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THE BEDFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETYINC
BEDFORD, NY · EIN 136113164 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A82Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · bedfordhistoricalsociety.org
revenue
$1.3M
expenses
$678K
net assets
$5.3M
employees
5
volunteers
50
program ratio
54%
mission · from form 990

TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE BULIDINGS, LANDMARKS AND ARTIFACTS THAT DOCUMENT THE HISTORY OF BEDFORD, NY; TO INCREASE AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE TOWN'S FOUNDING AND GROWTH; AND TO STRENGHTHEN THE CURRENT AND FUTURE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE TOWN.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Bedford Historical Society, founded in 1916, preserves and promotes the historic buildings, landmarks, and artifacts of Bedford, New York. It maintains ten historic properties, including museums and protected lands, and operates educational programs for students and the public. The organization relies on membership support and does not receive government funding.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

19th Century School Experience
Interactive visit to the restored 1829 Stone School House for younger students to experience 19th-century education
Bedford Village Treasure Hunt
Community event designed to engage students and families in local history through exploration
Footsteps in the Past
Educational program for fourth graders focusing on early life in historic Bedford
History Matters
Public program series bringing history to life for audiences of all ages
Profiles in Preservation
Adult lecture series on topics including historic preservation, architecture, and design
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Historic Site Public Programming 2 activities
    • Host community events and public programming
      Hosts lectures, special events, civil service ceremonies, weddings, and public programs such as the History Matters series and Profiles in Preservation to celebrate Bedford’s history, architecture, and cultural heritage.
    • Provide educational programs and guided tours
      Offers interactive educational programs for students of all ages, including site visits, role-playing by volunteer guides portraying historical figures, and initiatives such as Footsteps in the Past for fourth graders, 19th-century schoolhouse experiences, and the Bedford Village Treasure Hunt, along with guided public tours of the 1787 Court House and 1829 Stone School House.
  • Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advocate for historic preservation designations
      Filed successful applications to list the Bedford Village Historic District on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1973 and 1974, advancing formal recognition and protection of the town’s historic character.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Maintain and operate historic properties in Bedford, NY
      Owns, preserves, and maintains 10 historic buildings around the Village Green, including the 1787 Court House, the 1829 Stone School House, the Jackson House, General Store, Post Office, Lounsbery Building, and the 1806 Methodist Episcopal Church, protecting them from redevelopment and ensuring public access.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
    • Manage protected historic lands and conservation easements
      Stewards 165 acres of protected land through four historic conservation easements, including a two-acre buffer zone around the Bedford Oak acquired in 1977, to safeguard significant natural and historical landscapes from development.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Operate local history museums and exhibits
      Operates two historic museums—the Bedford Museum at the 1787 Court House and the one-room School House museum at the 1829 “Stone Jug”—with permanent and temporary exhibits, including refreshed displays in 2008 and digitized collections, to preserve and interpret artifacts, documents, photographs, and narratives related to Bedford’s history.
  • Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Provide internships and training in museum practices
      Engages undergraduate and graduate students in hands-on learning through internship programs focused on research, collections care, cataloging, and museum education, building capacity in the field of public history.
  • Local History Publishing 1 activity
    • Publish historical research and educational materials
      Produces and publishes historical content including a photo history book of Bedford co-published with Arcadia Publishing, walking tour guides, booklets on the Bedford Oak and the Burning of Bedford, and a locally adapted illustrated version of 'Pilgrim's Progress,' alongside digitizing historical instructional materials such as a 1947 guide on stone wall construction.
  • Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
    • Rent historic facilities for events and commercial use
      Offers Historical Hall and the 1787 Court House as rental venues for private events, meetings, exhibitions, and weddings (up to 75 guests), and provides long-term leases for retail or commercial use of buildings around the Village Green.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.28M
Contributions & grants$746K58%
Program service revenue$1K0%
Investment income$145K11%
Other revenue$384K
expenses
Total expenses$678K
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising23%
Salaries & benefits$390K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.32M
Cash$814K
Investments$3.83M
Liabilities$60K
Net assets$5.26M
Liquid reserves82.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +108.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
EVELYNE RYAN EXEC DIR UNT 40 $136K
ELIZABETH HALLOCK EXECUTIVE DI 40 $80K
board members · 20
  • ALEXANDER N HAMER — DIRECTOR
  • ALEXANDRA LAWRENCE — DIRECTOR
  • ANNA KENOFF — PRESIDENT
  • CHRIS PACHIOS — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINA BRESANI — DIRECTOR
  • CUTLER WHITMAN — DIRECTOR
  • ELIAH SETON — DIRECTOR
  • FORREST MAS — DIRECTOR
  • JENNIFER BUTTON — DIRECTOR
  • JESSE RANDOL — DIRECTOR
  • KATHERINE GAGE BOULUD — DIRECTOR
  • LESLIE WORTMANN — DIRECTOR
  • MICHELLE ST JOHN — DIRECTOR
  • PETER HENNESSY — VICE PRESIDE
  • PHOEBE POLK — DIRECTOR
  • SAMANTHA O'BRIEN — DIRECTOR
  • SCHUYLER PERRY — TREASURER
  • SHAWN CARMODY — SECRETARY
  • STEEL SWIFT — DIRECTOR
  • TRACE FAUVER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • 1787 County Court House Partner — Historic site operated jointly with the Bedford Historical Society as a museum location.
  • 1829 Stone School House Partner — Historic site used by the Bedford Historical Society for educational programming and public tours.
  • Arcadia Publishing Partner — Collaborated with the organization to publish a photo history of Bedford.
  • Bedford Garden Club Partner — Loves and cares for the memorial garden at the Court House site.
  • Clock Winders Partner — Group of neighbors who maintain and wind the Sutton Clock in partnership with the Society.
  • Gravy Analytics Partner — Partner organization providing data and analytics support for Bedford Historical Society's operations.
  • Historical Hall Partner — Coordinated venue for receptions following civil ceremonies at the Court House.
  • Historical Hall Partner — Site acquired and preserved by the Bedford Historical Society in 1916.
  • Rippowam Cisqua School Partner — Source of Executive Director Liz Hallock, who previously served in advancement and admissions roles.
  • Town of Bedford Government — Co-maintains the 1787 Court House with the Historical Society, owns the building and maintains its exterior.
  • Town of Bedford Government — Maintains the Sutton Clock & Tower and the 1787 Bedford Court House for the benefit of the Town.
  • Town of Bedford Government — Owns the Court House building while the Historical Society maintains the interior and operates the museum.
  • Town of Bedford Partner — Collaborates with the Town to preserve and promote the historic character of the community.
  • Town of Bedford Partner — Collaborates with the Town to preserve and protect historic and scenic landscapes in Bedford.
  • Vimeo Partner — Hosts video tours of Historical Hall on Vimeo platform.
  • William Abranowicz Partner — Photographer whose work is featured in the Historical Society's book and materials.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Engaged Historical Education
    methodology: community_education
    By using accessible educational methods such as role-playing, illustrated publications, and community events, the organization makes local history engaging and relatable, increasing public awareness and fostering a shared sense of heritage. These approaches lower barriers to participation and enable broad community involvement in historical interpretation.
  • Historic Preservation through Acquisition and Stewardship
    methodology: historic_preservation_through_acquisition
    By acquiring, restoring, and maintaining historic buildings and landscapes, the organization preserves the historical integrity and character of Bedford, NY, ensuring long-term public access and community identity. This approach combines direct preservation action with ongoing stewardship to protect against development and decay.
  • Preservation via Community Partnerships and Revenue Generation
    methodology: community_partnership_stewardship
    By collaborating with municipal and local organizations and generating revenue through rentals of historic venues, the organization extends its preservation capacity beyond owned properties and funds ongoing maintenance. These partnerships and self-sustaining financial models amplify impact by leveraging external resources and community investment.