Art Vidich and his Candor days

Candor 4th of July Parade

This photograph appeared on page 160 of the book titled, Village of Candor: Yesterday and Today, A Centennial Celebration Edition, published in July 2000. Vidich gained a reputation in Candor, New York after his book, Small Town in Mass Society was published. The town got national publicity which was not well received by many towns people. The town parade at right was one of the milder demonstrations of interest in Art Vidich and his book.

Last year I had the opportunity to revisit Candor after some thirty years. I mentioned who I was to a clerk in the Town offices and she appeared unfamiliar with the name Vidich. After nearly sixty years, the younger generation of Candorites have lost interest/awareness of the impact Small Town in Mass Society had on their community. 

In contrast, Cornell University's administration remains acutely aware of the impact this book had on the university and its relations with Candor. Surprising as it may seem, the Cornell University has embargoed all of the most sensitive documents concerning the university's research on Candor until the years 2026. Indeed some select files have been embargoed until 2046.  Not even the Kennedy assassination files have been treated with such confidentiality! 

Stay tuned as we share more information on the history of Candor and the extensive Cornell University files that chronicle this famous upstate New York farm community.