Appointments for research services are strongly advised.
Archives and the Research Library
ArchIves 101
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Donna began working at The History Center (then called the DeWitt Historical Society) in 1999 as a volunteer in the archives. She later worked on cataloging and rehousing artifacts for the Historic Treasures Unwrapped! project, and became archivist in 2001, where she has been ever since. Her experience also working as acting curator for several years helped inform her perspective on presenting local history to a broad public. Her primary goal as archivist is to make The History Center's unique and diverse collections as accessible as possible. In addition to managing the Archives and Cornell Local History Research Library, she teaches archival workshops and fosters a love for historical materials in students and researchers of all ages.
About The Archives
The archival collections housed at The History Center are available for a wide variety of resource purposes. Whether you are a home-buyer interested in knowing more about your house, a returning local interested in genealogy, or a historic photography enthusiast, we have something for you.
The archives house over 2,000 family genealogy files, over 200 oral history interviews, 250 bound ledgers, 440 scrapbooks, 1,200 maps, more than 3,500 local history books, extensive manuscript collections, newspapers dating back to 1819, and dozens of regional photographic collections from as early as 1865.
Contact Donna Eschenbrenner, Director of Archives and Research services, with questions about our holdings or to schedule an appointment in the Research Library: Archives@Thehistorycenter.netor call at 607-273-8284, x2.
Archives & Library
Archival Collections Finding Aids
Native Americans: Overview of Holdings
Oral History Collections
Rural Heritage: Selection of Holdings
Manuscript Collections
Local and regional history books
Business Ledgers
Historic newspapers
Scrapbooks
Genealogy Resources
Family genealogy files - On over 2,000 Tompkins County families (Family File Name List)
Individual bound family genealogy books
Individual family genealogies
HistoryForge Database
Obituary listings
Cemetery listings
Interactive Map of Tompkins County Cemeteries
Death and marriage notices
Census records
Ithaca City Directories
Local history books
Photographic Collections
General photo collection
Family albums
Photograph albums
Local professional photographers' collections
Identified Individuals photograph collection
Stereoviews & cartes-de-visite
Family, Business, and Organizations Collections
Daguerreotypes, tintypes, and ambrotypes.
Expectations for Archival Visits and Research Appointments
Non-Tompkins County residents are charged a $10 research fee. The Research Library is free to Tompkins County residents. Research that requires expanded labor from the Archivist is charged hourly. Payments are card-only via email invoice.
Researchers are asked to sign in with our researcher cards once per year, giving contact information and signing on to payment expectations for non-Tompkins County residents.
Secure lockers are provided for researchers to store personal belongings while accessing archival materials. No bags, backpacks, notebooks, pens, or other personal materials may be on the table where work is being done.
Paper and pencils are provided. Pens and personal paper is not allowed.
Eating or drinking in the Research Library is not permitted.
Laptops and cellphones are permitted, and photographing materials, without flash, is encouraged.
Digital Resources
Online Catalog
A public access catalog is exactly what it sounds like: a searchable digital gateway to a museum or archival collection. It allows you to explore what we hold in our vaults, even if you can't visit the History Center in person.
On our new online catalog, you can:
Browse highlighted photographs and artifacts
Search by names, subjects, and places
Discover items connected to local families, neighborhoods, and historic events
See early versions of finding aids for archival collections
View digitized materials when available
Right now, you’ll notice that only a portion of our collection is available. We are actively digitizing, transcribing, and cleaning data to expand our online offerings.
The History Center in Tompkins County on New York Heritage
New York Heritage is a portal for learning more about the people, places and events that contributed to the making of New York State. Selections from the History Center have been available through their digital archive since 2010, and have expanded to include oral histories, census transcriptions, and more.
