Holland Society of New York facts for kids
The Holland Society of New York is a special group that studies history and family trees. It was started in 1885 in New York City. Its main goal is to collect and save information about New Netherland. This was a Dutch colony in North America.
The society works to learn about the people who lived in the colony. They also study its government, how people lived together, and their religions. They help people research their family history. They also publish books and papers about history.
The Holland Society is famous for starting projects like the New Netherland Project. This project translates old records from the 1600s. These records are kept at the New York State Archives.
Contents
What is the Holland Society?
The Holland Society of New York is a historical and genealogical organization. It helps people learn about their Dutch ancestors. It also helps preserve the history of the early Dutch settlements in America.
Why was it started?
The society was founded to keep the history of New Netherland alive. New Netherland was a Dutch colony that later became New York. The founders wanted to make sure that the stories and records of the first Dutch settlers were not forgotten.
What do they do?
The society collects many types of historical information. They gather details about the lives of the early colonists. This includes their daily routines, how they governed themselves, and their beliefs. They also help people trace their family roots back to these early settlers.
The New Netherland Project
One important project is the New Netherland Project. This project translates old Dutch documents. These documents are from the 17th century, which is the 1600s. Translating them helps historians and the public understand more about that time. These old papers are stored in the New York State Archives.
Who can join the society?
To become a member of the Holland Society, you need to have a special family connection. Both boys and girls can join. You must be a direct descendant of someone who lived in New Netherland. This ancestor must have lived there before or during the year 1675.
Famous members
Many well-known people have been members of the Holland Society. These include famous actors like Cecil B. DeMille, Humphrey Bogart, and Henry Fonda. Two United States Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt, were also members. The famous writer John Updike was a member too.
The Society's Library
The Holland Society has its own library. It holds about 7,000 books. These books cover local histories and family histories. They also have many books about genealogy, which is the study of family lines.
What can you find there?
The library also has many special files. These files contain old letters, photographs, and family trees. They also have newspaper clippings. All these items help people learn more about the history of New Netherland and its families.
See also
In Spanish: Sociedad Holandesa de Nueva York para niños
