Research at CCHS

Genealogical Resources                  Index to Cemetery Books

Online Catalog of Manuscripts        Guide to Newspapers

About CCHS Collections                Research Requests & Fees

The CCHS library holds volumes on Columbia County and New York State history, genealogy, and decorative arts as well as manuscripts and photographs. In this material are account books, maps, architectural drawings, diaries, personal correspondence, scrapbooks, broadsides, business records, pamphlets, programs, ephemera, photographic prints, glass and film negatives, cased images, and albums. In addition to the book and manuscript collections, CCHS has extensive information for genealogical research.

This non-circulating library is open to the public for research during regular museum hours. Shelved books and genealogical materials are available without an appointment. For access to other resources such as the historic manuscript and photograph collections, an appointment is required.

 

Genealogical Resources

Family history research materials at the library include:

  • Transcriptions of over 200 cemetery records.

  • An to the names in most of these cemeteries is available online.

  • Transcriptions of over 75 church records.

  • Copies of over 200 family genealogies, both published and unpublished.

    • Published reference books on local and family history. These include:
      early county wills
      ship passenger lists
      city and county directories
      Palatine families
      Dutch families
      Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I & II veterans
      town and community histories
      federal census indices for 1790 - 1830, 1870, and 1910.

  • Family surname files for over 1500 surnames. These contain correspondence with researchers, newspaper clippings, family group sheets, and other miscellaneous information.
    Index to deaths, marriages, and a few births from county newspapers, c1800 - c1930. This contains about 37,200 names, although not all extant newspapers are covered, and the specific newspaper is not always indicated.

 

Index to Cemetery Books

An online index to the names in most of the cemetery books in the Columbia County Historical Society's library is available. This is an index, not the records themselves. Cliff Lamere has posted Lawrence Rickard's index prepared from the Society's collection in 1994. Mr. Lamere includes instructions for how to order xeroxes of the cemetery book pages from the Society.


Online Catalog of Manuscripts

A guide to many of the Columbia County Historical Society's manuscripts collections may be found in the Historical Documents Inventory. Those collections acquired by the Society after 1985 are not included. The HDI is a listing of more than 25,000 archives and manuscripts collections housed at repositories throughout New York State (libraries, historical societies, and other organizations with established archives). The listing includes summary descriptions of individual collections, with information about the size of the collection, dates of the materials, major subjects covered, and the name and location of the repository.

The HDI may be accessed through Excelsior, the online catalog shared by the New York State Library and the New York State Archives. Please note the collection name and number (it will begin with (NIC)NYCQ466-120) in contacting the Columbia County Historical Society about any of our manuscript collections located in the HDI.


Guide to Newspapers

The New York State Newspaper Project has compiled a database of surviving issues of newspapers published in New York State. The database may be accessed by either county or city, and includes the names of repositories in which microfilm copies may be found.

CCHS Collections

The Columbia County Historical Society is directed by its mission statement to collect, preserve, and interpret items of Columbia County's historical and cultural heritage and to encourage research and the dissemination of knowledge about its collections.  These collections include 7,250 objects, 365 linear feet of documents, 3,600 photographs, and 3,300 books.  The objects collections consist of three historic properties; archeological fragments; costumes and textiles; household furnishings, including those on display at the Van Alen and Vanderpoel houses; industrial, transportation, agricultural, political, architectural, educational, organizational, musical, and other miscellaneous artifacts; toys and games; medical equipment; and paintings and prints. These materials are made available through our exhibits, educational programs, and at our historic properties.

 

Research Requests

Research may be conducted in person or you may send a written inquiry to be answered by our volunteer researchers.

Visitors:

The library is located at 5 Albany Avenue, Kinderhook, NY 12106 and is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00 to 4:00; Sunday 12:00 to 4:00.

Beginning February 1, 2010 a $5 admission/use fee will be charged for the use of the library. This fee is waived for all CCHS members and students.

CCHS staff are available to make copies for visiting researchers. Copies are $0.25/$0.15 for members. Low resolutions scans can be made of some materials for $1/scan.


Written inquiries:

Written inquiries may be submitted via traditional snail mail or e-mail. In your request, please tell us as specifically as possible what information you are seeking and what you already know. This will help us answer your request more easily and avoid duplicating research you have already done.

Beginning February 1, 2010 a flat fee of $25 will be charged for all research inquiries that take more than a few minutes to answer. In addition a $5 minimum mailing fee will be charged for responses. The $25 fee includes 10 free copies. Inquiries are answered in the order received.

Please address your request to Research, Columbia County Historical Society, P. O. Box 311, Kinderhook, New York 12106.