var ocopyright = "Copyright 2009: Schenectady County Historical Society and
Data.GenesisThe Museum, Library, Office, and Gift Shop are open
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 5 to 8 p.m./ and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
";
oMuseumHours +="
Closed December 24, 25, and 31, 2010, and January 1 and 17, 2011.
Tours are available
Monday through Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tours are also available weekday mornings for those who call in advance to
(518) 374-0263.
";
var oMuseumPhone = "Museum Phone: (518) 374-0263
";
var oMuseumAddressPhone ="The Schenectady County Historical Society
32 Washington Avenue
Schenectady, New York 12305
Phone: (518) 374-0263
Fax: (518) 688-2825
";
var ohours_mabee = "The Mabee Farm Historic Site is open May through the end of September, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by appointment year round.
Tours are by donation, $5 per adult, $4 per senior or child 13-17. Children 12 and under and SCHS members are free.
(518) 887-5073 or 374-0263
";
var ositeroot = 'http://www.schist.org';
var oMission = "Preserving and promoting the heritage of Schenectady County, New York since 1905";
var oContact = "";
//society
var oAbout = "About The Society
The Schenectady County Historical Society (SCHS) was chartered in 1905. (See our"100-year history" above). In 2005 we celebrated our centennial with many events spaced throughout that year. In addition to our own Centennial, 2005 also marked the 75th anniversary of the Schenectady City Hall and the 300th anniversary of our Mabee Farm.
";
oAbout += "Serving Schenectady County
The "county" in our name signifies our geographical area of historical interest; we are a private not-for-profit organization, not a unit of Schenectady County Government.
";
oAbout += "Mission
Our mission is the storage and preservation of books and documents pertaining to the history of our county, the dissemination of information about this history, and the conduct of educational programs at the five centers that we own or manage:
- Grems-Doolittle Library of Historical Research
- the Museum of Schenectady History at 32 Washington Avenue in the City of Schenectady
- the Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction
- the Simon Schermerhorn Historic Site on Schermerhorn Road in Rotterdam (gifted to the Society on 2/29/2008)
- the Efner Center on the third floor of Schenectady City Hall
";
oAbout += "Financial Support
The Society is supported through the dues structure of its members; the interest and dividends earned on bequests willed to us by altruistic citizens; contributions from those families who specify us in obituaries as a worthy source of support in memory of deceased relatives; through fees for admission and service; and the sale of small items and educational material in our two gift shops, one at the Mabee Farm and one at our museum.
";
oAbout += "Newsletters
Recent copies of our bi-monthly newsletters are stored online, but they make more pleasant reading in hard copy mailed to those who join the Society.
";
oAbout += "Participation
We would far prefer to see you in person, either at our monthly Saturday afternoon presentations in our Vrooman Room or, whenever we are open. When you tour our museums or one of our historic sites, browse or research -- genealogical or otherwise -- in the Grems-Doolittle Library. Very likely, some of our Trustees and professional staff are known to you as friends or neighbors.
";
oAbout += "An Invitation
Won't you join us by downloading and completing our membership form?
";
//Links
olinkhead = "Sites Related to the Heritage of New York State's Capital District, Points North and West
";
oSClinks ="Schenectady County Sites
The Schenectady Stockade
";
oSClinks +="
The Schenectady Museum
The GE Realty Plot
The Union Triangle Neighborhood
The Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce
The Schenectady County Blueway Trail Map
";
oSClinks +="
The Schenectady County Public Library
Vale Cemetery
The Duanesburg Historical Society
The Edison Tech Center
The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks
";
oRegLinks = "Regional Sites
The Adironack Museum
The Holland Society
The New Netherland Institute
Erie Canal Waterway
Albany Institute of History and Art
2nd Albany County Militia
Burning of the Valleys Military Association
";
oRegLinks += "
Herkimer and Fulton County Historical Society
Montgomery County History
Fort Johnson Historical Site
Rensselaer County Historical Society
Saratoga Springs History Museum
";
oRegLinks += "
Saratoga County Historical Society
Schoharie County Historical Society
Shaker Museum and Library
Ten Broeck Mansion
Old Fort Johnson in Montgomery County
";
//100years
var oSCHSHist_1 = "Our first 100 years - Part 1, 1905-1960
The following first fifty-five years of SCHS history was written by John J. Birch. It was printed in The Markers Speak, published by the Society in 1962. Birch was president of the Society from 1954-56 and from 1963-65. He was a teacher and an author, a member of the Board of Directors of the Vale Cemetery Association, and active at the Schenectady First Reformed Church. The history of the next forty-five years follows the Birch narrative.
"
oSCHSHist_1 += "Founded in 1905, the Schenectady County Historical Society fulfilled the dream of the city's distinguished historian, Professor Jonathan Pearson of Union College. Sixty years earlier he had noted in his journal that:
It is a thing much to be desired that some Schenectadian would 'endeavor' the history of this old town which has now been inhabited these more than two hundred years. Our antients (sic) are passing away fast, family records and traditions are also becoming scarce, and if the materials... are not soon gathered, the beginnings of 'Dorp' will be forgotten and unsung."
"
oSCHSHist_1 +="Others shared his views, but no one took action. In 1862 Pearson wrote: "I still get encouraging answers from all with whom I speak about starting a historical society for Schenectady. Yet few, I presume, will be real working members. Besides, even those who would be glad to do something have but a crude notion of what is needed to constitute real historical facts of value—most men are satisfied with mere gossip and floating traditions."
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="So Pearson, himself, decided to "attempt the collection of some... old records and other relics that would illustrate the habits of our lazy old Dutchmen in former years and rescue from oblivion the origin of the city." This collection later became the nucleus of the present Society's library of documents, now numbering over 100,000 items.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="In July 1875, there appeared locally a modest pamphlet entitled "The American Historian and Quarterly Genealogical Record." Its title page stated that it was edited by the "Historical Society" and published by E.Z. Carpenter. Apparently it ceased to exist after a few years. Whether this “Historical Society" was more than E.Z. Carpenter himself is not now known, but his voluminous papers have become part of the collection of documents belonging to the present Society.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="In 1899 The Netherlands Society of Schenectady was established "to collect and preserve information respecting the early history and settlement of Schenectady and the Mohawk Valley by the Dutch, and to discover, collect, and preserve all still existing documents, etc., relating to their genealogy and history." This organization had a membership requirement of direct male lineage to settlers of Dutch national and linguistic stock, and was not, therefore, a general historical society. Nevertheless,it appears to have made the first organized effort to collect and preserve historical documents of this area. Most of these documents were later given to the Schenectady County Historical Society.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="Six years later a number of Schenectady citizens planned a loan exhibition of articles of historic and artistic interest to be held at the Public Library in the month of May. A committee consisting of De Lancey Watkins, Lee W. Chase, Judge Alonzo P. Strong, Miss Mary Backus, Mrs. Judson S. Landon, and others arranged the exhibition. It was extremely interesting and instructive. The exhibition lasted 10 days. After its closing the exhibits remained at the library, but were not, so far as can be learned, on public display. Those who had contributed to the success of this project then began to discuss the advisability of establishing a permanent historical society. The organization of such a society was strongly urged by the Schenectady Gazette...";
oSCHSHist_1 +="Public meetings were held and committees were appointed. Articles of incorporation were prepared by Judge Strong and filed on June 30. As a result, the Schenectady County Historical Society was established on July 14, 1905, under the Membership Corporation Laws of the State of New York.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="A program of monthly meetings during the fall, winter and spring was set up soon after the Society's organization. As the Society had no quarters of its own, these meetings were held in various downtown public buildings. The Society took over responsibility for the exhibits at the Library but allowed them to remain there. The situation continued for several years. In 1908 a committee was appointed for the purpose of finding a permanent home for the Society, but did not immediately accomplish any tangible result. Action was taken in 1910 to have the exhibits at the Library open to the public on Saturday afternoons and evenings. An attendant was hired by the Society at a modest salary to be in charge of the exhibits at those times.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="In December 1912, the committee responsible for finding a home for the Society succeeded in negotiating a three-year lease for the building at 13 Union Street that had been erected a half-century earlier to accommodate the offices of the County Clerk and the Surrogate and was no longer needed for that purpose. The exhibits were moved from the Library to the new home, and this became the location for monthly meetings.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="At this time the membership dues were one dollar per year. As these dues were the main source of income, the Society was not in a particularly affluent condition. It soon became apparent that the rent of $100 per year called for in the lease was beyond the Society's slender resources. It was, therefore, reduced by the County Board of Supervisors to the nominal amount of one dollar a year. Some revenue was derived from time to time by renting parts of the building for meetings of outside groups. In 1918 a curator was engaged, Katharine V. Steers, and the exhibits were opened to the public on weekday afternoons. In 1925 the dues were increased to two dollars per year, but this added only a small amount to SCHS income. The Board of Supervisors had, for some time, arranged to give the Society a subsidy to promote activities which were considered to be of public interest.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="In 1941, Miss Anna B. Case bequeathed her home at 720 Union Street, together with an endowment fund, to be used as the headquarters of the Society. Because the conditions of the bequest required the construction of a large extension to house the Society's collections and imposed other restrictions which were not considered to be economically feasible, the bequest could not be accepted.
In April 1958, the General Electric Company deeded to the Society the former G.E. Women's Club building at 32 Washington Avenue "as tangible evidence of its interest and desire to associate itself with those who are working to advance the city's cultural and educational activities." This generous action provided the Society for the first time with adequate and attractive facilities for its collections and activities.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="A sufficient number of artifacts had been assembled as early as 1914 for the establishment of a "Colonial Room." Actually this was a collection of furniture and furnishings containing some colonial antiques with various later pieces, which gave the effect of a bedroom in a pre-Revolutionary home, some of the furnishings of which had been replaced in later eras: Federal, Empire, and Victorian. This collection, supplemented by many later acquisitions, now occupies three rooms in the Society's present quarters. The greater amount of space available has also permitted the establishment of a "Gun Room" to accommodate the Society's notable collection of firearms, an "Indian Room" for relics of the early inhabitants of this area, and a "Map Room" for a display of historic cartography. At the same time, the Society's library facilities have been greatly improved, ";
oSCHSHist_1 +="and a concrete vault has been provided to protect the valuable collection of original documents, some dating back to the 1600s.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="Late in 1935, the Society's president, Judge James W. Liddle, approached the president of the Museum Auxiliary (Children's School and Schenectady Civic Museum, located in Brandywine Avenue School) to interest this group in serving as an auxiliary to the Historical Society. This arrangement was made, but it was not until 1941 that the group became officially the Women's Auxiliary of the Schenectady County Historical Society.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="In 1940 several active members of the Historical Society formed the Schenectady Genealogical Society, with headquarters at the Historical Society building. For a number of years this group held regular meetings and embarked on record-collecting projects. As its interests were rather closely allied with those of the Historical Society, it was absorbed in 1949. With this merger the Society acquired a large collection of copied records of churches, cemeteries, censuses, etc.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="Publications have always played a significant part in the Society's activities. During its first 10 years, annual yearbooks were published. In 1936 a periodical called The Milestone was published for a few issues and was revived for a few issues in 1949. Starting in 1957, a quarterly Bulletin began publication. This has now entered its fifth year [that is, into 1962]. A leaflet entitled "Guide to Historic Schenectady" was brought out at an early date and has been reprinted several times. A booklet for the first “Walkabout of Old Schenectady” was published under Society auspices in 1954. This booklet was expanded in 1959 to serve as a guide for those who wished to tour the Stockade Area of the city and observe its historic buildings.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="One of the Society's early activities was to participate, along with the Netherlands Society, in the erection of a memorial tablet to Arent Van Curler, who founded Schenectady in 1662. It was placed at the northwest corner of Church and Union Streets where his original town lot was located. At this time the Society also contributed to the erection of a Van Curler tablet at the church at Nijkerk, Holland, where he was born in 1619.
";
oSCHSHist_1 +="More recently this type of activity was revived with the appointment of a Committee on Historic Markers. This came about through a request in 1955 that the Society verify the construction dates of a number of historic buildings in Schenectady and permit the use of its seal on appropriate date markers. Since the original request, the owners of numerous other buildings have made similar requests. Today nearly 50 buildings in Schenectady County display date markers approved by the Society, indicating construction prior to 1825. In connection with this activity the Society has become affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, an organization interested in the preservation of historic buildings throughout the United States.
";
//1961-2005
var oSCHSHist_2 ="1961-2005
The following additional history was written by members of the Education Committee of the Historical Society in 2005: Elsie Maddaus Elliess Riemer, Sally van Schaick, and Frank Taormina. The document was then edited and prepared for publication by Sylvie Briber and Ed Reilly
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The last edition of the quarterly Bulletin mentioned by Birch was published in March 1969, but a Society Newsletter mailed to all members began publication in November 1965. The Newsletter was originally a monthly publication of one or two pages, but now multi-page issues appear six times per year. The year 2004 marked the 40th year of continuous publication.
In the 1960s, some important decisions included an addition to the Dora Jackson home at 32 Washington Avenue, the position of a curator, the involvement with Union College in its 300th year observance, and the possible purchase of the Glen Sanders Mansion.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1960, the Historical Society was positioned favorably in Schenectady’s Stockade section, which had not yet been formally designated a historic zone. The Stockade Association invited representatives of the city government to investigate the possibilities of creating a historic district. The city’s 300th year celebration committee was interested in establishing a semi permanent Union College exhibit in our museum. Interviews were held with college professors, editors, and authors. John J. Birch was the author of The Markers Speak, a successful historical book designating 46 homes by the Historic Markers Committee. Birch also recommended in 1964 that the Society have closer ties to the five town historians.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="GROWING PAINS
In June of 1965, the trustees began to explore other buildings for housing the Society. The first discussions and views of purchase of the Glen Sanders Mansion took place. Larry Hart, president of the Board of Trustees, arranged a tour of the house and grounds, with Mr. Palmatier, the owner. But the asking price was considered too high by the Board. Then, in October 1965, an architect was consulted about expanding and enlarging the vault and other parts of 32 Washington Avenue. The committee formed to consider this and the possibility of building or using space elsewhere included Howard Van Voast, Jonathan Pearson, Harold F. Lewis, Larry Hart, Mrs. Charles G. Patton, Dr. Louis Navias, Lansing Christman, and Richard McKeeby. Many views were expressed, from using the YWCA, First Reformed Church, uniting with the Schenectady Museum, or not expanding at all because "it would spoil the residential character of the Stockade."
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1966, the Schenectady architectural firm of Feibes and Schmitt was asked to draw up plans to expand the current building. The original design was for a one-story brick-faced-concrete-block exhibition/meeting room with seating for 250, restrooms, and a small kitchen. The rear porch of the house would be removed. A foyer would connect the old and the new addition. The cost would be $45,000-$50,000. Our subsidy from the county was $6,000 in 1965 and increased to $8,900 in December 1966. The plan of Feibes and Schmitt now had real dollar figures and the Board of Trustees began discussing a membership drive and a fair increase in dues. (But it was not until 1971 that the individual membership donation was increased from $2 to $3 and additional categories were established: $7 for families, $10 for patrons, and $50 for a life membership.)
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1967, the city zoning committee expressed concern that such a large addition to the present building would spoil the appearance of the neighborhood. Judge Raymond Quinn felt that the addition would detract from its future use as a home again. Other objections were raised, but its members very much wanted the Society to remain in the Stockade, saying that it was an ideal place for it. Comments included: Stay in the First Ward; the Society must grow to serve the community; consolidate with the Schenectady Museum; and just the plaintive expression "We need more space.”
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In April 1967, the application for the addition was denied. The opinion was that the plans submitted were not consistent with the historical style in the Historic District. So an alternative plan was developed to extend the rear 40'x18' and provide an L-shaped room seating 150. The existing small library would be fireproofed and given additional vault space. The plans were now approved by the Society’s architects, and then by the City. The rear and side elevations of the building were modified to allow addition of a new room, extending 20' beyond the original rear wall, with space for 80-100 people. Additional modifications provided double the vault space, two restrooms, and a kitchen. The total cost was $50,000. Parking would be considered later. The first step in building the new addition was taken in November 1967. The new room was named the Vrooman room, for the local author, John Vrooman.";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In December 1969, the Stockade requested state and federal approval to become a National Historic Site, and it was so declared on April 3, 1973.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The question of retaining a professional curator had been ongoing for years, and came to a head in the late 1960s. Trustee Ona Curran, through her knowledge and interest, had been making sure that valuable paintings had been repaired and cleaned by a noted restorer, Caroline Keck. In June 1968, Mrs. Curran was appointed curator and served in that capacity until September 1969. Money needed for restoration of paintings came from the National Council of Arts in the amount of $3,000. Ona urged the Society to give any modern art and most scientific apparatus to the Schenectady Museum and to keep anything historical for the Society, and this was done.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The story of how the Historical Society obtained the items of the Glen Sanders Collection evolved over a five-year period and is summarized from the minutes of the Society's meetings. These items of furniture and other furnishings had been sold to Colonial Williamsburg, VA in 1963. The house itself was on the market several times. In August of 1970, the price for 2½ acres of land was $150,000. The trustees even considered buying it for a site for the Society. In April 1971, the house was on the market again for $200,000. After much discussion, the Board of Trustees decided against the purchase of the Glen Sanders house.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The arrangements with Colonial Williamsburg to purchase the Glen Sanders collection began in 1972. Wayne Harvey, who was president for much of this time, and his wife, Carol, worked tirelessly to obtain these items. In 1973 a fund drive was initiated to raise $30,000 to purchase the pieces. Various fund drives were held to pay off the balance owed. (The Women's Auxiliary paid $985 for the Glen Sanders silver.) The entire collection arrived in October 1973. The Society couldn't pay the price in full so Colonial Williamsburg granted a one year extension for the balance due. In May 1974 the trustees voted to borrow money from a local bank for the money owed. A check for the debt was sent to Colonial Williamsburg on June 12, 1974. The Historical Society finally owned the collection. Work was begun on cataloging it and improving the rooms on the second floor to provide space for them. For the list of the Glen Sanders collection of furniture and other furnishings, see the addendum.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="SECURITY
The minutes for this time period also revealed thefts from the Society's collection. These included guns, paintings, antique cameos, the lock plate from a Revolutionary War firearm, a Civil War sheath, and some petty cash. The need for tighter security was discussed. There was only one mention of a retrieval—"Stolen guns returned"—but no details about these or whether other items were found or returned. In addition, some items were disposed of by sales from time to time. The minutes refer to the cleaning out of the attic and setting aside things to sell. Our HQ is now protected by an extensive alarm system that is monitored by a professional service.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="YOUTH GROUP
From time to time, there was interest in having a youth group in the Society. In February 1971 it was proposed that the Society sponsor a Yorker Group, a junior historical society with connection to Cooperstown. By September 1972, there were 28 in the Yorker Group (leader unknown). In November 1973, the group was still meeting and in 1974, they had a craft show. But then it was mentioned that they were looking for a new leader. They must have disbanded after that as there is no further reference to the group.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="FINANCES
The financial status of the Historical Society was a constant worry and will be treated at the end of this history in some detail. This concern was mentioned in the minutes over the years many times. Efforts were tried to increase the membership dues, to charge for genealogical research, and to apply for grants. Dues began at $3 for regular members and rose to $5 in six years with the addition of other categories such as family, sustaining, benefactor, and corporation during this time period. The charge for research began at $1 for "easy" answers and $3 for "hard" answers. This was later changed to an hourly rate of $5. Gifts were received from the Stockade Association ($500) and Schenectady County ($8,000, $4,000, and $3,000 at different times). Insurance on paintings and buildings increased almost yearly.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="STAFF CHANGES
Changes in the staff were made from time to time. Howard McConville did the genealogical work for many years until he was hospitalized. Then the work was done by Elsa Church, who also taught courses in genealogy. For a brief period in the 1970s, the Society employed a part-time paid Director, Mary Antoinette De Giulio. Building repairs continued to be needed and there was always a frantic search for money to cover them. In addition to the Glen Sanders mansion as a more suitable site for the historical society, the Board also considered the Mabee House and 108 Union Street, but these were voted down. A need for a library wing was a major concern and discussed several times.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="GREMS-DOOLITTLE LIBRARY
In the 1980s the changes which occurred to the Schenectady County Historical Society had a lasting effect on the Society's way of life. This was the decade during which the Grems-Doolittle Library was conceived, discussed, planned, and eventually built. It was during this decade that the Yates Doll House, certainly one of the outstanding artifacts owned by the Society, was added to the collection. It was also during this decade that we began the custom of having members' meetings and programs on the second Saturday afternoon of each month. Under the leadership of Stacia Berdy, we began the custom of serving refreshments at these get-togethers. Roy Giebel, during his term as president, provided the leadership to establish the security system that we still use.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The issues considered by the trustees during the decade have a familiar sound: How can we induce people to give us more money? How can we develop programs which have more appeal for teachers so we can share our historical resources with them? Are we properly insured? In what condition is our building and what must we do to maintain it properly?
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="And then there were other issues which the trustees had to resolve that were different than any we have considered recently: Should we sell the Society's headquarters at 32 Washington Avenue and use the proceeds of the sale plus the money raised to build a new library and buy the Glen Sanders Mansion? (No.) Should we accept the million dollar gift that William Broughton was offering us? (That offer was respectfully rejected because it would have entailed building the library elsewhere and because alternative fund raising had progressed to the point where adding a library addition to Society HQ was now feasible. But after the death of its founder, the William Gundry Broughton foundation established a dedicated endowment whose annual interest helps support library acquisitions.)
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Another issue that came in for considerable discussion and concern was the Society's practice of authorizing plaques and historic markers for building sites in Schenectady County. (The Society no longer does so.)
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="While issues may be alike or unalike over a period of time, one thing that never changes is any organization's dependence for its life and its accomplishments on people. Human vision, energy, talent, and intellect are the materials out of which community is created and sustained There were literally hundreds of individuals who contributed their time and energy to the Schenectady County Historical Society in this decade. To list them all would create a small phone book. Not to list them all runs the risk of leaving out individuals who did make considerable contributions which will go unrecorded in this history. Let us apologize in advance to anyone we may overlook.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The construction of the library, no doubt the biggest accomplishment in the decade, occurred because of the initial efforts of James Pontius. In identifying the need and organizing a committee to do the fund raising. Jim's efforts were undoubtedly furthered immeasurably by the generosity of Mandalay Grems who offered a matching gift of $100,000 to help bring about the change. Elsa Church played a vital role on this committee. John Hancock acted as the "Clerk of the Works" throughout the process of construction, playing a vital role in bringing the project to a successful conclusion in May of 1990. Bette Bradway did the bookkeeping throughout the campaign for funds.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The Yates Doll House, undoubtedly one of our major attractions, was donated by Mrs. de Lancey Walton Watkins, a descendant of Joseph C. Yates who served as Governor of New York from 1823 to 1824. The dollhouse was designed and built by J. R. Wendell in 1834 and painted by Victor D.A. Browere. According to family tradition, the house was built for the governor's granddaughter and is the only known documented doll house of its era in New York State. Its acquisition was a project brought to fruition largely as a result of the efforts of Trustee Katherine (Katy) Kindl, and Marilyn Freitas, who was the Society's curator for much of the decade. Katy arranged to have the house refurbished in Cooperstown, and Marilyn did much to publicize its existence and value to the community. Later, Miriam Lewis, a trustee, contributed the stand on which the house is now mounted. The doll house is much larger than those typically sold today and has 14 rooms full of period style furniture.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In little over a decade, Schenectady County Historical Society grew from a modest house museum with one room jammed with local history and genealogy, to a twelve room museum, now called the Dora Jackson House; the adjoining Grems-Doolittle historical and genealogical library housing over 2,000 local family files; and the Mabee Farm—three 17th century farm buildings on 9½ acres in Rotterdam Junction, seven miles west of the City of Schenectady.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Ground was broken for the Grems-Doolittle Library on June 3, 1989. Scott Haefner was hired to become acting librarian at $5 an hour until a professional librarian could be found. On February 20, 1990, Ruth Anne Evans agreed to try to recruit Elsie Maddaus as librarian. She was successful, and Elsie served from January 10, 1992 until June 30, 1999. She became a trustee on July 21, 1999.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Much of the business of the early part of the decade revolved around the completion of the library. Raising money was a real cliff-hanger—or maybe a roller coaster: a gift in 1989 from Mandy Grems of $115,000, a "bridge loan" in 1990 of $100,000 to cover current expenses, $10,000 from the Schaffer Foundation, $2,000 from the Women's Auxiliary, and $25,000 in matching funds from GE in 1990 and 1991.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Those in the Society at the time will not forget John Hancock playing out his role as guardian of the library, providing a liaison with the architect and the contractor. Ultimately the Society recognized his efforts by declaring him an honorary life member. And there was Mandy, making sure that things were done right, supplying extra funds on at last one occasion, and always keeping us focused on the need to reach out to young people. Toward the end of the activity, Ruth Anne Evans was president and had the joy of shepherding the project through to completion. If, indeed, a library is ever complete. In the late fall of 1991, the library was opened as the Grems-Doolittle library in memory of Mandy and her parents, Edward George Grems and Charlotte May Doolittle. Local historian Larry Hart, a former president of the Society, spoke at the dedication on October 12, 1991.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="By early 1992, the Society was out of debt; a gift of $10,000 from Trustco Bank and one of $15,000 from the Schenectady Foundation provided these funds. And we had a New York State certified librarian, Elsie Maddaus.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="With the library nearing completion, members began redecorating the Dora Jackson house. The first item of business was the Victorian study, the southeast parlor which had housed the historical and genealogical library for so many years. As we look at the study and admire the peaceful 19th century decor, we marvel that the contents of the Grems-Doolittle Library had once been crammed into that little space.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="At the same time, the former Society office was gradually transformed into a stately dining room. Gone were the five office-style desks around which volunteers had steered cautious paths. Now there was rose-colored wall paper, a dignified Hepplewhite dining room table (gift of the auxiliary), and the beautiful Stauring family gazing upon us from their golden frames. All that was needed now was an up-to-date kitchen. Thanks to a gift from Mandy Grems—$15,000—we had it.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="On May 19, 1990, near the outdoor fireplace behind Society HQ, we planted the "Tree of Friendship" with the Indians and Friends from LaChine, Quebec celebrating the end of hostilities resulting from the 1690 Schenectady Massacre.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1998, James Pontius helped us once again by arranging a grant from the Broughton Foundation sufficient for the purchase of our first computer and payment of Internet service for three years. Volunteer Ed Reilly, a later trustee and Vice President, implemented our website www.schist.org, a name chosen because www.schs.org was taken.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="MABEE FARM
On December 7, 1992, the Jan Mabee ad hoc committee met with George Franchere to receive a gift of the furnishings at the Mabee property and a check for $17,500 to maintain the property over the next three years. Chris Harter and Derek Sayers were named as co-chairs for the Mabee Farm Committee.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="George Franchere also gave the Society 583 family papers including the deed passed by Daniel Van Antwerpen to Jan Mabee on January 29, 1705/06. The Mabee homestead was passed from generation to generation for 287 years before being deeded to the Society on January 29, 1993. Soon the Dutch Barn Society began to show interest in helping the Society locate a Dutch barn for relocation to the Mabee farm site. Vince Schaeffer and Everett Rau began the search.
Meanwhile on April 27, 1993, the members of the Society created a new membership category of Honorary Life Member, "and in demonstration of our gratitude. . . bestow(ed) the title of Honorary Life Member upon George E. Franchere. . . "
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Another milestone was reached in the summer of 1993 when the Jan Mabee Farm was open for tours by appointment. In October of that year, curator Ona Curran created a display of Mabee Farm Artifacts in the Vrooman Room.
By January 1995 Chris Harter and Derek Sayers presided over a Mabee Farm symposium and at the end of 1995, Kathy Johnson, who replaced Chris Harter, reported that we had been offered the Nilsen Barn in Johnstown for one dollar, and we had three years during which to move it to Rotterdam Junction.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Suddenly the Society was faced with the need for vast infusions of money. The price of the barn might be only one dollar, but the cost of disassembling it and then transporting it to Rotterdam Junction, building a foundation (after having the barn site explored by archeologists) and reassembling it was daunting. All the fund raising talent of the Society was needed to raise the necessary $100,000, an effortably and successfully led by John van Schaick and Mary Kukendahl.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="By 1997 the Society began to hit its stride, moving beyond "retail" to &39;wholesale&39: fund raising. The Society applied for and received a $50K matching grant from New York State through its Environmental Protection Fund. At that time the need was to stabilize and repair the three existing ancient buildings; the brick house, the stone house and the Inn. The Society also had to do an Historic Structure Report and an archaeological survey to put in a barn and do extensive repairs to the house.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="None of the activities that brought the Mabee Farm to the status of a public museum would have been possible without the tremendous energy supplied by the members of the Mabee Farm Committee and by the generosity of many members of the community.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="TURN OF THE CENTURY
The early years of the new millennium saw many changes in the Society, both at 32 Washington Avenue and at the Mabee Farm Historic Site. At the Society's headquarters, the library saw a general increase in genealogical research while the house museum saw an emphasis on restoring the art collection. and displaying it to best advantage. At the Mabee Farm, the emphasis was on preserving the ancient buildings and restoring the barnyard for reception of visitors and school student groups.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Following the opening of the Grems-Doolittle Library in 1991, attention shifted to the house museum which had been sorely neglected. Painting of the walls and ceilings made the rooms presentable while the kitchen was remodeled in a major project. Redoing of the floors extended into the year 2000. Then a gift of two paintings by Edouard Cortes from the estate of Charles Carl drew attention to the coherence, or lack thereof, of the Society's collection. Because the Cortes paintings did not fit the theme of our collection, these painting were sold in July 2001 for $50,000, with the proceeds dedicated to the care and improvement of the overall collection.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="ART RESTORATION
Ona Curran, art historian, rejoined the Board in April as conservator of the paintings. She soon reported that a large number, perhaps three-quarters needed help and she arranged with Caroline Keck of Cooperstown to do the required work. To raise the necessary funds, an "Adopt-a-Painting" project was undertaken among potential donors.
Ona inventoried and appraised the major paintings within her first few months. In so doing, she discovered that several were portraits of unknown persons. In hopes that readers might recognize the subjects, the SCHS Newsletter began showing photos of the paintings, but no one ever did. An article in the November 2003 issue of the magazine Antiqueswith photos of the collection attracted a number of visitors. By then the restored paintings had been re-hung, numbered, and listed and the museum had taken on the ambience of an art gallery.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="STAFF CHANGES, AGAIN
Elsie Maddaus, librarian, archivist, and genealogical researcher, retired in the summer of 1999 and the Society hired current librarian Virginia Bolen. Then in 2004, Jo Mordecai, who had brought much newspaper and TV attention to the Society, retired after 16 years as Coordinator of Exhibits. Kate Weller was hired as the museum's new curator. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program (SUNY). The staff also includes Johanna Woldring, who was hired as Office Manager in June 1992, and custodian Paul Gonsowski was hired in 1996.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="CHANGES AT THE MABEE FARM
In 1998 George Franchere, donor of the Farm, added a small piece of the property that had been left out of his original gift in 1992. It was the corner of the farm that had been sold to the Methodists in 1890. Then with about $375,000 in donations and State grants came the restoration of the brick house foundations; replacement of the inn's deteriorated foundations, sills, joists and flooring; and buildings added to the barnyard to replace those destroyed by fire over the years.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1998, a contractor took down the Nilsen Dutch barn in Johnstown and moved it to the Mabee site where a foundation had been prepared for it. Starting in 1999, the barn was re-erected and extensively restored under the direction of Albany architect Keith Cramer, a leader of the Dutch Barn Society. The effort took the time and energies of a legion of people over three years until the barn was ready for use in 2002.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The volunteers rehabilitated a small two-story English barn standing on lands to the west and skidded it onto the property. The contractors attached a shed to this barn containing visitors' restrooms and a kitchen for use by caterers for functions in the Dutch barn. Volunteers acquired a trolley-stop shed from along the Troy Road and rehabilitated it for use as a kiosk for ticketing and tourist information.
In 1999 John van Schaick and Stan Lee were appointed co-chairs of the Mabee Farm Committee. In 2001, a carriage shed went up east of the Dutch barn for storing donated 19th century farm machinery. The next year saw a small shop for a resident blacksmith, and the next, the erection of a colonial woodworking shop. A 4-hole outhouse was donated by the Cobblestone Church.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Each of these changes made feasible an addition to the program. The Dutch barn eliminated the need for tents to shelter activities and provided space for children's displays designed by Ned Pratt. The restrooms made possible the opening of the site for visitors on scheduled hours. The added facilities allowed the scheduling of school groups beginning the fall of 2002. By 2004, the school program had expanded to accommodate more than 4,000 students from area schools.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="An ongoing activity has been the essential archaeological investigations at the farm to determine aspects of the unwritten history of its occupation. Led by Ron Kingsley and Louise Basa, these investigations have become class-study programs for the students at the Schenectady County Community College. Another activity surrounds a 23-foot replica bateau acquired in 2003 which was the start of the riverfront program, a program enhanced in 2004 by the gift of a second bateau from Siena College. The first bateau was named DeSager in honor of the late Bob Sager, a former Society president, and the second is called Bobbie G. in honor of the mother of a boat builder.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Also in 2004, the site concluded an agreement with the County for the use of a dock on the riverfront next door. Besides its annual Forefathers Day celebration (on Father's Day), Fall Festival, and Open Houses, the site hosts an annual Spring re-enactment, a Flint Knapping Day and &39;Sundae on the Farm.&39; The latter event in 2004 attracted between seven and eight thousand participants. Special crafts and collectors' events, blacksmith workshops, weddings, showers, receptions, dances, and family reunions keep the largely volunteer staff heavily involved. A gift shop, started in 2004, has begun to satisfy an evident demand for souvenirs and gifts.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Scott Haefner, former librarian at 32 Washington Avenue and later, in 1996, the resident caretaker of the farm, became the site manager in 2000. After completing work on his bachelor's degree, he resigned in December 2002 to become site manager of the Fort Johnson historic site. With his departure, the Mabee farmhouse became a non-residential structure for the first time in some 322 years and now serves as a museum with offices on the second floor. In 2003, Patricia Barrot became the full-time site administrator.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The growing program and various activities dictated the need for a year-round education center at the farm to be named for George E. Franchere. The center will provide suitable car and bus parking; space for reception, presentation, and archaeological specimens, refreshment facilities, classrooms, a colonial kitchen, a local history library, a gift shop, and offices.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
The original 25 Society trustees of 1905 were all men, but by 1912 a third of Society members were women. Nonetheless, an informal Women's Auxiliary of the Schenectady County Historical Society was formed in 1934 with an initial membership of five, which soon grew to twenty. Over the years, membership grew to more than two hundred. Its first meetings were held at 13 Union Street, then later at 32 Washington Avenue. In 1941, the group was officially recognized as the Women's Auxiliary of the Schenectady County Historical Society. In March 1946, the Auxiliary adopted a constitution and bylaws which were revised in 1959, 1970, and 1984.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The aims of the auxiliary were to assist in furthering the purposes of the Society and to make a study of local history and antiquities. They also donated funds for many specific artifacts for the museum as well as specific projects and maintenance. (See a partial list in the addendum.) In order to do this, the auxiliary was active in fund raising. These activities included an evening garden party, White Elephant sales, concerts, and card parties.
The members served many volunteer hours as docents and hostesses and were in charge of many receptions. For many years, Ann Karl and Anastasia Berdy, who were members both of the auxiliary and the Board of Trustees, served refreshments for monthly meetings and other social events.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In the summer of 2000, however, declining membership, the inability to secure officers, and the fact that women had long since been eligible for Society membership led to a proposal that the Women's Auxiliary be dissolved. The vote was taken at the last meeting on September 20, 2000. Two activities had to be completed. First, a number of the auxiliary members spent hours polishing silver, making an inventory, cleaning the kitchen curtains, and washing the kitchen windows. By October, the process for dissolution of the organization had begun. Assets were transferred and presented to the Society with the intention that they would be used for purchases of artifacts for the museum, for specific maintenance projects, and for the cost of receptions held there. The auxiliary reflected the times and attitudes of the previous 65 years.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="A FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
As the committee began its work of reporting the history of the first 100 years of the Schenectady County Historical Society, we wondered how the group was financed in the past. We knew that it was never formally associated with the city or the County even though it did receive contributions from them for many years. What about dues or fees? Where did the money come from to keep this venture going?
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="We assumed that the details would be contained in the trustees' minutes, but the first thing we discovered was that the minutes were incomplete. Occasionally a page would be missing, and treasurer's reports were not recorded at every meeting. When they were, there might only be a mention of the current balance. Currently, the treasurer prepares very detailed monthly reports for the Finance Committee and distributed to the Board quarterly, with shorter summaries distributed in the intervening months.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The early group met several times to organize the Society but it was officially established at an organizational meeting of July 14, 1905, with a membership of 160, annual dues of $l, and the adoption of a constitution. The dues structure changed through the years. In 1926, annual dues became $2. In 1971, they were $3 for regular members, $10 for patrons, and $50 for a life membership. In 1978, it changed to $5 for regular members with raises also in other categories, such as $10 family, $25 sustaining, $100 benefactor, and $25 Corporation. Currently the membership dues are $25 individual, $40 family, $50 donor, $100 sponsor, $500 patron, and $1000 lifetime.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The beginning of the relationship between the Historical Society and the County seems to have started in 1913. In January of that year, there was an arrangement to lease the old county clerk's building on Union Street. In June of that year, the deal was closed with the county for rental and additional amounts for necessary repairs. This building then became our meeting place.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1921, a new lease with the County for 15 years at $1 per year was arranged. The County also contributed cash donations from time to time beginning with $750 in 1922. The amount changed to $1,000, $1,250, $8,000, $4,000, $3,000 at different times. The Society also derived money by renting the second floor of the building to various community organizations for differing amounts.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The first mention of a Ways and Means Committee of the Society was in 1914. In addition to seeking funds from the County, the Society derived funds from members, the Stockade Association, and later, from the city council. In 1925, an endowment fund was created when memorials were given by the Case family. But even so, the records of the Society show a constant struggle between receipts and expenditures that continued until fortunes improved significantly in 2004, our 100th year.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Since the start of the annual Stockade Walkabout in 1959, the Society has received a modest but steady source of income. The Walkabout quickly became a fixture and, as of this writing, has been an annual event for 46 years. For the first two years the Society's Walkabout partner was the Schenectady Museum, with each making an equal contribution in effort and expenses. In 1961, our partner became the newly formed Stockade Association in place of the Museum. By the 1980s, when the weather was good, the Society's share of the proceeds could be as much as $3,000. In 2001, the two organizations were joined by a third partner, the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC), and programming was enhanced through addition of a Waterfront Faire that is very popular with children.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Twenty years ago the Society's major asset was the house at 32 Washington Avenue. It began as a residence and then was a women's club for General Electric employees. When the Society obtained the building, it became its headquarters and a museum for the display of furnishings, paintings, and artifacts relevant to Schenectady's history. A part—the gentleman's study, dining room, and kitchen areas—housed a genealogical and local history library. After the addition of the Vrooman Room at the rear of the house, this was used for meetings and as a work area for genealogical and historical researchers.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Volunteers performed much of the work of the Society, aided by two part-time employees. Annual budget making by the trustees usually required an optimistic overestimation of dues and gift incomes. By year-end, the special gifts usually made up for revenue deficits.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="Recognizing the inadequacy of the facilities, trustee Mandalay (Mandy) Grems challenged the trustees with an offer of $100,000 to start the funding of the library addition. She added another $50,000 later and by the time the library had been built and paid for at a total cost of some $432,000, other money had been received from a broad segment of the community. Mandy demonstrated that the Society no longer needed to think of itself as a shoestring operation suffering from the loss of local government subsidies. During the later phases of library construction one trustee, John van Schaick, facilitated a bridging loan to pay the contractors. He then laid out the library, locating placement of the stacks, files, desks, and equipment. A contract with an Albany firm was made to refurbish castoff furnishings and put them in position, saving moving costs. Mandy and President Ruth Anne Evans were impressed and delighted.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="In 1992, John van Schaick succeeded Ruth Anne Evans as President. At this time there were serious problems regarding staffing. Our volunteer administrator, Miriam Lewis, was replaced with part-time paid staff. Renovating the vacated spaces in the house and paving the parking area required funds. Since most of the Society's general reserves had been spent, budgeting was very difficult. Meetings of the trustees had often bogged down in lengthy discussions of new projects brought forth by the various members and occasional budget-breaking approvals for new spending. Soon after taking office, van Schaick reactivated the executive committee to which he added the chairs of the house and library committees. Because he required that budgetary plans and all proposals involving new spending be submitted to this committee by other committees for review, it became known as the Finance committee. This committee cut down on ad hoc financial planning by the trustees and facilitated meetings.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The new president was both fortunate and astute. He soon learned that Esther Glen, the widow of Henry Glen, a founder of our Society and director of the Schenectady public library in the 1890s, had died recently and that the Society would benefit substantially from her will. He asked the trustees to restate their invested funds policy. When the Esther Glen bequest turned out to be some $265,000, the trustees, after further discussions over several months, directed that the bequest go into the invested funds account so that interest income could provide the funds needed for new staff positions.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="To administer the invested funds account, an investments committee was formed comprising President van Schaick, Treasurer Frank Taormina, and William H. Milton III, a trustee at the time and a retired Trustco trust department banker.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The committee decided to invest primarily in dividend-paying common stocks, each issue limited in amount to no more than ten percent of the portfolio for diversification. The dividend income would go directly into the budget and increases in the value of the portfolio would provide inflation protection. Several smaller bequests during the next year brought the portfolio to over half a million dollars and provided half the funds for the operational budget
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="During Ruth Anne Evans' presidency, Van Schaick had met with and discussed the Mabee farm with its owner, George E. Franchere of Dunedin, Florida, a former resident of this area. He wanted to donate it to a worthy 501(c)3 organization and had offered it unsuccessfully to the Society, which was then busy with the library project. Evans regretted that the Society had not obtained the Glen Sanders mansion twenty years before and wanted to accept the Mabee farm. But she doubted that the trustees would accept it without guarantees that it would not become a burden on the Society. She dispatched John Van Schaick to discuss matters with the owner in Florida. When he returned in February of 1992 with assurances that Franchere would grant much of his tax savings from the gift to support the farm during its first three years as a Society property, the trustees voted to accept the gift of the Mabee farm. Franchere turned over the deed to the Society in January 1993.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="These post-library arrangements continued largely unchanged through the next decade under the presidencies of Mason Harter, who died in office, Robert Sager, his successor, and William Dimpelfeld. The invested funds swelled by accretion and internal growth to well over a million dollars and still supplies about half of the operational budget. Special gifts by the membership and the community have funded special projects like the renovation of the kitchen and the restoration of the Society's paintings.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="For nine years Mabee farm accounting was kept separate from that of the Society as a whole, but in 2002, its budget became a part of the overall Society budget. In 1998, the farm had nm a capital campaign to pay for preservation work of the old buildings and to restore the barnyard and moving in the Nilsen Dutch barn from Johnstown. That fund raising, subsequent donations, plus in-kind contributions from volunteers has enabled over $375,000 in improvements and establishment of schools and tourist programs that lend luster to the Society.
The Society's 2004-2005 budget was just over $158,000, including the Mabee Farm. Staff at the 32 Washington Avenue complex were upgraded and the Mabee Farm had a full-time administrator and two excellent summer interns.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="The Mabee Farm portion of the budget is $52,000 of which $20,000 to $30,000 was funded annually by the farm's donor, George Franchere, until he died in late 2004. But he provided generously for the Society in his will, so that the long term financial outlook of the Society in general and the farm in particular is very bright.
As of 2005, the farm was engaged in a capital campaign to raise funds for the first phase of the badly-needed George E. Franchere Education Center, a drive being conducted by the Mabee Farm Committee co-chairmen under the leadership of President Kim Mabee, who succeeded William Dimpelfeld in 2004. Bill continues to serve the Society as Assistant Treasurer.
";
oSCHSHist_2 +="EFNER HISTORY CENTER
In 2004, Society officials met with Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton and offered volunteer staffing to manage the then dormant Efner History Center under Society auspices, an offer that was enthusiastically accepted. The Center is essentially a city historical library that was founded by former SCHS President William B. Efner, Sr. and contains numerous maps, documents, books, photos, and papers that were collected by him over a period of fifty years. This library was opened to the public on November 19, 1952. This collection once occupied the upper floor of Mr. Efner's home and was brought to the top floor of City Hall after he died. After several years during which the Center was only sporadically staffed and seldom open, volunteer and current trustee and Society secretary Cynthia Seacord now opens it to the public three days per week and helps visitors with their historical research.";
oSCHSHist_2 +="
EPILOG
The Society had to operate close to the vest for its first 85 years, and its survival for that long is due to the perspicacity and frugality of the Trustees who carried us that far. Over the last fifteen, however, financial fortunes changed to the point where SCHS was able to expand its hours and services to the community in general and our members in particular. The significant “recent” advances were the construction of the Grems-Doolittle Library and the acquisition and improvement of the Mabee Farm. We look forward to the next 100.
";
//past presidents
var opastpres = "Past Presidents
- 1905 — 1906: Myron F. Westover
- 1907 — 1910: Dr. Charles C. Durye
- 1910 — 1912: Henry G. Reist
- 1913 — 1914: Gen. Charles L. Davis
- 1914 — 1915: Langdon Gibson
- 1915 — 1916: Alonzo P. Walton
- 1916 — 1918: Allen W. Johnston
- 1918 — 1919: Henry G. Reist
- 1919 — 1920: John I. Bennett
";
opastpres += "- 1920 — 1921: Hanford Robison
- 1921 — 1922: Henry B. Boardman
- 1922 — 1924: Robert Judson Landon
- 1924 — 1926: Delancy W. Watkins
- 1926 — 1930: Peter Schuyler Miller
- 1930 — 1934: Clarence E. Bennett
- 1934 — 1935: Edwin G. Conde
- 1935 — 1938: Jason W. Liddle
- 1938 — 1941: Frank C. Zapf
";
opastpres += "- 1941 — 1942: William B. Efner
- 1942 — 1943: Dr. Frederick L. Bronner
- 1943 — 1945: Duane Featherstonhaugh
- 1945 — 1947: Clyde D. Wagoner
- 1947 — 1949: William C. Yates
- 1949 — 1950: Duane Featherstonhaugh
- 1951 — 1952: Howard McConville
- 1952 — 1954: William H. Bloodworth
- 1954 — 1956: John J. Birch
- 1956 — 1957: John J. Vrooman
- 1957 — 1959: J. Warren Joyce
";
opastpres += "- 1959 — 1963: John W. Harper
- 1963 — 1965: John J. Birch
- 1965 — 1968: Larry Hart
- 1968 — 1970: Lansing Christman
- 1970 — 1971: Neal W. Allen
- 1971 — 1973: Gene F. Seehafer
- 1973 — 1975: Wayne H. Harvey
- 1975 — 1977: William E. Fasake
- 1977 — 1979: Stephanie Albers
- 1979 — 1980: Larry Hart
";
opastpres += "- 1981 — 1985: Wayne H. Harvey
- 1985 — 1987: Roy Giebel
- 1987 — 1989: Francis R. Taormina
- 1989 — 1990: Arthur Glover
- 1990 — 1992: Ruth Anne Evans
- 1992 — 1994: John H. Van Schaick
- 1994 — 1995: L. Mason Harter
- 1995 — 1999: Robert W. Sager
- 1999 — 2004: William A. Dimpelfeld
- 2004 — 2006: Kim Mabee
- 2006 — date: Edwin D. Reilly, Jr.
";
//personnel
var ocurator ="Curator: Kate Weller";
var oOfficeManager ="Office Manager: Jennifer Hanson";
//museum section
var vmuswelc = "
";
vmuswelc += "
This Georgian style building, which displays aspects of Federal and Greek Revival throughout the house, is in the Stockade: Schenectady's oldest Historic District adjacent to the waters of the Binnekill and the Mohawk River.
";
vmuswelc += "
Built in 1895, on land on which the house is now situated, by Jones Mumford Jackson for his mother, Dora Jackson, widow of Alonzo Clinton Jackson. Dora had only four years to enjoy her new home before dying at age 68 in 1899. Jones continued to live there until 1905 when he died of sunstroke while working in the garden. He left the house to his sister Helen who then sold it to the GE Women's Club. In 1958, The Historical Society, which previously rented quarters in several different locations, received the deed from the Women's Club for $1.00. Under the Society, the original building has had several expansions, including a large, modern research library for historical records, photography, and genealogy.
";
vmuswelc += "
Visitors can admire the front hall's cherry wood handrail to the second floor and the hand stenciled floor of a kind that was very popular during the Victorian Age.
";
vmuswelc += "
- In the study one can items from the Civil War and 19th Century periods that include a center table built for the son of Eliphalet Nott, long time president of Union College, and an Edison graphaphone, which, unlike the later gramaphone, used cylinders rather than flat disks.
- The Music Room features a pianoforte -- built in 1794 on Wyck Street, London.
- The Vrooman Room which features rotating exhibits.
- The Dining Room
- The Front Parlor
";
vmuswelc += "- The Glen Sanders Bedroom houses furniture from the historic Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia, one of the earliest houses in the Schenectady area. This room holds an 18th century Kas and a Hepplewhite sideboard by William Whitehead, a well-known NYC cabinetmaker circa 1790.
- The Children's Room exhibits a large 1834 doll house complete with 14 rooms full of period style furniture. The doll house was designed and built by J. R. Wendell in 1834 and painted by Victor D.A. Browere. According to family tradition, the house was built for the Governor (1823-1824) Joseph C. Yates' granddaughter, Susan Watkins, and is the only known documented doll house of its era in New York State. It was donated by Mrs. de Lancey Walton Watkins, a descendant of Joseph C. Yates.
";
vmuswelc += "- The Shaker Room, though more usually associated with Colonie and Niskayuna, were once part of a large area called "Watervliet" that was much larger than the present city of that name, they came first to Schenectady. Their commune was known as Wisdom's Valley, and this room features many Shaker arts and crafts. .
";
vmuswelc += "
The third floor houses other museum pieces and one of two Revolutionary-war-era Liberty flags of 1771 known to exist.
Take a virtual tourBoth the museum and the Grems-Doolittle research library in the rear are open to the public.
";
vmuswelc += "
Governor Joseph C. Yates
as painted by Ezra Ames, circa 1825";
vmuswelc += "
The museum maintains wonderful collections that document domestic and industrial life from 1690 to today.
";
vmuswelc += "
SCHS is home to more than 60 portraits and landscapes related to Schenectady County people and places. Portraits include the Van Eps, Veeders, Glens, Sanders, Wemples, Marcellus, De Graff, Jacksons, Barneys, Yates, Rosa, Waltons, Potters, Stauring, and Schermerhorns.
";
vmuswelc += "
There are several paintings of the historic covered bridge over the Mohawk designed by Theodore Burr, a vibrant Erie Canal scene, and early 19th century street and farm scenes. Artists include Ammi Phillips, Asahel Powers, Ezra Ames, Cornelius Van Patten, John Wilkie, Samuel Sexton, and other regional artists.
";
vmuswelc += "
In addition to the Society's art collection there are other treasures of the past.
Content contributed by - Ona Curran, Wayne Harvey and Jo Mordecai
The Dora Jackson House, Home of the Schenectady History Museum
Built for Dora Mumford Jackson in 1895 by her son Jones Mumford Jackson and designed by the famous Colonial Revival architect William Potter, this building remains a beautiful testament to the Colonial Revival style and its popularity. Purchased by the G.E. Woman's Club in the early twentieth century, the building acted as a clubhouse for women employed in the offices of General Electric until it was sold to the Schenectady County Historical Society in 1958. Since 1958, it has held the collection of the Schenectady County Historical Society.
Follow the links at right to continue exploring the Schenectady History Museum online.
";
var vStudy ="
This room looks at Schenectady's history after the Civil War. Schenectady was very profitable during the Civil War. For example, parts for the famous Monitor were made by the Clute Brothers Machine Works. But, during the period immediately after the War Schenectady went into an economic slump. Groups like the "True Blue Society" tried to invigorate Schenectady with parades and activities. Though it was not until Thomas A. Edison brought General Electric to Schenectady in the 1880s that the city's prosperity began to rise again. One of the highlights of this room is the amberol player, which was built by GE in 1912. The device's cylinder records played for about two to four minutes.
The TerBush Gallery houses the exhibit Schenectady: The First Two Hundred Years, which chronicles Schenectady's History from its earliest beginnings through the Civil War. The first part of the room focuses on the period leading up to the American Revolution. One of our most interesting pieces in this section is the "LIBERTY" flag, originally owned by the Sons of Liberty in Albany. Another interesting piece in this part of the room is the painting; "Schenectady Town" painted by acclaimed historical artist Len Tantillo. Based on the 1698 Roomer map and existing seventeenth-century Dutch architecture still in existence, "Schenectady Town" depicts Schenectady on the verge of the 1690 massacre.
The Second Section of the TerBush Gallery depicts Schenectady history from the end of the American Revolution through the Civil War. The piece that highlights this part is the Federal style sideboard built in New York City in 1794. Another significant item is the Ezra Ames painting of Governor Joseph C. Yates (1768-1837). Governor Yates served twelve one year terms as Schenectady Mayor beginning in 1799 and one term as Governor of New York (1823-1824).
Schenectady’s military history is long and celebrated. This room houses our collection of military artifacts. It includes rifles and muskets dating from the Revolutionary Era through World War I. It also contains battle swords ranging from the eighteenth through the nineteenth century.
Most of the furnishings and accessories in this room come from the Glen-Sanders mansion in Scotia. Built by Captain John Alexander Glen in 1713, on land that his father Alexander Lindsay Glen settled, the mansion evolved but stayed in the family until the 1960s. Alexander Lindsay Glen came from Scotland and named Scotia after his native land (the Latin word for Scotland). In 1739, Deborah Glen married John Sanders I changing the family name to Sanders. The Most interesting piece in this room is the Senility Cradle, which was most likely built for John Sanders II around 1832. Family history states that in his later years he "could sleep no where else, and was rocked to his rest nightly."
This room showcases the Erie Canal in Schenectady. During the first quarter of the nineteenth century, excitement over the construction of the Erie Canal rose and fell but by the time it opened on October 26, 1825, the whole country celebrated. Although outwardly exuberant, not all of New York's residents rejoiced. Schenectadians actually dreaded the completion of the canal. Despite the less than warm reception the city gave to the canal, during the rest of the nineteenth century, both the city and the canal gained from their relationship.
Generations of children have visited the impressive Yates dollhouse. Constructed in 1834, by J.R. Wendell, the house mimics the Federal Style of architecture. To finish the effect of a stylish townhouse, painter Victor D.A. Browere created a faux finish marble brick exterior along with a simple painted trim and brick interior end chimneys. Commissioned by Governor Joseph C. Yates for his granddaughter Susan Watkins, the dollhouse remains a remarkable example of early American dollhouses.
This room shows a variety of children oriented items. The dominant theme is the samplers throughout the room. Samplers originally began as a textile textbook of stitches a young woman would need when caring for her family's needs. Darning techniques were often included to create fabric where it had worn away. After the 17th century, these utilitarian pieces became more and more decorative. One of the most interesting items in this room is the 1860s Bench, which could be used as either a bench or a cradle.
Housing our temporary exhibits, The Vrooman Room, the Society's principal meeting room, houses temporary exhibits of varying duration. In between longer running ones, the Vrooman Room typically displays the exhibit shown here: Painting Schenectady, The Works of Samuel H. Sexton. Born in 1813, Sexton lived in Schenectady his entire life. His artistic career began in the 1830s, but he continued to paint throughout his entire life up to his death in 1890 at the age of 77. Sexton outlived his wife, Sarah Fullagar, and their children, James and Langley. Although Sexton never achieved national acclaim, he attained recognition locally because of his ability to paint a "reasonable likeness." Today his work serves as a record of Schenectady's 19th century heritage spanning over 50 years, including portraits, historical scenes, landscapes, and copies of other artists' works.
Welcome to the Mabee Farm Historic Site, the oldest standing home in the Mohawk Valley. This 300+ year old Dutch farm is set along the beautiful banks of the Mohawk River on Route 5S in Rotterdam Junction, NY.
George E. Franchere, the last family owner, gave the Mabee Farm to the Schenectady County Historical Society in 1993, along with furnishings, heirlooms, and family papers, many of which are on display.
As was Mr. Franchere's intention, the Schenectady County Historical Society is continuing to develop the farm site as a museum and educational center for the community and holds Colonial events, workshops, tours and educational programs which reflect the historical significance of this early Mohawk River farmstead.
";
var vMabeeHistory ="
The oldest house still standing in the Mohawk Valley, the Mabee Farm Historic Site was originally settled by Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen, who established it as a fur trading post to meet Native American traders before they reached Schenectady.
He received a deed for the property in 1671 from the English governor. In 1705, Van Antwerpen sold the western portion of his land to Jan Pieterse Mabee, and it was handed down through the Mabee family for 287 years!
The Mabee original structures, which were donated by George E. Franchere, include the stone farmhouse, brick slaves quarters, and a frame pre-Erie Canal Inn. A family cemetary holds graves dating back to the 1700s. Replacing the barns which burnt down in the early 20th century are the 1760 Nilsen Dutch barn, which houses displays, an English barn, and several outbuildings.
";
var vMabeeContact ="
";
var vMabeeDirect ="
From Schenectady
Take I-890 towards Scotia to Exit 1A (Route 5S). The Farm is 2.7 miles on your right.
From Albany and East
Take NYS Thruway (I-90 West) towards Buffalo to Exit 25 (Schenectady). Take I-890 towards Scotia to Exit 1A (Route 5S). The Farm is 2.7 miles on your right.
From Amsterdam and West
Take NYS Thruway (I-90 East) towards NYC to Exit 26 toward Rotterdam Junction. Take Exit 1A to Route 5S. The Farm is 2.7 miles on your right.
By Boat
The Mabee Farm is located on the south side of the Mohawk River about 1 mile east of Lock E-9 and four miles west of Lock E-8.
";
var vMabeeGardens ="
The Gardens
The Mabee Farm Historic Site has four gardens on the property, all maintained by volunteers. The members of the H. Gilbert Harlow Garden Club maintain a beautiful flower garden in the front yard of the Mabee Farm. There is also a colonial herb garden near the slave quarters. A large vegetable garden containing tomatoes, squash, corn, and pumpkins that is located behind the house is tended by Bill Dimplefeld and Kim and Gary Mabee. Finally, a small broom corn garden is cultivated behind the blacksmith's shop by broom maker Charlie Long.
";
var vMabeeGenealogy ="
For further information about Mabee Family Genealogy, please visit the Mabie/Maybee/Mabee/Mabey Genealogy site, prepared by Steve Mabie, vice president of the Maybee Society.
For further information about the Maybee Society, please visit their website.
";
var vMabeeStoneHouse ="
The Stone House
Built in 1705, the original one room house, with a very steep pitched roof, has a dutch style jambless fireplace, an area for a box bed, huge ceiling beams, and wide plank floors. Another room was added 1760 to accomodate Jan Mabee's growing family.
";
var vMabeeHours ="
Hours of Operation
" + ohours_mabee;
var vMabeeInn ="
The Inn
The inn was constructed in about 1790 to accommodate early travelers along the Mohawk River. General Phillip Schuyler and his men stayed here in 1792 while surveying the route for the Western Inland Navigation and Lock Company. The Erie Canal put the inn out of business when it opened in 1825.
";
var vMabeeLinks ="
";
var vMabeePrivate = "
Hold Your Next Event Here!
The Mabee Farm offers you an extraordinary locale for all your special events. From spring to mid-autumn, we offer spectacular grounds, views, and colors for that special happening in your life. Weddings and receptions, birthdays and anniversaries, family picnics and reunions, meetings and seminars, class and demonstrations, training space and more....they can all be accommodated in our spacious 52’ x 54’ Dutch barn and on our extensive grounds.
Consider the Mabee Farm....a hidden jewel in the Mohawk Valley....on the banks of the Mohawk River as the site of your next special event.
Reserve your event(s) dates now before your special dates are booked.
Call the Mabee Farm at 518-887-5073 or email us at mabeefarm@gmail.com for date availability and all rental details.
Make your special event a first class memory!!!
";
var vMabeeSlave ="
The Slave Quarters
South of the main house, this early 18th century multipurpose building was possibly erected on the foundations of an old trading post. It contains a basement kitchen and first and second story living quarters. This brick and clapboard building was once the home to the Mabee family's slaves. Later, in the 19th century, it became the home of Eva Mabee, and she lived there until the age of 92. It was boarded up after her death in the mid 19th century and remains in remarkably untouched condition.
";
var vMabeeCamp = "
Now your children can relive Colonial times while learning about 18th Century America!
The Mabee Farm will be hosting a week long living history summer day camp program for children ages 9-16, directed by re-enactor Jeffrey Tew. The camp will feature expert re-enactors who will use fun, hands-on daily activities to immerse the campers in all areas of Colonial America.
Fees: The cost is $200.00 per camper for the week long program.
Call for information on the 2009 season.
The camp will be meeting daily from 9am-3pm.
The Hands-on Activities and Lessons will Include:
Native Americans and Trade
Continental Soldiers
18th Century Literacy and Values
Colonial Children's Games and Activities
Leatherworking
Candle Making
Drills, Songs, and Battles
Colonial Artisans
For more information, or to register your children,
please call the Mabee Farm at (518) 887-5073.
We're a short drive from anywhere in the Capital Region! The Mabee Farm Historic Site is located on Route 5S in Rotterdam Junction, just a few miles west of NYS Thruway Exit 26 and within 30 minutes of most of the Capital Region.
";
var vMabeeSchool = "
Join the thousands of Greater Capital District school children who have experienced early colonial farm life in a real life setting at this 17th century Dutch farm, located in a picturesque setting along the banks of the Mohawk River.
Early Colonial history comes alive for 4th & 7th graders at nearby Mabee Farm. Our educational programs supplement New York State Social Studies standards. The Mabee Farm is listed with the BOCES Arts and Enrichment program.
We're booking school field trips for fall and spring dates now, so please contact our site manager Pat Barrot to reserve your date. (Pat can be reached at (518) 887-5073 or mabeefarm@gmail.com.) Dates fill up fast, so call or email soon!
Fees: The cost is $7.00 to $10.00 per student (depending on the number of presentations). There is no charge for accompanying adults, limited to 3 adults per group/station. The fee of $7.00 applies to more than 3 adults.
Demonstrations: Six or more hands on demonstrations are provided each day. Demonstrators are chosen by the farm according to availability. They may include:
*A tour of the house, inn, and slave quarters with a brief history of the Mabee family
*A working blacksmith
*Colonial militia re-enactors
*Sheep to shawl weaver (with sheep)
*Native American wampum making and discussion of the Iroquois Nation
*Butter making
*Broom making
*Archaeology
*Enslaved Peoples
*Daily life of an early Dutch farm child and quill writing
*Early colonial games
*Agriculture/gardening
*Transportation
*Candle making
*Rope making
*Log-hewing
Colonial Gift Shop: Visit our gift shop with educational and historical items, complete with history and instructions.
We're a short drive from anywhere in the Capital Region! The Mabee Farm Historic Site is located on Route 5S in Rotterdam Junction, just a few miles west of NYS Thruway Exit 26 and within 30 minutes of most Capital Region schools with no need to adjust bus schedules.
";
var vMabeeWork = "
Coming Soon
Our Instructors
";
var vMabeeBarn ="
The Dutch Barn
This amazing 54 foot by 52 foot New World Dutch Barn was built about 1760 near Johnstown, NY. It was moved to the Mabee Farm after 1998 to replace the barns which had burned in the 1900s. It is now used to house displays and exhibits.
Learn more on the story of how the Nilsen Barn came to the Mabee Farm,.
For more information on the Dutch Barn Preservation Society, visit them on the web at www.dutchbarns.org.
";
var vMabeeBateaux ="
History of the Bateaux
In the 18th century, the upper Hudson River and the lower Mohawk River (now the NYS Canal System) were not easy to navigate. Both rivers had stretches of deep placid water, but they also had sand bars, gravel bars, rock ledges, shallows, and rapids. In a dry year, there were places where the water was only six inches deep.
";
vMabeeBateaux +="Despite this, the two rivers were the easiest route, so a substantial amount of cargo was moved through the area. From the early 18th century, the military moved supplies to outposts along Lake Champlain, the Great Lakes, and the Canadian border. Later, agricultural products and furs traveled from the western lands, downstream to the cities along the coast. Finished goods and other necessities were carried back into the countryside.
";
vMabeeBateaux +="To travel on the rivers, a vessel that was both high in cargo capacity and shallow in draft was needed. From the early 1700s until the 1800s, the preferred vessel for river travel was the bateau. These boats were easy and cheap to construct, handy to row, pole, or sail, and spacious enough to hold a profitable cargo.
Schenectady was home to boat builders and dozens of boat crews that that served to bring goods west. Some trips were only as far as present-day Herkimer, while others went as far as Michilimackinac, an outpost at the straits connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron. A common commercial trip was to bring goods as far as Niagara Falls, where the goods were then loaded onto sloops to cross Lake Erie. The trip from Schenectady to Niagara and back took about one month to complete.
";
vMabeeBateaux +="A typical commercial boat was crewed by three men: one steering and the other two rowing, or all three poling the boat or hauling it through shallows. Any passengers were expected to help row.
During the French and Indian War in the 1750s, Pontiac's War in the 1760s, and the American Revolution in the 1770s, Schenectady and the Mohawk River saw fleets of bateaux used by the military. Often, the boat crews were enlisted from civilian bateaumen.
After the American Revolution, there was a concentrated effort to improve the river to allow larger boats to transport cargo. By the early 19th century, canals were replacing the natural river as the preferred navigational waterway, leading to the eventual disappearance of the bateau as a sensible means of transporting cargo.
";
vMabeeBateaux +=" Military and Commercial Cargo
Bateaux were cargo vessels, first and foremost. Supplies were usually packed in barrels, bales, or boxes, which were loaded into the bateaux for transport. The two most common types of bateaux in this area were the Schenectady and the Albany. The Schenectady, which was 30 to 35 feet long and 6 feet wide, could carry 1 1/2 tons of cargo or 33 soldiers and their equipment. The Albany, which was 25 feet long and 5 feet wide, could carry 1 ton of cargo or 15 soldiers and their equipment. In addition to their cargo, these bateaux carried a standard crew of three men and their personal belongings, plus food and supplies enough for a month's voyage.
Commercial cargo was primarily manufactured goods, moving westward to farms and settlements, and raw materials, moving eastward to population centers and seaports.
";
vMabeeBateaux +="Mabee Farm Bateaux
"De Sager & Bobbie G"
Maritime Academy students, under the watchful eye of teacher Greg Pattison, constructed the Mabee Farm bateaux modeled after those built in Schenectady during the Revolutionary War.
The bateaux, the "De Sager" and the "Bobbie G", are docked seasonally at the Mabee Farm dock on the Mohawk River. The bateaux have appeared in documentaries and films, including one on the Potomac River in Virginia for Greystone Films: George Washington, Man of Decision for the Mount Vernon Visitors Center. The bateaux also take part in the Mabee Farm’s annual re-enactment. The "DeSager" has also been sailed from Rotterdam Junction to Kingston for the "Burning of Kingston". The "DeSager" has also participated in events at Herkimer Home, Waterford, Edward Island, and Schenectady's Walkabout. The bateaux are cared for by volunteers, many of whom belong to the 2nd Albany Militia Re-enactment group.
";
vMabeeArtCraft ="
The 7th Annual Mabee Farm Arts & Crafts Festival will be held on August 28, 2010 from 10am - 5pm at the Mabee Farm Historic Site. The festival will feature the best in local area arts including pottery, wood crafting, handwovens, candles, jewelery, fine arts, painted furniture and so much more - over 50 artists and craftspeople!
Download the Mabee Farm Arts & Crafts Festival application here.
";
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AALTO
ABAK
ABAR
ABARE
ABBA
ABBALE
ABBATIELLO
ABBATO
ABBE
ABBEY
ABBITT
ABBOTT
ABBS
ABBUHL
ABDALLA
ABEAR
ABEEL-ABELL*
ABEL-ABELE
ABERBACH
ABERCROMBIE
ABRAHAM-ABRAHAMS
ABRAMS
ABREU
ACHILLES
ACKER-AKKER
VANDEN AKKER
ACKERMAN-
AKKERMAN
ACKERKNECHT
ACKLER
ADAIR
ADAMS*
ADAMSON
ADLE
ADRIANCE
ADSIT
AFFINITO
AGAN
AGARD
AHEARN-AHERN
AHREET
AIKEN
AINSLIE
AIRD
AKIN
AKULA
ALBER
ALBERS
ALBERT
ALBERTI
ALBERTS
ALBOHM
ALBRIGHT-VON (d)
ALBRICHSFELDT
ALBRO
ALDA
ALDEN
ALDRICH
ALESKIEWIZZ
ALESSANDRINI
ALEXANDER
ALEXANDERSON p
ALEXANDROWICZ
ALGER*d
ALHEIM
ALINGER
ALLAN d
ALLEN p
ALLER
ALLING
ALLIS
ALMY
ALSDORF
ALSTON
ALTER
ALTIERI
ALVORD
AMENT-AMEN
AMANS-AMONS
AMBLER
AMES*
AMEDORE
AMESDEN
AMMERMAN-AMERMAN
AMON
AMOS+
AMYOT
ANDERS
ANDERSON p
ANDRES
ANDREWS p-ANDREW
ANGELL-ANGEL
ANGERAMI
ANGEVINE
ANGIOLINI
ANGLE
ANGOLD
ANGUS*+
ANNENBERG
ANNIS
ANTHONEY-
ANTHONY
APPEL
APPERSON
APPLEGARTH
APPLETON
APPS p
ARAGONA
ARAGOSA
ARCHER
ARCHIBALD
ARGERSINGER
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ARKELL
ARKENBURGH
ARMER
ARMITAGE
ARMSTRONG p
ARNDT
ARNO=p
ARNOLD*-p
ARNOLDTS*
ARROWSMITH
ARTHUR
ARVER
ASHDOWN p
ASHLEY
ASHLINE
ASPINWALL
ASSELSTYNE(see also ESSELSTYNE-ESSELSTINE)
ASTON-ASHTON
ATHERTON
ATTANASIO
ATUESTA
ATWELL
ATWOOD
AUBE=
AUBREY
AUCHAMPAUGH
AUDET*
AUER
AUGUST
AUGUSTYNOWICZ
AUMIC-AUMICK
AURINGER
AUSSICKER
AUSTERMAN
AUSTIN
AVERY
AVLON
AXTELL
AYERS
AYLESWORTH
AYOTTE
AZMEER
";
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var fn_c ="";
var fn_d ="";
var fn_e ="";
var fn_f ="";
var fn_g ="";
var fn_h ="";
var fn_i ="";
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//almshouse
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//library
var vlibdefault ="Welcome!
The Grems-Doolittle Library is located at the Historical Society's Schenectady History Museum in the historic Stockade District of Schenectady, NY
";
vlibdefault += "
Welcome to the Grems-Doolittle Library and Archives where we
identify, collect, preserve and make available the records of enduring value which document the people and history of the City and County of Schenectady and, to a lesser degree, the surrounding areas and the State of New York.We invite you to visit us at the Historic Society’s Museum at 32 Washington Avenue in the Stockade Historic District where we will be happy to assist you researching topics relating to history or genealogy. Can’t stop by? Some of our services are available by filling out the handy forms provided.
";
vlibdefault += "We are a private organization that receives no tax support so fees are associated with certain services.
Donated materials are solicited and accepted in conjunction with our collections policy.
If you have questions about anything on this site relating to the Grems-Doolittle Library and Archives please feel free to drop a note to our librarian.
";
var vlibColl = "Collections Policy
Purpose
The purpose of the Grems-Doolittle Library and Archives is to identify, collect, preserve and make available the records of enduring value which document the people and history of the City and County of Schenectady and to a lesser degree, the surrounding areas and the State of New York.
";
vlibColl += "Audience
The collection will serve the needs of the general public as well as genealogists and other researchers. Materials from the collection may also be used for exhibits in the SCHS museum and by formal agreement at other similar institutions. The collection will not be aimed at researchers seeking technical materials related to General Electric or the American Locomotive Company. These researchers will be directed to the Schenectady Museum or other repositories.
";
vlibColl += "Collection Focus and Limitations
The library’s research and collecting focus is archival records, manuscript materials, and photographs describing the history of Schenectady from the first settlers in the 17th century up to the present. The library will acquire and accept materials that document Schenectady in the 20th century. New York State county histories will be add as they become available, along with a select number of publications by local authors of nonfiction when the subject matter relates to the culture or history of the focus area.
The library will not collect materials relating to the history and programs of local institutions which maintain their own archives, including The Schenectady Museum, Union College, Schenectady County Community College and the Adirondack Research Library. It will not generally collect materials related to the Adirondack area unless they are genealogical in nature.
";
vlibColl += "Formats
The following formats are acceptable:
- Print Material
- Books
- Pamphlets
- Broadsides
- Maps
- Periodicals (selected)
- Archival and manuscript material
- Architectural Materials
- Audio Recordings (Limited)
- Business Records, Correspondence
- Diaries and Memoirs
- Maps and Surveys
- Oral Histories with Transcripts Desired
- Organizational Records
- Professional, Personal and Family Papers
- School Records
- And digital versions of the above genres
- Artifacts:
Limited to small items, declined by the museum, with some family or local organization connection, such as pins, ribbons, mementos, etc. These are usually acquired by gift in mixed collections.
- Photographs: (all types), slides and negatives (selectively)
- Electronic or digital material:
Selected material originally produced in an electronic data processing or digital image form may be considered for acquisition if accessible for research, migration and preservation using industry accepted technologies, meet the Society's internal technical standards and fall within the collecting focus. Appropriate identifying and technical information must be provided with the material.
";
vlibColl += "- Formats not usually collected:
- Phonograph Records
- Other Sound Recordings
- 35mm Film
- Objects
- Newsprint (Except Selectively or For Copying)
- Sheet Music
- Textbooks
";
vlibColl += "Acquisition of Materials
Materials may be acquired by gift, bequest, purchase, transfer from other repositories or any other transaction that passes title of the materials to the Grems-Doolittle Library and Archives. Materials will be considered for addition to the collection if they support the stated purpose of the Library and Archives, if they are in acceptable condition, if the Library and Archives has the capacity to properly preserve, store and make them available for use, and if they are unencumbered by donor restrictions. As a rule, the library will not accept materials on temporary or permanent loan. Rare exceptions may be made by the librarian in consultation with the Library and Archives Committee and the approval of the Board of Trustees. A formal deposit agreement will be signed with the owner of the material. Materials with restrictions on its use will not generally be accepted. The Board of Trustees may accept such materials upon the recommendation of the Librarian and the Library and Archives Committee.
";
vlibColl += "Loan of Materials
Loans of materials may be made to other museums or organizations for exhibit. No loans will be made to individuals. Copies will be provided for exhibit use when possible. Loans will be made for a period not to exceed 6 months. Loans will be fully documented and an agreement signed by representatives of both institutions. Loans will only be made to those entities who will guarantee appropriate handling and display of materials. All loans must be approved by the Library and Archives Committee and reported to the Board of Trustees. Requests for the loan of any materials may be denied if, in the opinion of the archivist/librarian, the materials are regularly used by our patrons
";
vlibColl += "Disposal of Materials
Materials may be de-accessioned from the collection if they no longer meet the collection policy requirements, if they are in poor condition, if they are duplicates, if the Society is no longer able to care for them properly, if they lack usefulness for research or exhibit purposes.
The archivist/librarian will determine the need for removal of an item from the collection. Items of extremely high value will be referred to the Library and Archives committee for action. Items removed from the collection may be exchanged for an item of similar value from another repository or transferred to a more suitable repository. The disposition of these items will be recorded on the accession record. Items accepted for consideration but never accessioned into the collection may be disposed of at the librarian's discretion and according to any agreement with the donor. Materials of interest to local repositories will be offered to them first.
";
vlibColl += "Forms:
- Temporary custody
- Gift agreement
";
vlibColl1 = "LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
The Grems-Doolittle Library contains books and manuscripts focusing on genealogy and local history of the Schenectady County area, including the nearby counties in upstate New York from the colonial period to the present day.
Library holdings include:
- Bibles
- Books on Schenectady and New York State history and genealogy
- Broadsides
- Certificates, Diplomas, Awards
- City Directories
- Deeds
- Family files
";
vlibColl1 += "- Historic Manuscripts such as business accounts, land records, military commissions, wills
- Maps
- Newspapers published in Schenectady for the period 1790 – 1943
- Oral histories
- Periodicals
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
- Yearbooks
MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS
";
var vlibPolFee ="Library Policies and Fees
SCHS is a member supported non-profit organization that receives no tax support; therefore the following fees apply:
";
vlibPolFee +="Vital Records Requests (birth, marriage, death records)
Research is limited to the holdings of the Grems-Doolittle Library. The library has transcriptions of obituary and marriage notices from local newspapers from 1812-1884. (1824-1869 on microfilm). Look-ups of individual marriage or death records cost $5.00 per name. make requests here
";
vlibPolFee +="Research Fees
The fee for library research is $25.00 per hour of research time. Contact us by phone, fax, mail or email and please indicate the number of hours of search you wish to authorize.
If your request is genealogical, please send us a chart, with dates going back as far as you know them, indicating the surnames you wish to have searched. Also, please indicate whether the dates are firm, or whether you wish us to verify them through our records. Most important: please give us your surface mail address in case we need it to send you material that cannot be sent e-mail. Queries may be sent via U. S. Mail, emailed to our librarian or faxed to (518)374-0263. Please call first before faxing.
Queries are answered in order of their receipt. The length of time to respond depends on the volume of requests being handled in the same period.
";
vlibPolFee +="Photocopies
Photocopies are 20 cents per sheet for sizes 8.5 x 11 and 8.5 x 14.
Digital Copies of photographs and documents in the library can be done at the discretion of the library staff. When scans are made by staff using library equipment the charge for a single scan is $10.00 for a Tiff file and $5.00 for a jpeg file. Fees must be pre-paid. Library users may use their own equipment (such as cameras, cell phones or portable scanners) to make digital copies at the discretion of the library staff. The charge will be $5.00 for up to five scanned, or photographed images. There will be an additional charge of $5.00 for each image copied beyond the first five.
Please contact the library for information on permission to publish images or documents in the library collections.
";
vlibPolFee +=" Donating Books and Manuscripts:
Please contact the librarian if you are interested in donating materials to the library. The Library collects the records of enduring value which document the people and history of the City and County of Schenectady, and to a lesser degree, documents relating to the surrounding areas in New York State.
";
var vlibGeneHist ="Genealogy and History Links
Records
";
vlibGeneHist +="People Who Can Help You
";
vlibGeneHist +="Where to Research Genealogy and History
";
vlibGeneHist +="Other Schenectady County Resources
";
vlibGeneHist +="Other Genealogy Resources
";
//page below not currently used
var vlibvital ="Vital Records
The SCHS microfilm collection includes church records, Revolutionary War records, cemetery records, and the diary of Jonathan Pearson. We have every 1850 census record from every county in New York State, and the 1900 census from the entire state except the New York City area.
Some of our unique items include:
";
vlibvital += "- Letter books of Daniel Campbell (1740-1802), a wealthy Schenectady merchant, land owner and Indian trader whose house still stands at Church and State Streets.
- Churches Collection (1679 - ca. 1950, approx. 750 items) Records, histories, clippings and bulletins of churches in Schenectady and the lower Mohawk Valley, including St. George's Episcopal, Christ Episcopal, First Reformed, Second Reformed, Mont Pleasant Reformed, First Presbyterian, Florida (Scotch) Presbyterian, First English Lutheran, Trinity Methodist, Eastern Parkway Methodist, First Baptist, All Souls Unitarian, Evangelische Friedens-Gemeinde, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic, and St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Schenectady. Also records of Woestina Reformed Church and Second Reformed Church in Rotterdam, Second Presbyterian Church in Amsterdam, and Canajoharie Reformed Church.
";
vlibvital += "- Diary Collection A - D (1778-1895, 7 vols.)
- Anonymous agricultural diary with planting information, 1810-1811 Anonymous random notes on travel in Albany County, 1829 Martin Barringer, soldier with Co. K, 7th Regiment, of Erie, Ohio, 1859-1865 Hannah Baker Chase, Hector, Schuyler County and Hoosick, Rensselaer County, 1845-1851 Arent Curler, 1895 copy of 1643 diary Capt. John Davis, military diary, U.S. Army at Valley Forge, 1778
";
vlibvital += "- Diary Collection F - W (ca. 1660 - ca. 1900, 31 vols.)
- Dr. Michael Freligh on a trip from Schenectady to Plattsburgh in 1806 Harriet Bowers Mumford Page (1807-1867, a brilliant, educated society leader and wife of Alonzo C. Paige, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court), observations on the Schenectady community, ca. 1855-ca. 1865 Irving S. Vedder, 1877-1910 Abram O. Veeder, 1853-1854, 1859-1860 (with excerpts and summary compiled by Neil B. Reynolds in 1955) Thomas Wygant, diary of an overland journey to the Pacific, ca. 1850
";
vlibvital += "- Document Collection (ca. 1660 - ca. 1900, approx 1900 items) Business records, legal papers, commissions, deeds, broadsides, wills, political documents, and miscellany, many in Dutch, of Schenectady area individuals (including Ryer Schermerhorn) and families: Clute (Montgomery County), Glen, Van Antwerp, Van Curler, Van Eps / Van Epps, Van Rensselaer, Van Slyck, Van Voast, Veeder / Vedder, Vrooman, Wendell and Yates.
- Personal papers belonging to the "Electrical Wizard,"Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865-1923). Employed by the General Electric Co., Steinmetz was also a professor at Union College, and a member of the City Common Council under Socialist Mayor Lunn.
";
vlibvital += "- The letters of John Glen (1735-1828), quartermaster in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Stationed in Schenectady, Glen played host to General Washington. His house still stands south of the YWCA on Washington Avenue.
- Maps drawn by James Frost (1783-1851), surveyor for James Duane, the founder of Duanesburg. These and other Frost papers date from ca. 1800 to ca. 1820.
- Other maps (dating from 1831 to ca. 1925) include clippings, survey maps and blueprints illustrating railroad lines, Schenectady and its growth, and the Mohawk Valley. There are also plans of the Second Reformed Church of Schenectady.
";
vlibvital += "- Railroads Collection (1849-1932, over 250 items) Timetables, stock certificates, histories, agreements, legal papers, postcards, clippings, and tickets of and relating to various railroads (including the Utica and Schenectady, New York Central & Hudson River, and the Delaware & Hudson). There is also a Schenectady police report from 1902 about accidents at grade crossings.
- (Some of the above information was taken from Guide to HistoricalResources in Schenectady County New York Repositories, New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1983.)
";
//vital record pages
var svitrec_intro = "Vital Records at the Schenectady County Historical Society
This abbreviated list was compiled in 1991-92 by Rose Fetter and Ella Greene from the catalog of the Historical Society to facilitate quick retrieval by geographic location. The call number or other indicator is in brackets at the end of each entry.
GENEALOGIES AND HISTORIES NOT OTHERWISE CLASSIFIED
Registers of Births, etc.
U.S. Archives and Records Service Guide to Genealogical Research etc. [929.1 U]
American Marriage Records Before 1699
W. M. Clemens, ed., 244 pp, 1926 [929.3 C]
Obituaries cut from New York Genealogical and Biographical Record for years 1926-1938
[filed 1990 with miscellaneous church vital records]
American Ancestry, by Thomas Hughes
Name and descent, male line, of Americans whose ancestors settled in the United States prior to 1776. 10 vol. [929.1 A]
D.A.R. Patriot Index
";
svitrec_gen += "published 1966 [929.3 D]
American and English Genealogies in the Library of Congress
1910 edition [929 U]
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Priesthood Genealogy Seminar
Oct. 1977 [929.1 C]
";
var svitrec_usc = "UNITED STATES (except New York) AND CANADA
Canada)
Our French-Canadian Ancestors, by Thomas J. Laforest
1983 [929.2 L]
(Canada) - Tracing Your Ancestors in Nova Scotia [929.1 N]
(New England) - Moulthrop Miscellaneous Records
Family genealogies - Abbot to Deane only [929.1 M]
";
svitrec_usc +="Connecticut
Records of Congregational Church, Franklin, Conn. 1718-1860
Also a record of deaths in the Norwich Eighth Society, 1763, 1778, 1782, 1784-1802 [929.3 R]
(Connecticut) - Historical Catalogue of the First Church in Hartford, 1633-1885
[974.63 C]
(Connecticut) - Memorial History of Hartford County, by J. Trumbull, 1886
Covers 1633-1884 [974.62 T]
(Connecticut) - New London, First Reformed Church
Primary department and other statistics, has index [pamphlet in Connecticut file]
(Connecticut) - Norwich Eighth Society
Deaths 1763, 1778, 1782, 1784-1802 [929.3 S]
(Connecticut - Preston) - First Congregational Church Admissions, Marriages, Baptisms, Deaths
circa 1700-1845, copied by L. H. Payne [Connecticut file]
";
svitrec_usc +="Delaware
(Wilmington) - Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church
Catalogue and errata, published 1909 [975.12 B]
";
svitrec_usc +="Illinois
Genealogy Records Compiled by DAR
Vol. 2 - Port Byron Methodist Episcopal Church, 1833-1900; Congregational Church 1849-1900; etc.
Vol. 4 - Family and Court Records [929.3 D]
";
svitrec_usc +="Kentucky
(Mason County) - Marriage Bonds 1834-1860 [DAR Magazine]
";
svitrec_usc +="Maine
Public Record Repositories in Maine, 1976 [974.1 P]
";
svitrec_usc +="Maryland
Maryland Marriage Licenses, 1778-1800 [DAR Magazine]
";
svitrec_usc +="Massachusetts
(Boston) - Registers of Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 1630-1699 [974.46 B]
(Massachusetts - Boston) - Registers of Births, Marriages from 1700-1751 [974.46 B]
(Massachusetts - Lincoln) - Vital Records to Year 1850 [974.4 N]
(Massachusetts - Plymouth) - Epitaphs from Burial Hill, Plymouth, Mass., from 1657 to 1892... [974.48 K]
(Massachusetts - Plymouth) - Records of the Town of Plymouth, by Avery and Doten
2 vol. 1889
";
svitrec_usc +="New Jersey
Guide to Local Church Records in the Archives of the Reformed Church in America and to Genealogical Resources in the Gardner Sage Library in New Brunswick Theological Seminary, pub. 1979 [Church file?]
";
svitrec_usc +="North Carolina
Marriage Notices from the Raleigh Register & N.C. State Gazette, 1804-1905
In DAR Magazine, Nov. 1950, pp. 889-893
";
svitrec_usc +="Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Archives, fifth series, 1906 [974.8 N]
(Pennsylvania) - Records of Reformed Church of Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pa. ca. 1770-1831 [DAR Magazine]
(Pennsylvania) - Record of Jacobs Lutheran Church, near Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pa.
[DAR Magazine March, April, May 1950]
(Pennsylvania) - Smithfield Reformed Church
Baptisms, marriage records, etc. circa 1737-1805 [CH 517]
";
svitrec_usc +="South Carolina
Cemeteries of Laurens County, S.C. - Duncan Creek Presbyterian Cemetery
[DAR Magazine August 1949]
";
svitrec_usc +="Vermont
Town of St. Albans, Franklin County - Births
[DAR Magazine Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May 1950]
";
svitrec_usc +="Virginia
Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia, extracted from original court records
3 vols., pub. 1965 [975.5 C]
(Virginia) - Marriage Bonds in Buckingham County, Virginia, ca. 1784-1794
[DAR Magazine Sep. 1949]
(Virginia) - Early records of Hampshire County, Virginia, now West Virginia
pub. 1969 [975.4 S]
";
//schenectady vitals
svitrec_schen ="SCHENECTADY COUNTY, NEW YORK
(for cemeteries, see also items under City of Schenectady)";
svitrec_schen +="Duanesburg
Memorial Census for Duanesburg, by C. Foote
See Duanesburgh - Cemeteries in Pamphlet File
Records of Early Burial Places on the Farms in the town of Guilderland and surrounding towns [974.742 B]
(Duanesburg) - Christ Episcopal Church Records
Marriages, baptisms, deaths c. 1794-1863 by Howard McConville, typescript [974.744 Ch]
Duanesburg Reformed Presbyterian Church
Births, etc. [974.744 D]
Records from Quaker Street Friends Meeting House, 1811-1854
Copied by Howard McConville [974.744 R]
Christ Episcopal Church Records
Marriages and baptisms c. 1799-1868 [974.744 S]
(Esperance) - Cemeteries
See Duanesburgh - Cemeteries in Pamphlet File
";
svitrec_schen +="Glenville
See Schenectady, NY - Center Glenville United Methodist Church
Deaths and marriages copied from Glenville papers
c. 1830-1835, index [GN 333]
Reformed Cemetery Records, West Glenville
94 pp. [974.744 Ref]
Early Settlers of Glenville and Their Churches, by P. M. Van Epps
in Contributions to the History of Glenville, pp. 73-91 [974.744 V]
";
svitrec_schen +="Mariaville
(Mariaville) - Cemeteries - Batter Street Cemetery
Leonard Lester farm near Braman's Corners, 136 graves [Ch 713]
";
svitrec_schen +="Niskayuna
for Bethany Lutheran Church, see Grace Lutheran Church
Niskayuna Protestant Reformed Dutch Church - 1790-1837
Marriages, baptisms, deaths [974.744]
Cemeteries - Niskayuna Reformed Church
Records copied by E. D. Shaver, 1966, 44 pp. [974.744]
Niskayuna Reformed Church - baptismal marriage and death records 1783-1861
Photostat copies of church records, bound [974.744 N]
Niskayuna Reformed Church - Marriages performed by Rev. Thomas Romeyn, Jr.
1806-1827, index [Schenectady churches]
";
svitrec_schen +="Princetown
Christ Church of the Hills (Florida, Mariaville and Princetown Presbyterian Churches)
misc. records 1874-1960 [Microfilm]
Cemeteries - Records of early burial places on farms in Guilderland and surrounding towns
compiled by William A. Brinkman, 1940, 30 pp., index [974.742 B]
Cemeteries - Memorial Census for Duanesburgh and bordering towns
compiled by C. Foote, 1935, 2 vol. [Pamphlet File - Princetown]
Princetown Reformed Church - marriages by Rev. Thomas Romeyn, 1800-1802
2 pp. typed list [Pamphlet File - Princetown]
Records of First Dutch Reformed Church (Giffords Corners) 1814-1941
Registers of births, etc. [974.744]
";
svitrec_schen +="Fairview Cemetery Survey, June 1977, by Irma Mastrean
Located on North Kelly Road, Princetown, by Princetown Presbyterian Church
";
svitrec_schen +="Rotterdam
Rotterdam family burial plots and graves of ministers "to be marked" [misc. 342]
Records of early burial places - Rotterdam
compiled by William Brinkman, 1940, 30 pp., index [974.742 B]
Church and Cemetery Records of First or Woestina Reformed Church of Rotterdam
compiled by Donald A. Keefer, typed copy [974.744 R]
";
svitrec_schen +="Schenectady, City of
A. Items not otherwise classified
- Pamphlet on delayed registration of births, etc. [GN 213]
- 50th Wedding Anniversaries
- Scrapbook of newspaper reports, mostly 1930-1950, 142 pp. [974.74 S]
B. Indians, Blacks and Slaves
- The original baptismal records of the Indian natives baptised at the Dutch Reformed Church are available only in the vault of the Schenectady Dutch Reformed Church. Typed and printed copies of this information do not make the Indian heritage clear.
- Duryee Memorial A.M.E. Church, Hulett Street, has the oldest records of any black church in Schenectady
- Schenectady Slave Owners, 1767-1783, extracted from a record by Mary Stevens.
- See pp. 163-212 in vol. 2 of Hanson's History of St. George's Church. Indexed and arranged by Elsa Church, 1985, 7 pp. "Typed copy in folder."
C. Catholic, Jewish and German
- See Churches, Roman Catholic in pamphlet file.
- See individual church names in card catalog.
- St. Joseph's Church and Cemetery Records
Copied from stones by Susanne Reed, 1976, 24 pp. [974.744 Cem] See Schenectady, New York - Cemeteries in pamphlet file - Listings and inscriptions of Temple Gates of Heaven Cemetery as of 1983, 13 pp. typed
See Schenectady: Christian Temple in pamphlet file - Familien Register ser vormals...III Prot. Ref. Kirche 1860-1867 (in German)
- German Methodist Cemetery was located on Moyston Street, just off State Street. For information write to Vale Cemetery Association.
D. Protestant Churches: Pamphlet file - Churches are arranged by denominations, then by individual churches
- Listing of records kept by Schenectady County churches [974.744 C]
- History of St. George's Episcopal Church: 2 vol., printed 1919. Births, etc. [974.744]
- First United Methodist Church - marriages, etc. Unbound loose pages in a box. May contain other records than those in bound volumes. [974.744 S]
- First United Methodist Church. Records 1840-1910. Hand-typed. [974.744]
- Fiisher United Methodist Church, Helderberg Avenue: Notes by Mrs. Ralph Spring, 1982 [974.744]
";
svitrec_schen +="- First Presbyterian Church: Baptisms 1796-1860, marriages 1796-1850, membership prior to 1796, deaths. [974.744]
- State Street Presbyterian Church - Communicants, marriages, funerals, baptisms, etc. 1869-1884: hand-typed by Marie Noll Cormack, 62 pp. [974.744]
- First Reformed Church Doop-boek, or baptismal register: Pearson's translations and notes. Handwritten. [Ch 130-2] Registers of Births, etc. - Extracts from First Reformed Church Doop-boek, or baptismal register See pp. of New England Historical and Genealogical and Register, vol. 18, 19, 20.
- First Reformed Church: Membership list 1691-1942 [974.744]
- First Reformed Church - baptisms: Transcribed for Schenectady Genealogical Society by Furman and Cormack. Vol. I: 1694-1761, Vol. II: 1783-1938, index. [974.744]
- Second Reformed Church: Baptisms, marriages, deaths, c. 1851-1950, typescript. [974.744]
E. Cemeteries and Obituaries
See also churches listed under sections B, C, D. See also current file of death notices from Schenectady Gazette compiled by Elsa Church.
Scotia
";
// new york vitals
var svitrec_ny ="NEW YORK STATE - GENERAL, NOT OTHERWISE CLASSIFIED
Cemeteries - Tablets in [Misc. 814]
Cemeteries - Cato-Meridian [Misc. 768]
Early Settlers of New York State; their ancestors and descendants
";
svitrec_ny +="periodical by Janet Wethy Foley, vol. I, II, III [929 E]
Palatines in New York State, by Ulrich Simmendinger [Pamphlet file]
Genealogy - New York State, Book of names especially related to early Palatines and first settlers in New York State - Mohawk Valley
by L. D. MacWethy [929.1 M]
Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Members
by Cuyler Reynolds [929.1 R]
";
svitrec_ny +="Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and Hudson River Valley
by Cuyler Reynolds [929.1 R]
Six generation ancestor tables
Central New York Genealogical Society, 1976, Books 1 and 2 [929.1 S]
Genealogical Notes of New York and New England Families
by S. V. Talcott, 1883 [929.1 T]
Vital records compiled from miscellaneous newspapers 1826-1899
52 pp., index, typed, includes Cayuga and Ontario Counties [929.1 V]
";
svitrec_ny +="Names of persons for whom marriage licenses were issued previous to 1784
cover title: "New York Marriages" [929.3 N]
Guide to Vital Statistics Records of Churches in New York State
exclusive of New York City, WPA 1942 [974.7 H]
Reformed Church in America - "Ecclesiastical records of New York" [974.7 N]
";
svitrec_ny +="Registers of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths of the Eglise Francoise a la Nouvelle York: from 1688 to 1804
by Rev. A. Wittmeyer (in French language] [974.71 W]
(Shawangunk, New York) - Reformed Dutch Church Records 1751-1813; bound with Flatbush Dutch Church records, Bergen, New Jersey [974.734 H]
Gallatin Reformed Church, 1748-1899
Also Stissing Church, Reformed Dutch Church of Greenbush, Vedder Church, etc. [974.741 Gal. Ref.]
";
svitrec_ny +="ALBANY COUNTY, NEW YORK
Annals of Albany
by Joel Munsell, 10 vol., includes Genealogy [974.742 M]
Holland Society Year Book 1904
";
svitrec_ny +="Vol. 15 pp. 1-106 Marriages, baptisms, etc. of Church of Jesus Christ in New Albany, post 1682 [974.71 H]
Dutch Settlers Society of Albany Yearbooks 1924-1972 [369 D]
Albany First Dutch Reformed Church
Compiled by Paul M. Schrodt, 6 pp. typed [Ch. 48]
Albany First Dutch Reformed Church
Notes copied from Deacons First Book of Albany Dutch Church, ca. 1667 [Ch.56]
Albany Reformed Church Records, ca. 1683-1804 [974.742 A]
(Bethlehem) - Records of the People of the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, 1698-1880
461 pp. [974.744 B]
(Colonie) - Boght Reformed Church [974.742 C]
(Colonie) - Lisha Kill Reformed Church and Cemetery records
";
svitrec_ny +="by E. D. Shaver, 1983 [Pamphlet File - Lisha]
(Guilderland) - DAR, Pilgrimage to graves of 106 Revolutionary soldiers in the towns of Guilderland, New Scotland and Bethlehem
pub. 1940 [974.742 D]
(Guilderland) - Bible and family records
by William Brinkman, 1943 [974.742 B]
(Guilderland) - Places of burial and sketches of some Guilderland soldiers of Revolutionary War and records of farm burial places in town of Guilderland,NY
";
svitrec_ny +="by William Brinkman, 1946, 43 pp. typed [974.742 B]
(Guilderland) - Records of some early settlers in town of Guilderland, the Helderburgh, and Normanskill regions
by William Brinkman, 1944, 22pp. [974.742 B]
(Guilderland and Helderberg) - Church baptismal records 1786-1860
by Donald A. Keefer, 172 typed pages [974.742 H]
(Knox) - see Memorial Census for Duanesburg, by Clarence Foote
[Pamphlet File - Cemeteries]
Story of New Amsterdam
extracts from Dutch records [974.71 H]
(Newtonville) - Newtonville Methodist Church Records
by Elizabeth D. Shaver, 128 typed pages, 1985 [974.742 S]
";
svitrec_ny +="(Rensselaerswyck) - Early Records [974.742 A]
(Rensselaerswyck) - Settlers from 1630-1646; Passengers to New Netherland, 1658 [974.71 H]
";
svitrec_ny +="CAYUGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Cayuga County Cemeteries [Pamphlet File]
";
svitrec_ny +="CHENANGO COUNTY, NEW YORK
Registers of births, etc.
Compiled from miscellaneous newspapers, 1826-1889 [929.1 V]
St. Andrews Episcopal Church Records
New Berlin, New York, typed copy [974.733 N]
";
svitrec_ny +="COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Baptismal Records - St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Churchtown, New York (Lutheran Church of Claverack), 1760-1899
(Kelly Collection) [974.739 Chu. Lut.]
Claverack Reformed Church, 1727-1899
(Kelly Collection) [974.739]
Germantown Reformed Church, 1729-1898
(Kelly Collection) [974.739]
Germantown Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
Registers of Births, etc. [974.739 G]
";
svitrec_ny +="Hillsdale Reformed Dutch Church (Krum Church), (Dutch Church of New Claverack) 1776-1849
(Kelly Collection) [974.749]
Kinderhook Reformed Church, 1718-1899
Baptismal records (Kelly Collection) [974.739]
(Livingston) - Linlithgo Reformed Church
Baptismal Records, 1722-1899 (Kelly Collection) [974.739]
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manorton, NY 1765-1872
and Lutheran Church of Livingston [974.739]
West Copake Reformed Church, 1783-1899 (Kelly Collection) [974.739]
";
svitrec_ny +="DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
(Brunswick) - Gilead Lutheran Church, 1777-1886
Baptismal records (Kelly Collection) [974.741 Brun]
(Gallatinville) - Gallatin Reformed Church
";
svitrec_ny +="(Reformed Dutch Church of Greenbush) 1748-1899 [974.741 Gal]
(Hillsdale) - Reformed Church (Krum Church)
and Dutch Church of New Claverack, 1776-1849 [974.739 Hil]
(Red Hook) - St. Paul's (Zion's) Lutheran Church
Baptismal records, 1730-1899 (Kelly Collection) [974.733 Red]
(Poughkeepsie) - Records of Christ Church [974.733]
(Rhinebeck) - Church of Rhinebeck Flats
Baptisms, 1731-1899 (Kelly Collection) [974.733 Rhi]
(Rhinebeck) - St. Peter's Lutheran Church
(known as Stone Church) Baptisms 1733-1899 [974.733 Rhi - Lut 1]
(Rhinebeck) - St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg
Baptismal records, 1760-1899 [974.733 Rhi - Lut 2]
";
svitrec_ny +="FULTON COUNTY, NEW YORK
Cemeteries [Pamphlet file]
Cemetery Records - Johnstown and Ephratah [974.747 F]
(Johnstown) - List of burials in Old Colonial Cemetery [Ch. 710]
";
svitrec_ny +="GREENE COUNTY, NEW YORK
(Athens) - Zion Lutheran Church of Loonenburg,
(now Athens) 1704-1789 [974.737 A]
(Coxsackie) - Reformed Church, 1738-1899 [974.737]
";
svitrec_ny +="HERKIMER COUNTY, NEW YORK
Herkimer County Cemetery Records
(loose-leaf notebook) [974.761 H]
Baptism Record of Reformed Church, Herkimer 1801-1899
by Arthur C. M. Kelly [974.761 K]
(German Flats) - Fort Herkimer Baptismal records [974.747 K]
Cemeteries - Van Hornesville [Pamphlet File - Cemeteries]
";
svitrec_ny +="JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK
Cemeteries - Jefferson County [Pamphlet File - Cemeteries]
";
svitrec_ny +="MADISON COUNTY, NEW YORK
Cazenovia Methodist Church
Members and baptisms, 1830-1876 [Pamphlet File]
";
svitrec_ny +="MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NEW YORK
(Canajoharie) - Canajoharie Reformed Church, 1822-1833
Baptisms and other records [Ch. 289-306, Ch. 317-318, Ch. 412, Ch. 462-463]
(Florida) - United Presbyterian Church
ed. R. W. Vosburgh, 24 pp. typed [Montgomery County mss. file]
Montgomery County - cemetery records
";
svitrec_ny +="mostly 19th century - loose-leaf scrapbook [974.746 C]
Rev. James Dempster church records 1778-1803 [974.746 D]
Vital Statistics of Montgomery County 1943
compiled by E. B. Kipp from Schenectady Gazette [974.746 K]
Montgomery County births, marriage records etc.
compiled by Melvin W. Lethbridge 1795-1876 [Montgomery County pamphlet file]
(Amsterdam) - Second Presbyterian Church 125th anniversary
1800-1925, 25 pp. [Ch. 87]
(Canajoharie) - St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
1840-1935 [Montgomery County pamphlet file]
(Canajoharie) - Registers of births, baptisms
handwritten lists 1822-1833 [Ch. 289]
";
svitrec_ny +="(Canajoharie Falls) - Cemetery - Names of Persons
(Crouch, Lane, Lumbard, Robinson, Yates) [Montgomery County pamphlet file]
Fonda Cemeteries - by William A. Brinkman 1940
Records of early burial places [974.742 B]
(Fonda) - Baptism Record of Caughnawaga Reformed Church, 1758-1899
Middletown (Mapletown) Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 1803-1891
complied by Donald A. Keefer [974.746 K]
(Princetown) - see Florida entry
(Stone Arabia) - Registers - Names, especially relating to Palatines and first settlers
Records from graveyard and congregational register [929.1 M]
(Stone Arabia) - Trinity Lutheran Church Records
1735-1814, typescript [974.746 S]
";
svitrec_ny +="NEW YORK CITY (COUNTY)
(Flatbush) - Dutch Church records
bound together with (Shawangunk) - Reformed Protestant Dutch Church records 1751-1815 [974.734 H]
(New York City) - Registers of Births, etc. [974.71 H]
(New York City) - Brick Presbyterian Church - 1809-1908 [974.71 N]
(New York City) - Trinity Church - 1750-1874 [974.71 N]
(New York City) - French Church - 1688-1804 [974.71 W]
Genealogy (New York City) - Reformed Church in America
Church records etc. in Gardner Sage Library [See Ref. Ch. Amer.]
St. Matthew's Evangelical Church, New York City
Early records of Lutheran Church [Holland Society Year Book]
";
svitrec_ny +="NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Inscriptions and graves in Niagara Peninsula
by Janet Carnochan, 147 pp. [974.798 N]
";
svitrec_ny +="ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Oneida County Cemetery Records
loose-leaf notebook [974.762 O]
Cemeteries - Oneida County, New York [Pamphlet File - Cemeteries]
";
svitrec_ny +="ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK
Vital Records compiled from various newspapers 1826-1889 [929.1 V]
";
svitrec_ny +="ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
Florida Cemeteries, compiled by C. Foote
See "Memorial Census for Duanesburgh..." [Pamphlet File - Duanesburg]
Note: Christ Church of the Hills was formed from: Florida United Presbyterian, Mariaville Presbyterian and Princetown Presbyterian Churches
Machackemeck Gravestone Inscriptions, Port Jervis
published 1913 [Pamphlet File]
";
svitrec_ny +="ORLEANS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Vital records compiled from miscellaneous newspapers 1826-1899 [929.1 V]
";
svitrec_ny +="OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK
Cemetery Records - typewritten [974.767 O]
";
svitrec_ny +="RENSSELAER COUNTY, NEW YORK
(Schodack) - Reformed Church Records 1770-1831 [974.741 S]
";
svitrec_ny += svitrec_schen;
svitrec_ny +="SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
Saratoga County Cemeteries - Epitaphs [2 reels of Microfilm]
Saratoga County Church Records - various - typed [974.748 S]
Saratoga County Cemeteries
2 vol., published 1940 [974.748 S]
Saratoga County Cemeteries
NEHGS Nexus, v. 1 1984 [Saratoga County Pamphlet File]
Genealogical Guide to Saratoga County, 1980 [Saratoga County Pamphlet File]
Charlton Records - various - typed - in binder [974.748 C]
Gravesites of Charlton Residents in the Revolution
[Saratoga County Pamphlet File]
Charlton Cemeteries in "Memorial Census for Duanesburg"
";
svitrec_ny +="[Pamphlet File, Duanesburg Cemeteries]
Clifton Park Cemeteries
copied mostly from Durkee's Saratoga County cemetery records 1874-78 [974.748]
Half-Moon Cemeteries
compiled by H. I. Becker, 1963 [974.748 B]
Mechanicville Cemeteries [974.748 V]
(Schuylerville) - Reformed Dutch Church records 1790-1857
loose-leaf notebook [974.748 S]
Vischers Ferry Cemeteries
compiled by H. E. Becker [974.748 B]
(Vischers Ferry) - Amity Reformed Church records
See Schenectady, NY - Churches in pamphlet file [Ch. pamphlet file]
";
svitrec_ny +="ADDITIONAL COUNTIES TO BE ENTERED:
SCHOHARIE COUNTY, NEW YORK
SENECA COUNTY, NEW YORK
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
TIOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK
WARREN COUNTY, NEW YORK
WASHINGTON COUNTY, NEW YORK
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK
";
//News
var sNewsroot = 'http://www.schenectadyhistory.net';
//events
var oevt1 = "Architecture in Miniature: An Exhibit of Models from Schenectady’s Stockade Historic District
Historic SocietyJune 20 1-2pm
As part of an in-depth look at the architecture and history of Schenectady, fourth grade students from Schalmont Central and Mariaville Elementary School have created models of four of the Stockade’s most architecturally interesting buildings. Students toured the historic Stockade District of Schenectady with teachers Carol Kramer and Krista Gillis. After learning about the architectural styles of each building and the overall history of the Stockade, students visited the Schenectady County Historical Society and Grems-Doolittle Library to research their buildings and the personalities that inhabited early Schenectady.
An 18th Century Market Fair will also take place, comprising a vibrant blend of Colonial period craftsmen and merchants.
Great educational fun for the whole family!
Visit the Schenectady County Historical Society on June 20th for the unveiling of the models and portraits created by the next generation of Schenectady architects, artists, historians, and preservationists. The models and portraits will be on display from the 20th to the 27th of June. After which, they will be moved to the Schenectady County Historical Society’s exhibit at Rotterdam Square Mall. Make sure to stop by for a shopping break to see what’s new at the historical society.
Early Technologies Day
Mabee FarmAugust 1
Learn about fire starting, cordage and deer sinew, brain tanned leather working, quill work, powder horn engraving, tinsmithing, blacksmithing, basket making, beadwork and more! Highlights of the day will include a hands-on flint knapping workshop and atlatl throwing with Barry Keegan. Bring your Native artifacts for identification by the Van Epps Hartley Chapter of the New York State Archaeology Association.
Henry Hudson's World and his Maps.
Saturday, January 9
1:30 pm Refreshments 2:00 pm Program. Avid map collectors Cal and Carol Welch will talk about maps Henry Hudson might have seen before he sailed on his vovage of discovery in 1609. They will discuss what little is known about Hudson and follow that by pictures of maps of the Arctic and Northeastern North America, all created or printed before 1609, and relate each to Hudson and his voyages. While little is known about Hudson himself, much is known about Jodocus Hondius, the famous mapmaker who introduced him to the Dutch. Hudson’s friend Captain John Smith was a skilled mapmaker and his communications with Hudson were important.
'River Transportation on the Mohawk' by Phil Lord
Saturday, February 13, 2010
1:30 pm Refreshments 2:00 pm Program
Canalfest/Canalsplash
Mabee FarmAugust 8 - 9. 2009
Musicians and artists gather for 2 days of entertainment and workshops
Arts & Crafts Festival
Mabee FarmAugust 22
The festival will feature the best in local area arts including wood crafting, folk art, jams, handwovens, candles, jewelry, fine arts, painted furniture, artisan demonstrations and traditional music.
History Day – Dutch Influence in New York / Bi-centennial Treasures Day
Mabee Farm
September 12, 2009
Lectures include: Robert Trent – former curator of Wintarthur on Dutch Furniture; John Stevens – author of Dutch Vernacular Architecture in North America, 1640-1830; Bill McMillian – Restoration Expert from Historic Richmond Town, S.I. – architectural tour of Mabee Buildings; Keith Cramer – President of Dutch Barn Preservation Society and more! Bring your historic treasures from your attic for identification.";
var oevt8 = "Farm & Foliage Day
Mabee FarmOctober 17, 2009
Join us for family fun – pumpkin painting, scarecrow making, pony rides, hay rides, crafts, artisans and real family fun!
Sponsored by the County of Schenectady
Mabee Farm Opens For 2009
Mabee FarmMay 5, 2009
Schenectady County History and Heritage Weekend
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Family activities at SCHS and Stockade Tours. Talk with 17th century interpreters and hear tales of Native Americans, the Dutch, and the Englsih.
Festival of Trees
SCHS & YWCANovember 27 - December 6, 2009
";
oevt11 +="
Nov. 27 and 28: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Nov. 29: Noon - 4 p.m.
Weekdays: 1 - 4 p.m.
";
oevt11 +="
Dec. 5: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Dec. 6: noon - 4 p.m.
December 2: Evening Reception
Stockade Walkabout
SCHSSeptember 26, 2009
Tour the houses and enjoy a wonderful day in the stockade
Tour tickets will be available from our online store soon.
Why New Netherland Matters
Saturday, June 12, 2010
2:00 pm Program
by Joyce Goodriend.
Dr. Goodfriend's presentation answers fascinating questions about our founding myths and legends, including a new look at the lives of slaves in New York. Celebrations throughout 2009 of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River in 1609 inspired many researchers, Dr. Joyce Goodfriend among them, to bring to our attention the latest research on the history of early New York. Her scholarly research into contemporary traveler’s accounts and her examination of period artwork reveals a more complete picture of our nation’s early multicultural history.";
oevt13 +="
* Only 75 tickets available * $5.00 donation per person requested.
";
oevt13 +="
For reservations: (518) 374-0263 For more information: librarian@schist.org
Genealogy Day
SCHSNovember 7, 2009";
oevt14 +="
Join us for a day exploring family history
Use the library";
oevt14 +="—— volunteers are on hand to help you
Interview with Don Rittner, County Historian,";
oevt14 +="to share family history
Attend a free genealogy session —— speakers will guide you with your research";
oevt14 +="
Pick up a free Grems-Doolittle Library booklet: Guide to Family Research in Schenectady County
";
oevt14 +="
10:00 a.m. City Directories by Frank Taormina
11:00 a.m. Immigration Records Research by Peter Sisario
";
oevt14 +="
12:00 noon Lunch - Bring your own (beverages and desserts provided)
1:00 p.m. The Schenectady Digital History Archive";
oevt14 +=" by Robert Sullivan
2:00 p.m. Efner History Center by Cindy Seacord
3:00 p.m. New York State Library for Researchers";
oevt14 +=" by Nancy Curran
Don Rittner, Schenectady County Historian, and Lisa Overhouser, Folklorist, NYS";
oevt14 +=" Folklore Society, will conduct oral history interviews throughout the day. RSVP to";
oevt14 +=" reserve a time or drop in to share your memories of living and working in Schenectady.
Reunion of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni
SCHSJune 25, 2010 10 am to Noon
With Marty Podskoch
Mr. Podskoch will give a short presentation and invite participants to share memories of the camps.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC),estabished on March 31,1933, was part of FDR's New Deal efforts to relieve poverty and unemployment during the Depression. The CCC was disbanded in 1942 because its men were needed in World War II.
Exhibit: 'The Most Beautiful Land': Schenectady County's History
SCHSMay 2009 through February, 2010
Museum Hours
Starting May, 2009 The Society celebrates the 200th anniversary of Schenectady County with an exhibit that explores the complete history of Schenectady County and its inhabitants from the indigenous Kanein'kehake (Mohawk)community, the Dutch settlers, all the immigrant communities that called Schenectady home in the twentieth century. It will also explore the many facets of their economic success including early industries, trade along the Mohawk and the later Erie Canal.
