Rensselaer County Historical Society

Last updated

Rensselaer County Historical Society
Rensselaer County Historical Society
Established1927
Location Troy, NY
Coordinates 42°43′46″N73°41′32″W / 42.72958°N 73.69215°W / 42.72958; -73.69215
TypeHistoric House Museum, Historical Society
Collection size60,000
Website www.rchsonline.org

The Rensselaer County Historical Society (RCHS) is a non-profit, historical society and museum, to promote the study of the history of the Rensselaer County, NY. RCHS was founded in 1927, and originally operated out of a single room in the Troy Public Library, collecting manuscripts and published materials related to the county's history. It is located in the Central Troy Historic District, in Troy, NY. The Rensselaer County Historical Society operates a museum, and offers public programs from its location at 57 Second Street, Troy, NY.

Contents

Incorporation

RCHS was incorporated to:

  1. Promote and encourage historical research,
  2. Disseminate a greater knowledge of the early history of that portion of the State of New York known as Rensselaer County,
  3. Gather and preserve books, manuscripts, papers and relics relating to the early history of Rensselaer County and the contiguous territory,
  4. Suitably mark places of historic interest, and acquire by purchase, gift, devise or otherwise, the title to, or the custody of historic spots and places and to receive gifts, bequests and devises of any kind to be used for the purposes of the incorporation.

Hart-Cluett Mansion acquisition

Hart Cluett Mansion Entrance, Historic American Buildings Survey, 1934, RCHS Hart-Cluett House 1934.jpg
Hart Cluett Mansion Entrance, Historic American Buildings Survey, 1934, RCHS

In 1952, the Hart-Cluett Mansion (1827) was turned over to the Society by Mrs. Cluett to serve as a historic house museum and repository for the county's historical artifacts and archival materials.

In the mid-1950s, the Trustees recruited professional help to create a museum. In 1957, H. Maxson Holloway, formerly a Curator at the New-York Historical Society, was hired as the Society's first director. Holloway's immediate plans included the careful acquisition of fine and decorative arts as well as period furnishings to fill the fourteen rooms of the Hart-Cluett Mansion.

Over the next decade raising money and acquiring objects continued with the highlights of this effort were objects and furnishings from the Hart and Cluett families and their descendants. [1]

Joseph B. Carr House expansion

By the mid-1970s, the Rensselaer County Historical Society had outgrown the Hart-Cluett Mansion and the associated Carriage House. Growth of the collections and demands for programs had outpaced the building's space.

In 1976, the RCHS acquired the Carr House (1838), the building to the north of the Museum. RCHS undertook a capital campaign to begin making it into an educational and administrative center. [2] The first phase of the 57 Second Street project was finished in 1982, providing a meeting room, gift shop and temporary exhibition gallery on the first floor of the building.

Carr House renovations

In 1995 the New York State Council of the Arts funded an initiative to look at how RCHS manages its collections, to undertake the first computerized inventory of collections, to assess storage needs with an eye to making collections more accessible to the public, and to develop a set of collecting themes that would help to assess current collections and direct future collecting.

In October 2001, RCHS opened a renovated Carr Building. To support the extensive renovation, $2.7 million was raised from individuals, corporations and state grants, to create new galleries and collections storage space, install new environmental systems, consolidate staff offices, and fully renovate the Carriage House.

Collections and museum

RCHS is the primary collecting institution in Rensselaer County and contains in its museum collections approximately 60,000 objects ranging from the fine to the domestic arts. Items represent the history of Troy, the largest urban center in the county, and Rensselaer County at large, and include information about the city's families and buildings.

Troy and Rensselaer County were major contributors to the growth of the United States in the 19th century and one of the primary sites of the American Industrial Revolution. The prominence of the area was due to the influence that the iron, steel and textile industries created. Foundries produced vital products for growth and expansion of the United States westward.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Troy's garment industries produced over 90% of America's detachable collars and many of its finest shirts. [3]

The museum collections are also closely connected to RCHS's research library collections which include, in part, personal, organizational and business records, photographs, maps, ephemera, etc., as well as the largest collection of secondary resource material on the county's history.

Collections

The RCHS has over 60,000 artifacts, documents, and photographs in its collection. RCHS also houses archives and records for a number of community organizations such as local YMCA, and Troy Chromatics. These collections are used in programs such as the "Historians in Training Programs" [4] conducted with schools in Rensselaer County. The collection has been used in by Charles Osgood for his program CBS Sunday Morning and have been used by Ken Burns, The History Channel, and other media and publishing outlets.

Highlights of the collection

Collection use

The collection has been extensively used for education, by artists, and as primary source materials in numerous productions.

Among the uses have been:

Operations

RCHS uses its humanities collections in a number of ways to promote broad public participation and interest in the history of Rensselaer County. Collections-based exhibitions are focus of the RCHS exhibits, and public programs. RCHS uses artifacts from its collection to demonstrate how they are made, how they are used, how they express human needs and values, and how they influence society and the lives of individuals.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy, New York</span> City in New York, United States

Troy is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Rensselaer County. The city is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital District. The city is one of the three major centers for the Albany metropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 1,170,483. At the 2020 census, the population of Troy was 51,401. Troy's motto is Ilium fuit, Troja est, which means "Ilium was, Troy is".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of History & Industry</span> Museam in Seattle, Washington

The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is a history museum in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the largest private heritage organization in Washington state, maintaining a collection of nearly four million artifacts, photographs, and archival materials primarily focusing on Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region. A portion of this collection is on display in the museum's galleries at the historic Naval Reserve Armory in Lake Union Park.

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) is a museum, art gallery, and archives for the Regional Municipality of Peel and are located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Previously, it was the Peel Heritage Complex. Its facilities were originally the Peel County Courthouse, Brampton Jail, a land registry office, and a county administration building. It is opposite Gage Park and Brampton City Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historical Society of Washington, D.C.</span>

The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., also called the DC History Center, is an educational foundation dedicated to preserving and displaying the history of Washington, D.C. The society provides lectures, exhibits, classes, and community events. It runs a museum, library, and publishes the journal Washington History. It had been named The Columbia Historical Society from its founding in 1894 until 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Filson Historical Society</span>

The Filson Historical Society, founded in 1884, is a privately supported historical society located at 1310 South 3rd Street in Louisville, Kentucky. The Filson is an organization dedicated to providing continuing adult education in the form of quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal, Ohio Valley History, a quarterly magazine, The Filson, weekly lectures, historical tours, and exhibits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Historical Society</span> Agency of the State of Wisconsin, United States

The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a state agency and a private membership organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West. Founded in 1846 and chartered in 1853, it is the oldest historical society in the United States to receive continuous public funding. The society's headquarters are located in Madison, Wisconsin, on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean P. Taylor</span> American politician

Dean Park Taylor was an American attorney and politician from Troy, New York. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a United States Congressman for 18 years (1943–1961) and chairman of the New York Republican State Committee (1953–1954).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. Harold Cluett</span> American politician

Ernest Harold Cluett was an American businessman and politician from Troy, New York. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a United States representative from 1937 to 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Historical Society</span> Historical preservation agency in the state of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is an agency of the government of Oklahoma dedicated to promotion and preservation of Oklahoma's history and its people by collecting, interpreting, and disseminating knowledge and artifacts of Oklahoma. The mission of the OHS is to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho State Historical Society</span>

The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) is a historical society located in the U.S. state of Idaho that preserves and promotes the state's cultural heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Barbara Historical Museum</span>

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is located in Santa Barbara, California, U.S. It features relics from Chumash, Spanish, Mexican, Yankee, and Chinese cultures, including artifacts, photographs, furnishings and textiles, dating as far back as the 15th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Society of California Pioneers</span>

The Society of California Pioneers, established in 1850, is dedicated to the study and enjoyment of California art, history, and culture. Founded by individuals arriving in California before 1850 and thriving under the leadership of several generations of their direct descendants, the Society has continuously served its members, the academic community, and the public. As the self-proclaimed "oldest historical organization West of the Mississippi", the Society opened the first research library in California, as well as a grand hall for meetings, lectures, and social events.

Historic preservation in New York is activity undertaken to conserve forests, buildings, ships, sacred Indian burial grounds, water purity and other objects of cultural importance in New York in ways that allow them to communicate meaningfully about past practices, events, and people. Governmental programs for historic preservation range from Federal ownership and active operation of sites to grants and subsidies provided by state government, municipal support of museums and interpretative displays. Nonprofit programs include activities of statewide and local historical associations and museums, and activities of historical societies and museums at the national level. Quasi-governmental organizations, such as the New York State Thruway Authority and Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, play a role as well. Private endeavors, such as investment and other choices made by private landowners to conserve historical features of their properties, are significant but less visible and include groups such as the Historic Districts Council, The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Preservation League of New York State. During the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site in July 2010, a team of archaeologists discovered a 32-foot-long boat. The craft was at least 200 years old, dating from a time when the Hudson River was partly filled with trash and debris because of a rapidly expanding lower Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lehigh County Historical Society</span> Historical museum in Pennsylvania, U.S.

Lehigh County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1904, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the history of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The Historical Society and Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum are located at 432 West Walnut Street in Allentown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Troy Historic District</span> Historic district in New York, United States

The Central Troy Historic District is an irregularly shaped, 96-acre (39 ha) area of downtown Troy, New York, United States. It has been described as "one of the most perfectly preserved 19th-century downtowns in the [country]" with nearly 700 properties in a variety of architectural styles from the early 19th to mid-20th centuries. These include most of Russell Sage College, one of two privately owned urban parks in New York, and two National Historic Landmarks. Visitors ranging from the Duke de la Rochefoucauld to Philip Johnson have praised aspects of it. Martin Scorsese used parts of downtown Troy as a stand-in for 19th-century Manhattan in The Age of Innocence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hart-Cluett Mansion</span> Historic house in New York, United States

The Hart-Cluett Mansion is located at 57 Second Street in Troy, New York, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and is a contributing property to the Central Troy Historic District created in 1986. Since the 1950s it, and the Carr Building next door, was the main office of the Rensselaer County Historical Society before the organization changed its name to the Hart Cluett Museum at Historic Rensselaer County in 2019. The house is open to the public as a historic house museum.

The Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio, abbreviated SCHS, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Akron, Ohio. It focuses on the history of the City of Akron and Summit County, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McClurg Museum</span>

Sanford Lockwood Cluett was an American engineer, inventor, and businessman who invented Sanforization (1928), a process to pre-shrink woven fabrics, and Clupak paper (1957) used for stretchable shopping bags and wrapping paper. Cluett held about 200 patents covering a variety of techniques. Cluett was vice president and a director of Cluett, Peabody and Company, Inc. of Troy, New York. During 1904–1917, Cluett had served in the New York National Guard, reaching the rank of major.

References

  1. "RCHS: The Hart-Cluett House". Rensselaer County Historical Society. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008.
  2. Douglas G. Bucher, Stacy Pomeroy Draper, Walter Richard Wheeler, John G. Waite Associates Architects (2000). The Marble House in Second Street, Biography of a Town House and its Occupants 1825-2000 . Rensselaer County Historical Society. ISBN   0-9705302-0-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Carole Turbin, Working Women of Collar City: Gender, Class, and Community in Troy, 1864-86 (University of Illinois Press, 1992.)
  4. "Introduction to Historians in Training series, Accessed 09-18-2010".
  5. "RCHS: Library Resources". Rensselaer County Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  6. Rensselaer County Historical Society (2010). RCHS - Keeper of the Historical Memory of Rensselaer County (Report).