Chemung County Historical Society facts for kids
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| Established | 1923 |
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| Location | 415 East Water Street Elmira, New York |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
The Chemung County Historical Society is a special place in Elmira, New York. It's located in an old building called the Chemung Canal Bank Building. This society works to collect, protect, and share the history of the Chemung River Valley area.
The society started in 1923. It officially became a non-profit group in 1947. Today, it runs two important places: the Chemung Valley History Museum and the Booth Library. Both are educational places that help people learn about history. The society is also recognized by the American Alliance of Museums.
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Discovering the Society's History
In November 1923, a group of people decided to create a historical society in Elmira. Dr. Arthur W. Booth, who led a local group called the Sons of the American Revolution, suggested it. He wanted to save historical papers and items for future generations.
Dr. Booth and others, like Harry Hoffman and Chester Howell, helped start the society. Volunteers began collecting old documents and artifacts. This was the very beginning of the Chemung County Historical Society.
In 1947, the state of New York officially recognized the society. By 1977, the leaders realized they needed more space. They chose the old Chemung Canal Bank building because it was big and had its own history. After many years of planning, the building was ready in 1993. The society was first recognized by the American Alliance of Museums in 1986. It was recognized again in 1999. Today, the society has a team of staff members. People from all over the United States and Canada are also members.
Where to Find the Society
The Chemung County Historical Society is at 415 East Water Street in Elmira, New York. It's inside the old Chemung Canal Bank Building. This building holds two main parts of the society. The Chemung Valley History Museum is on the first floor. The Booth Library and its archives are on the second floor.
From 1834 to 1920, this building was the main office for the Chemung Canal Bank. Later, it was used for different offices. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it's so important. It was first built with two and a half stories. A third story was added in 1868. The building is made of brick with special stepped gables. This was unusual because most buildings in Elmira back then were made of wood. The bank building was designed in a style called Greek Revival. It had a stone entrance with steps and a fancy iron railing. The building was updated in 1903. This happened when the Chemung Canal Bank joined with the Elmira Trust Company. In 1920, the Chemung Canal Trust Company moved to a new place. The Arnot Realty Company then bought the old bank building.
What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits
The Chemung County Historical Society has a huge collection. It includes documents, photos, books, maps, and many historical items. There are more than 18,000 three-dimensional objects. This includes a large collection of old clothes and fabrics.
Exploring the Chemung Valley History Museum
The Chemung Valley History Museum usually displays over 200 items. This is only a small part of their total collection! Some popular things you can see include items from Mark Twain's life. There's also a mammoth tusk and many items from the American Civil War.
The museum has four main exhibit areas. These are The Bank Gallery, The Brick Barn Gallery, The Howell Gallery, and the Frances Brayton Education Room. The Bank Gallery has a main exhibit that was updated in 2014. It shows an overview of Chemung County's history. It also has a special look at Mark Twain's time in Elmira. The Barn and Howell Galleries have changing exhibits. These new displays appear several times a year.
Discovering the Booth Library
The Booth Library holds more than a million items. This includes 2,500 books, 14,000 photographs, and 30,000 handwritten papers. There are also 11,000 maps and building plans. These collections date from the late 1700s to today.
You can find personal papers from people who lived in the Chemung Valley. There are also resources about Mark Twain's life in Elmira. The library has documents about the American Civil War. It also has information about the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad in the Chemung Valley. Plus, there are many other resources about daily life in Chemung County.
Awards and Achievements
The Chemung County Historical Society has earned many grants and awards. For 14 years, they received grants from the state arts council. These grants helped them create programs for schools in rural areas. For 20 years, they received money from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This helped with their general operating costs. They also received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 2005, they got a Save Our History grant from The History Channel. In 2013, they received a Certificate of Commendation for their exhibit "Til Death Do Us Part: Wedding and Funeral Traditions in Chemung County." This award came from MuseumWise.
The American Association for State and Local History has given the society several awards. They received the Award of Merit and Certificate of Commendation for museum exhibits and programs. These included: A Heritage Uncovered: the Black Experience in Upstate New York; Outsiders All: Nineteenth Century Prisons, Mental Hospitals and Asylums; and The High Line: A City Divided, A City United. The Historical Society also received an Award of Merit from the Upstate History Alliance. This was for the Chemung Historical Journal in 2003. They also won for the exhibit Never Done: Women and Work in Chemung County, 1880-1920 in 2010.
The society also received a National Award of Merit from the Retirement Research Foundation. This was for a video called A Heritage Uncovered. This video was even shown on PBS Television Network. The Chemung Valley History Museum is recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. In 1999–2000, it was chosen as one of six museums in the Mid-Atlantic region to join their National Interpretation Project.
