This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you
should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me
and I will update the file.
 
Bill Green         bgreen@milo.nodak.edu     bill90@Delphi.Com
 
Date of last update: 4 November 1993
 
************************************************************************
 
      GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF NEW YORK
                       4 March 1989
                      Robert McLaren
                    7810 Kincardine Ct.
                 Alexandria, VA 22310-4025
 
The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical
societies in New York.  Included in the listing, where known, are telephone
numbers and yearly dues.  This listing is donated to the public domain and
may be freely copied.  Under no conditions can this listing be sold or used
in any other commercial fashion.  If you think this list has any value, then
donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or the National
Genealogical Society).
 
If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember
to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE).  Many of these societies
work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to
respond unless a SASE is included in your letter.
 
     New York State Historical Association
     Fenimore House, Lake Road
     Cooperstown, NY 13326
       Dues:
 
     Central New York Genealogical Society
     Box 104
     Department TT-88
     Colvin Station
     Syracuse, NY 13205
       Dues:  $15.00 per year
 
     Western New York Genealogical Society, Inc.
     Box 338
     Hamburg, NY 14075
       Dues:
 
     Northern New York American-Canadian Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1256
     Plattsburgh, NY 12901
       Dues:  $12.50 per year (single); $17.50 per year (family)
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 6398
     New York, NY 10128
       Dues:  $15.00 per year (New York City Area)
              $10.00 per year (more than 100 miles outside of NYC)
 
Albany County
 
     Capital District Genealogical Society
     Box 2175
     Plaza Station
     Albany, NY 12220
       Dues:
 
     Bethlehem Historical Society
     Clapper Road
     Selkirk, NY 12158
       Dues:
 
     Albany Institute of History and Art
     McKinney Library
     125 Washington Ave.
     Albany, NY 12210
 
Bronx County
 
     Bronx County Historical Society
     3309 Bainbridge Avenue
     Bronx, NY 10467
       Dues:
 
Cattaraugus County
 
     Town of Dayton Historical Society
     P.O. Box 15
     Dayton, NY 14041
       Dues:
 
Cayuga County
 
     Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society
     Box 241
     Moravia, NY 13118
       Dues:
 
Chautauqua County
 
     Chautauqua County, New York Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 404
     Fredonia, NY 14063
       Dues:  $7.00 per year (single); $9.00 per year (family)
 
     Chautauqua County Historical Society
     Box 7
     Westfield, NY 14787
       Dues:
 
     Fenton Historical Society
     67 Washington Street
     Jamestown, NY 14701-6697
       Dues:
 
Chemung County
 
     Chemung County Historical Society
     415 East Water Street
     Elmira, NY 14901
       Dues:
 
     Twin Tiers Genealogical Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 763
     Elmira, NY 14902
       Dues:  $4.00 per year
 
Clinton County
 
     Northern New York American-Canadian Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 1256
     Plattsburgh, NY 12901
       Dues:
 
Columbia County
 
     Columbia County Historical Society
     Box 311
     Kinderhook, NY 12106
     (518) 758-9265
 
Cortland County
 
     Cortland County Historical Society Inc
     25 Homer Avenue
     Cortland, NY 13045
       Dues:
 
Dutchess County
 
     Dutchess County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 708
     Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
       Dues:  $15.00 per year
 
     Dutchess County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 88
     Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
       Dues:
 
     Pleasant Valley Historical Society
     Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
       Dues:
 
Erie County
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of Buffalo
     c/o Muriel Selling
     165 Denrose Dr. #5
     Tonawanda, NY 14150
       Dues:
 
Essex County
 
     Adirondack Genealogical-Historical Society
     100 Main Street
     Saranac Lake, NY 12983
 
Franklin County
 
     Franklin County Historical and Museum Society
     51 Milwaukee Street
     Malone, NY 12953
       Dues:
 
     Adirondack Genealogical-Historical Society
     100 Main Street
     Saranac Lake, NY 12983
       Dues:
 
Greene County
 
     Greene County Historical Society
     Bronck Museum
     Coxsackie, NY 12051
 
Herkimer County
 
     Herkimer County Historical Society
     400 N. Main St.
     Herkimer, NY 13350
     (315) 866-6413
       Dues:  $10.00 per year
 
Jefferson County
 
     Jefferson County Historical Society
     228 Washington Street
     Watertown, NY 13601
       Dues:
 
     Historical Association of South Jefferson
     9 East Church Street
     Adams, NY 13605
       Dues:
 
Kings County (Brooklyn)
 
     The Brooklyn Historical Society
     (formerly Long Island Historical Society)
     128 Pierrepont Street
     Brooklyn, NY 11201
     (718) 624-0890
       Dues:  $25.00 per year (single); $40.00 per year (family);
              $15.00 per year (senior/student)
 
Livingston County
 
     Livingston-Steuben County (NY) Genealogical Society
     c/o Maj Lyman F. Barry, President
     9297 Shaw Road
     Nunda, NY 14517
       Dues:
 
Madison County
 
     Madison County Historical Society
     435 Main Street
     P.O. Box 415
     Cottage Lane Historic House
     Oneida, NY 13421
       Dues:
 
Monroe County
 
     Rochester Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 92533
     Rochester, NY 14692
       Dues:
 
     Kodak Genealogical Club
     c/o Kodak Park Activities Association
     Eastman Kodak Company
     Rochester, NY 14650
       Dues:
 
Montgomery County
 
     Montgomery County Department of History and Archives
     Old Court House
     Fonda, NY 11066
     (518) 853-2431
       Dues:
 
Nassau County
 
     The Oyster Bay Historical Society
     P.O. Box 297
     Oyster Bay, NY 11771
       Dues:
 
New York City
 
     The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
     122 East 58th Street
     New York, NY 10022-1939
     (212) 755-8532
       Dues:  $50.00 per year
 
     The New York Historical Society
     170 Central Park West
     New York, NY 10024-5194
       Dues:
 
     New York Irish History Roundtable
     P.O. Box 6216
     Yorkville Station
     New York, NY 10128
       Dues:  $10.00 per year
 
Niagara County
 
     Niagara County Genealogical Society
     2650 Hess Road
     Appleton, NY 14008
       Dues:
 
Oneida County
 
     Oneida County Genealogical Club
     c/o Oneida County Historical Society
     318 Genesee St.
     Utica, NY 13502
       Dues:
 
Onondaga County
 
     Onondaga Historical Association
     311 Montgomery Street
     Syracuse, NY 13202
       Dues:
 
Ontario County
 
     Ontario County Genealogical Society
     55 North Main Street
     Canandaigua, NY 14424
       Dues:
 
     Ontario County Historical Society
     55 North Main Street
     Canandaigua, NY 14424
       Dues:
 
     Rochester Genealogical Society
     Box 92533
     Rochester, NY 14692
       Dues:
 
Orange County
 
     Orange County Genealogical Society
     101 Main Street
     Goshen, NY 10924
       Dues:
 
     Historical Society of Middletown and Walkill Precinct, Ins.
     25 East Avenue
     Middletown, NY 10940
       Dues:
 
     Minisink Valley Historical Society
     Port Jervis, NY 127771
       Dues:
 
Rensselaer County
 
     Rensselaer County Historical Society
     59 2nd Street
     Troy, NY 12180
       Dues:
 
Richmond County (Staten Island)
 
     Staten Island Historical Society
     441 Clarke Avenue
     Staten Island, NY 10301
       Dues:  $20.00 per year (single); $35.00 per year (family)
 
Rockland County
 
     The Historical Society of Rockland County
     20 Zukor Road
     New City, NY 10956
       Dues:
 
St. Lawrence County
 
     St. Lawrence Valley Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 86
     Potsdam, NY 13676-0086
       Dues:  $7.00 per year (family)
 
     Nyando Roots Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 175
     Nassena, NY 13662
       Dues:
 
Saratoga County
 
     Ballston Spa Genealogy Club
     c/o Ballston Spa Library
     Ballston, NY 12020
       Dues:
 
Schenectady County
 
     Schenectady County Historical Society
     32 Washington Avenue
     Schenectady, NY 12305
       Dues:
 
Schuyler County
 
     Schuyler County Historical Society and Library
     108 North Catherine Street
     Rt. 14
     Montour Falls, NY 14865
       Dues:
 
     Twin Tiers Genealogical Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 763
     Elmira, NY 14902
       Dues:  $4.00 per year
 
Seneca County
 
     Finger Lakes Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 47
     Seneca Falls, NY 13148
       Dues:
 
     Interlaken Historical Society
     Box 196
     Interlaken, NY 14847
       Dues:
 
Steuben County
 
     Livingston-Steuben County (NY) Genealogical Society
     c/o Maj Lyman F. Barry, President
     9297 Shaw Road
     Nunda, NY 14517
       Dues:
 
     Steuben County Historical Society
     P.O. Box 349
     Bath, NY 14810
       Dues:
 
     Twin Tiers Genealogical Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 763
     Elmira, NY 14902
       Dues:  $4.00 per year
 
Suffolk County
 
     Suffolk County Historical Society
     300 West Main Street
     Riverhead, NY 11901
       Dues:
 
     Southhold Historical Society
     Southhold, Long Island, NY 11971
       Dues:
 
     Jewish Genealogical Society of Long Island
     c/o Naomi Feller
     5 Know Place
     Dix Hills, NY 11746
       Dues:
 
Tioga County
 
     Tioga County Historical Society
     110-112 Front Street
     Owego, NY 13827
       Dues:
 
     Twin Tiers Genealogical Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 763
     Elmira, NY 14902
       Dues:  $4.00 per year
 
Tompkins County
 
     DeWitt Historical Society
     116 North Cayuga Street
     Ithaca, NY 14850
       Dues:
 
     Twin Tiers Genealogical Society, Inc.
     P.O. Box 763
     Elmira, NY 14902
       Dues:  $4.00 per year
 
Ulster County
 
     Ulster County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 333
     Hurley, NY 12443
       Dues:
 
Wayne County
 
     Wayne County Historical Society
     21 Butternut Street
     Lyons, NY 14489
       Dues:
 
Westchester County
 
     Westchester County Genealogical Society
     P.O. Box 518
     White Plains, NY 10603
       Dues:
 
     Westchester County Historical Society
     75 Grasslands Road
     Valhalla, NY 10595
       Dues:
 
Yates County
 
     Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society
     200 Main Street
     Pen Yan, NY 14527
       Dues:
 
**************************************************************************
 
                       VITAL RECORDS
 
I had promised to give a report on the status of the microfiche indexes
to New York State vital records after I visited Albany.  I'm sorry it's
been so long, but here is what I found.
 
The microfiche indexes to vital records have indeed been transferred to
the New York State Archives, located on the 11th floor of the New York
State Educational Center in Albany.  There are two copies of each set of
indexes for births, marriages and deaths.  There are currently four
microfiche readers for using the indexes.
 
The microfiche are not all in the best condition.  They have been used
very heavily over the years and in many cases are faded or scratched.  I
had a problem trying to decipher one certificate number, but I think I got
it correctly.  They were not able to tell me at the Archives whether these
microfiche will ever be replaced.  All the Archives is doing is housing them.
They have nothing to do with producing the microfiche.  But we are all
grateful that they are again available for public use.
 
Of course, New York State law restricts access to vital records --75
years for births, 50 years for marriages and deaths, I think it is.  So,
you have to keep that in mind.
 
The staff at the Archives were very helpful.  They helped me to decipher
the not-so-legible entries on the faded microfiche.  And they are quick
to wpply to the
city, town, or village where the certificate was filed.  It will be much
shorter to get a reply.  I think the forms are the same, as well as the fees.
 
I hope this clears up some confusion about the NY vital records indexes.
These indexes are a great help -- I was finally able to locate the exact
date and place of one set of g-parents' marriage after a long hunt.
 
If anyone has any further questions, I'd be happy to answer directly.
Oh, one more thing.  The staff at the Archives *does not* -- I repeat --
*does not* do any searching.  It is strictly on a self-serve basis.
 
Ed Shephard
eshephar@bingvmb.bitnet
 
 
    We have had a great deal of discussion about getting vital records from
NY state.I've had my problems too so imagine my surprise when I received a
response yesterday to a request for a birth certificate filed April 24, 1991!
    It cost me $5.00. The fee now is $11 if you ask for a search of 1-3
years; $21 for 4-10 years, $31 for 11-20, etc. One statement from the letter
may be of interest: "Current backlogs necessitate a twelve-month processing
time for genealogy requests. As an alternative, you may wish to redirect the
request to the local registrar/clerk of the district where the event
occurred."
 
    >From the attached Administrative Rules and Regulations:
     - no information shall be released from a record of birth unless the
          record has been on file at least 50 years
     - no information shall be released from a record of marriage unless the
          record has been on file for at least 50 years and the parties are
          known to the applicant to be deceased
          The critical rule seems to be this one:
      - The time periods specified (above) are waived if the applicant is a
          descendant or has been designated to act on behalf of a descendant
          of the person whose record is being requested. A descendant is a
          person in direct line of descent. The applicant shall provide
          documentation of descendancy prior to release of information in
          those instances where a waiver of the wai: GARDINER@VAX2.WINONA.MSUS.EDU (Harry Gardiner -- psychology)
 
New York City
 
The City of New York Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Records
125 Worth Street
New York, New York 10013-4093  (212) 566-8192
      make check payable to Department of health, NYC
 
Births - from 1/1/1898 - present
Deaths - from 1/1/1920 - present      (This might be a typo - might be 1930)
 
For birth/death certificate $10
        $5/additional copy
        $1/additional year searched
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
For earlier years, write to
Municipal Archives
Department of Records and Information Services
31 Chambers Street
New York, New York 10007-1288  (212) 566-5292
  make checks payable to NYC Dep't of Records
 
They have            Births     - from July 1847-1897
          incomplete Deaths     - from 1795-1929
          incomplete Marriages  - from 1847-1937
 
More specifically
        Manhattan       Births          7/1847-48; 7/53-97
                        Deaths          1795; 1802-04; 1808; 1812-1929
                        Marriages       6/1847-48; 7/53-1937
        Brooklyn        Births          1866-1897
                        Deaths          1847-53; 1857-1929
                        Marriages       1866-1937
        Bronx           Deaths          1898-1929
        Queens          Deaths          1898-1929
                        Scattered Births/deaths/marriages 1880's-1890's
        Richmond        Deaths          1898-1929
 
For birth/death/marriage certificate $5/year searched (might have changed to
$10)
$1/ additional year searched
        $1/ additional borough searched
        $1/ additional copy made
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
For marriage certificates from 1908 to the present, write the City Clerk
of the Borough where license was issued.
 
for May 1943-present    send to borough office where couple obtained marriage
                        licence
for 1908-May 1943       send to borough office where bride resided before
                        marriage
for 1866-1907           send to borough office where couple married
 
Manhattan 1866 to now   Municipal Building, 1 Centre St. Rm 252, NYC, NY 10007
Brooklyn  1866 to now   Municipal Building, Court St. Rm 205, Brooklyn, NY
11201Queens    1881 to now   120-55 Queens Blvd. Rm X001, Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Bronx     1899 to now   1780 Grand Concourse, Rm 201, Bronx, NY 10457
Staten Is 1898 to now   Borough Hall-St. George, Rm 311, Staten Island, NY
10301
Address envelope to "Office of the City Clerk"  Attention: Marriage Records
Unit payable to "The City Clerk of New York"  - no checks accepted
 
 
$10 for search & transcript
 
$5 for 1st year search (included in the search & transcript)
$1 for 2nd year searched
$0.50 for additional years searched
$5 for a transcript (ea. copy)
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mrr1@Ra.MsState.Edu (mark r rauschkolb)
 
*************************************************************************
 
                       STATE ARCHIVES
 
New York: New York State Library. In the State Education Building,
7th floor, at the south end of Empire State Plaza in Albany. Printed
family histories, county and town histories, genealogical periodicals,
copies of NY DAR records, some city directories, etc. on microform.
Open stacks (that's important to me). Unfortunately, the old NY State
Library burned about 85 years ago, so much old material was undoubtedly
lost. Business hours Monday - Friday. Closed Saturday & Sunday (I think).
                          From: tgl@ssd.kodak.com (Tom Lathrop 588-0677))
 
The Schomburg Center of the N Y Public Library
515 Lenox Ave (135th St.) NYC
 which is for Black History.
>From what I am reading, it states "Federal census records for all states
1790-1900 may be consulted at the Schomburg Center.
 
New York Public Library
Room 315S
5th Ave. & 42nd St.
NYC  10018
(212) - 930-0828
The collection that they have is excellent!
For instance, they have newspapers on microfiche from all over the world.
They have both in book form & microfiche:  NYC vital records indexes
Federal census for NY, NJ, & Conn. except no NJ or Conn. -
       1900/1920
NY & NJ State Census, and numerous other material.
 
NYC Dept of Records and Information Services,
National Archives, Northeast Region
201 Varick Street
12th Floor
NYC
8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
and on the 3rd Saturday of each month
8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
 
FAMILY HISTORY BUFFS:
Call for report of your family, as recorded in the 1790 US Census for
New York State.  716-367-3221.
 
I have contacted him and am impressed with his service.  He can tell you
on the phone if he has any census information on your surnames and also
discuss the modest fee for sending you such information.  My husband knows
him personally and says he can be trusted.  I asked him if he minded my
posting his info on the roots-l and he agreed.  He said the only thing better
would be if he could correspond on roots-l with his home computer and modem
from home.
 
His name and address are:
 
Harry Rapelje
P.O. Box 27
Hemlock, New York  14466
 
He is very easy to talk to and has other books dealing with early New York
State as his ancestors were in the original settlers of New York from
Holland.
                                 ESS%SNYGENVA.BITNET@VM1.NoDak.EDU (Trish)
 
 
"Genealogical Resources in the NY Metropolitan Area"
 ed. by Estelle M. Guzik and published by the Jewish Genealogical Society,
1989.
 
This is a very VERY thorough book on places in NY to research.
It is a must for a researcher to read.
 
**************************************************************************
 
                NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS
 
   Column Name: Genealogy
      Newspaper(s): Syracuse Herald American
      Address: Genealogy
               Stars
               Syracuse Herald American
               P.O. Box 4915
               Syracuse, NY  13221
 
      Notes: Readers are invited to submit queries of 30 words or less,
      typewritten or printed, with a Central or Upstate New York connection,
      including name and date.
                              From: david@frodo.wes.army.mil (David Sanders)
 
--
****************************************************************************
*   Bill Green       Minot, North Dakota  58701  *       Home of the       *
*            bgreen@milo.NoDak.Edu               *      NORSK H0STFEST     *
*              Bill90@Delphi.Com                 *        Velkommen!       *
****************************************************************************
 
 
 
