A place for discovery about Tompkins County's past...
The History Center’s research library serves casual browsers and scholars, school children, local historians, genealogists, and professional researchers. Along with providing access to diverse archival materials on local history and culture, The History Center is equipped to make professional quality photographic copy prints and scans of photographs from our extensive photo collections. Researchers are also allowed to use digital cameras without flash, for a fee, at the discretion of the archivist. Staff and volunteer research assistants facilitate research on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 11:00 to 5:00 or by special appointment.
Fees | Research by Mail | Library Security Policy | Research Group Programs
Archives & Library
Photographic Collections
over 100,000 images - reprints available!
Genealogy Resources
Built Environment Resources
Photocopying
| Written Documents | Photographs |
| .28/copy (8.5 x 11) | .55/copy (8.5 x 11) |
| .37/copy (8.5 x 14) | .73/copy (8.5 x 14) |
| .55/copy (11 x 17) | .92/copy (11 x 17) |
We provide darkroom and scanning services for photographs - ask about use fee policies.
Room Fees
Free to members of The History Center and individuals residing in Tompkins County. $7.00/day for all other researchers.
If you are unable to visit our Research Library in person, we are happy to do research for you, for the following fees:
--$43.20 per hour ($40 per hour + $3.20 sales tax)
--Photocopies, photographic copy prints, and scans can be obtained at an additional cost.
Research requests need to be very specific. Our collections contain nearly 100,000 photographs, over 900 linear feet of archives, genealogy files for over 2,000 Tompkins County families, and 4,000 books relating to the history of Tompkins County. It is likely that we will have information useful to you.
If you would like us to conduct research for you, please mail a letter to Donna Eschenbrenner, Archivist, detailing your request, with a check for $43.20 payable to The History Center in Tompkins County, 401 East State St., Suite 100, Ithaca, NY 14850. Please specify the amount of time you would like us to devote to your research. Email requests are also honored with the fee payable by credit card.
Please mail or e-mail requests to Donna Eschenbrenner, Archivist.
