Toxic Archives: Voices from Love Canal
Step into the lived experiences of a community forever changed by environmental crisis. This exhibition presents the poignant stories of Love Canal residents from Niagara Falls, New York, through carefully redacted interviews conducted in 1978–79, now open to the public for the first time. The University Archives’ ethical redaction project balances transparency with privacy, making these powerful testimonies available while protecting personal information. As you explore photographs, correspondence, and firsthand accounts, you'll witness not only the struggle for environmental justice but also the delicate balance archivists maintain as stewards of sensitive historical records. These voices from Love Canal speak to us across time—of loss, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of accountability.
"Bridging History, Social, and Climate Sciences: Art for Collective Worlding" Lecture (Hybrid)
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
2pm - 3pm
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, 310 Capen Hall
University at Buffalo, North Campus
Alissa Ujie Diamond, UB Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, will present emerging research and pedagogical work associated with the FORAGE Initiative. Through making, activities meld gathering plant parts, direct observation of campus spaces and ongoing processes, engagement with regional histories, and discussions of participant knowledges. In the context of a present that is densely threaded with histories of power, extraction, and toxicity, the work is aims to build vessels for the question: What futures can we imagine together?
Equity, Environment, and Community Resilience in Western New York (Hybrid)
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
1pm - 2pm
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, 310 Capen Hall
University at Buffalo, North Campus
Join us for a compelling discussion with Dr. Monica Miles, Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at the University at Buffalo and co-founder of Mother Earth Literacies. Dr. Miles will explore contemporary environmental challenges in Western New York through the lens of environmental justice, community engagement, and equitable access to healthy environments. Her work bridges STEM education, social justice, and sustainability, highlighting how local communities can build resilience and foster meaningful change. Presented as part of the University Archives exhibition series, this program extends the conversation beyond Love Canal to contemporary environmental issues.
Evening Keynote: A Conversation with Keith O'Brien and Luella Kenny (Hybrid)
Thursday, April 16, 2026
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, North Lounge Exhibit Area
University at Buffalo, North Campus
Join us for a powerful and deeply human conversation as journalist and author Keith O’Brien, writer of Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe, sits down with Luella Kenny, a former Love Canal resident and activist whose story is central to O’Brien’s acclaimed book. Presented as the spring keynote for the University at Buffalo Archives exhibition Toxic Archives: Voices from Love Canal, this event brings together storytelling, lived experience, and historical memory in a way rarely seen in public programs on Love Canal.
Moderated by John Fiege, Assistant Professor in the University at Buffalo Department of Media Study and an affiliate of the Department of Environment and Sustainability, O’Brien and Kenny will explore how Paradise Falls reframes the public memory of Love Canal, recovering the voices of ordinary residents whose courage reshaped environmental policy in the United States. Kenny will reflect on her own journey, revisiting the experiences that drove her advocacy and scientific investigation, and sharing what it means to return to these memories decades later. Together, the speakers will connect the history of Love Canal to urgent questions of environmental justice today, inviting the audience to consider how communities can confront harm, fight for accountability, and preserve their stories.
This keynote is part of UB’s continuing effort to illuminate the history and legacy of Love Canal through archival materials, oral histories, and community dialogue. All are welcome to attend this memorable evening of reflection and conversation.
Community Science and Environmental Justice in Western New York (Hybrid)
Thursday, April 30, 2026
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Silverman Library, 3rd floor, 310 Capen Hall
University at Buffalo, North Campus
Join Dr. Lourdes Vera, Associate Professor of Sociology and Environment & Sustainability at the University at Buffalo, for an engaging talk on community-driven approaches to environmental challenges in the region. Dr. Vera’s work bridges sociology, environmental monitoring, and data justice, highlighting how residents and citizen scientists can collaboratively identify and address air and soil contamination and other environmental health concerns. Her research explores the intersections of environmental justice, public participation, and equitable access to environmental information. Presented as part of the University Archives exhibition series, this program extends the conversation beyond Love Canal to contemporary environmental issues.