Collections

Objects

The LeRoy Historical Society’s collection contains over 12,000 artifacts that include furniture, textiles, clothing, agricultural equipment, household items, original artwork, pottery, early lighting, and many artifacts connected with LeRoy businesses and manufacturing.

Photographs

Our photograph collection consists of thousands of photographs, postcards, tintypes, and daguerreotypes of LeRoy businesses, churches, events, fires, homes, Ingham University, LeRoy families, sports, storms, and more.

Library

The library holds books on genealogy, early settlers, family histories, New York State history, Land tracts, LeRoy history, directories, phone books, gazetteers, Church histories, cemetery records, architecture, military history, maps, a large Civil War collection, yearbooks, and much more.  In addition, our Genealogy Files and History Files, arranged by surname, hold information including obits, births, marriages, and family histories. 

Archives

Thousands of records pertaining to local businesses, banking, churches, organizations, families, Ingham University, ledgers, diaries, autograph books, scrapbooks, schools, military history, Town and Village Government, railroads, & utilities.

Collection Development Policy

Statement of Purpose:

The LeRoy Historical Society is dedicated to the collection and preservation of artifacts and archival material pertinent to LeRoy and the LeRoy House.

Scope and Rationale of the Collection:

  • “Material pertinent to LeRoy”

The patterns of cultural, economic, social, political, and technical development of the area of Western New York in and around the Town and Village of LeRoy as expressed in the collections of the LeRoy Historical Society reflecting the significance and influence of LeRoy’s populations, its institutions, and its industry.

  • “Material pertinent to the LeRoy House:

Five successive owners of the LeRoy House illustrate not only the changes in style and taste through the 19th century but also five distinct uses of the building: Land Office and residence by Egbert Benson; an enlarged residence by Jacob LeRoy, son of the town’s namesake, Herman LeRoy; the private residence and gardens of Alfred Bartow; the residence of the Chancellor of Ingham University, Dr. Samuel Cox;  the LeRoy Academy students who boarded at the house, and the residence of the Superintendent of LeRoy Schools.  The changing patterns of the use and furnishing of the house should be documented by the collection of materials, furnishings, archival materials, and architectural artifacts which were owned, made, or used by those who lived or worked at the LeRoy House.

  • Material not directly associated with the area’s history, or the LeRoy House may be acquired and preserved if it is important for research, exhibition, education programs, comparative purposes, or the improvement of historical interpretations.

Acquisitions:

  • Objects shall not be acquired for the collection unless:

 * They meet the Collections Policy Statement

 *  The museum can provide for the storage, protection, and preservation of the objects.