Red sandstone, lumber, paper, cows, and college students feature prominently in Potsdam. With its selection of two hundred stunning photographs, the book records aspects of life in Potsdam from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Located on the Racquette River between the St. Lawrence River and the Adirondack Mountains, the town is one often that were created in 1787 to promote settlement of New York State. Education has played an important role in Potsdam since 1816, when St. Lawrence Academy opened. The success of the academy led to the establishment in 1866 of a normal school, the forerunner of Potsdam College, with its renowned Crane School of Music.

State University of New York at Potsdam is recognized by SUNY as the oldest unit of all of its 64 campuses. The college traces its roots to the St. Lawrence Academy, founded in Potsdam in 1816, and the campus has an extensive and rich history. The training of future teachers has been a strong emphasis since the academy days, and the Crane School of Music, formally established by Julia E. Crane in 1886, is known as the birthplace of American music education. As the campus expanded degree offerings, the School of Arts and Sciences built a strong program in its own right. SUNY Potsdam's distinctive cultural traditions, along with athletic and other activities, complete the college's fascinating story.