Our Collections
What do we collect?
The Ontario County Historical Society collects objects, photographic images, and archival materials that contribute to a more complete understanding of the origins and historical development of Ontario County, New York and environs, the cultural and socio-economic diversity of its inhabitants, and their changing life-styles and values from pre-historic times to the present. This includes items owned, made or used by residents of the county or that serve to reflect their lives and activities.
Examples of Items in the Collection:
The OCHS collection currently holds over 12,000 objects, 30,000 photographic images, 30,000 archival items, and 5,000 books and periodicals.
Acquisition:
Do you have something you would like to donate to our historical collection? We are particularly interested in photos, archival materials and objects from the late 20th and early 21st centuries that reflect Ontario County’s economic development, social and cultural diversity, and family histories. If you have family photos that you would like to share with the museum but prefer to keep the originals, we will be happy to scan them. Even if you have something that you don’t think is “old”, get in touch with us anyway. Remember: today is tomorrow’s history!
If you have an item that you would like to donate that is not from this area, please consider gifting the item to us for sale at auction. All proceeds are used for OCHS collections care and preservation.
For more information, please contact Wilma Townsend, Curator, at 585 394-4975 or curator@ochs.org .