Geneva and Regional History

Historic Geneva collects things that illustrate the stories of the city and the surrounding area. This includes objects, clothing, photos, paintings, letters, journals and other items that were made in Geneva, used by its residents, or have a connection to a person, place, or thing in the city.

New York Heritage Digital Collections is a research portal for students, educators, historians, genealogists, and everyone else interested the people, places and institutions of historical New York State. The site provides immediate, free access to digital collections that reflect New York State's long history and is a product of the Empire State Library Network.

The Geneva Historical Society has digitized a wealth of materials from its collections and made them available on New York Heritage. Digital collections include the Geneva Civil War Collection, Geneva Postcard Collection, James G. Vail Collection of photographs, John R. Dixon Papers, Stereograph Card Collection, and the William Henderson Baird Collection.

The Geneva Public Library Digital Collection contains the Geneva City Directories, 1862-2000. It also includes a collection of over 100 photographs related to historical Geneva. Photographs of historical buildings, streets, events, and people are included. Several photographs were taken from the beloved journalist and photographer of the Geneva Times, P.B. Oakley.

Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, NY on July 19-20,1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human rights, and equality, global struggles that continue today. The efforts of women’s rights leaders, abolitionists, and other 19th century reformers remind us that all people must be accepted as equals.