited to announce the Historical Hall of Fame class of 2025! The inductees include four remarkable individuals: Sophia Derbyshire Bagg (1778-1832), early orphan asylum organizer; Irving Baxter (1876-1957), a gold medal-winning Olympian; Dr. Amariah Brigham, M.D. (1798-1849), a pioneering psychiatrist and the first superintendent of the Utica State Hospital; and Carmen Caramanica (1945-2023), a talented jazz musician.
These inductees will be honored alongside the 2025 Richard W. Couper ‘Living Legends’ class: Michael J. DiMeo, a musician and inspirational educator; Jane Domingue, a visionary youth advocate; Dr. Andrew Drozd, an innovative entrepreneur and founder of Andro; and Dietra Harvey, a dynamic community leader and mentor.
The Historical Hall of Fame was started in 1946 and honors individuals from Oneida County who made an impact on our community and the world.
Its goal is to ensure that noteworthy people and their achievements are recorded in local history. The Living Legends category was added in 2001 to celebrate our present-day models of people making a difference. Oneida County History Center is excited to continue this tradition and celebrate remarkable individuals from our community.
Annual Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends awards
The inductees will be honored during the annual Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends awards celebration at the Irish Cultural Center in Utica on Thursday, November 6, 2025, starting at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $65 for current History Center members, $75 for the public, and $700 for tables of 10. Tickets should be purchased before October 31 and are available on-site at the History Center, online, through its e-Bookstore, or by calling 315-735-3642.
Proceeds from the event will support collections software and technology upgrades. This includes:
- Windows 11 installation and associated hardware upgrades
- Server replacement, which stores our digital archives
- Past Perfect Web Edition subscription for our museum database
These projects will allow the History Center to share the stories of Oneida County and keep the past alive in a digital age. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available. Contact rmclain@oneidacountyhistory.org for more information.
Oneida County History Center is a private 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history, heritage, and culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley for present and future generations. Please contact the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit the HISTORY CENTER website (www.oneidacountyhistory.org) for additional information.
