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research dossier

WESTCHESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ELMSFORD, NY · EIN 131740068 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A82Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · westchesterhistory.com
revenue
$422K
expenses
$372K
net assets
$1.4M
employees
3
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

To collect and preserve books, pamphlets, maps, manuscripts, periodicals, film, ideo and digitial materials pertaining to the history of Westchester County, to promote the knowledge and understanding of that history, and to promote the preservation of the Countys architectural heritage.

profile · synthesized from sources

Historical society dedicated to collecting and preserving materials related to Westchester County, New York. Focuses on local history, genealogy, and architectural heritage through a comprehensive archive of manuscripts, maps, photographs, and periodicals. Offers research services and maintains collections for public access in Elmsford, NY.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Genealogy Collection
Provides access to family histories, cemetery listings, church records, census data, and over 2,800 Westchester family files for genealogical research.
Manuscript Collection
Preserves primary and secondary source documents related to Westchester County history, including Revolutionary War-era materials and genealogical records.
Reference Services
Offers in-person, mail, and email research assistance using the society's collections and archives.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Local History Archival Access 5 activities
    • Collecting and preserving historical materials
      Collects and preserves books, pamphlets, maps, manuscripts, periodicals, film, video, and digital materials related to the history of Westchester County, maintaining a comprehensive collection of over 150,000 local history and genealogy items in a climate-controlled environment.
    • Digitizing and providing online access to historical materials
      Provides online access to a digital collection of over 40,000 images and historical materials, including digitized primary and secondary sources related to the Revolutionary War, with ongoing expansion and access through an online collections database containing over 90,000 photo records and 14,000 library records.
    • Maintaining genealogical and burial records
      Maintains indexed transcripts of birth, marriage, and death notices from historical sources, extensive cemetery and burial indexes, a genealogy collection with over 600 family histories and 80+ cemetery volumes, and church records from about 30 Westchester County churches, supporting genealogical research for over 2,800 local families.
    • Operating digital history and discovery platforms
      Co-presents the Virtual Archives with the Westchester County Archives, curates historical entries, walking tours, virtual museum tours, and heritage trails, and launched a digital history project listing all 231 National Register sites in Westchester County in the Clio app, which is accessible via a free mobile application.
    • Providing public access to historical collections
      Offers free public access to processed historical materials through a reading room open on Wednesdays, supported by professional staff and trained volunteers, with copies available for a small fee and reference services also provided by mail and email.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Commemorating the American Revolution through public history initiatives
      Launched an American Revolution-inspired History Hunt to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolution, released a digital collection of over 400 first-hand accounts from the Revolutionary War era, and maintains an ongoing Revolutionary War Soldier Burial Index listing veterans buried in Westchester County.
  • Local History Publishing 1 activity
    • Producing and publishing historical research
      Produces and publishes The Westchester Historian, a quarterly journal featuring researched and illustrated articles on local history since 1923, and has published historical articles on the Revolutionary War originally released between the 1920s and 1970s.
  • Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
    • Supporting preservation of architectural heritage
      Promotes the preservation of Westchester County's architectural heritage by providing advisory and consulting services to local authorities, collaborating with municipal historians and local historical associations, and supporting the identification and preservation of historic sites.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$422K
Contributions & grants$315K75%
Program service revenue$4K1%
Investment income$100K24%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$372K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$184K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.40M
Cash$21K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$1.40M
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -12.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 25
  • Anthony Czarnecki — DIRECTOR
  • Arthur Scinta — DIRECTOR
  • Barbara Davis — EX OFFICIO
  • Bob Fetonti — SECRETARY
  • Christopher Lynch — DIRECTOR
  • Daniel Frett — DIRECTOR
  • Douglas Emilio — DIRECTOR
  • Elizabeth Fuller — HONORARY
  • Francisco Miranda — DIRECTOR
  • Geoffrey Parker — DIRECTOR
  • James Maxwell — DIECTOR
  • Jan Kelsey — PRESIDENT
  • Jane Keiter — HONORARY TRUSTEE
  • John Gould — DIRECTOR
  • John Mc Menimimon — DIRECTOR
  • John Stockbridge — DIRECTOR
  • Joyce Cole — DIRECTOR
  • Laura Vookles — DIRECTOR
  • Marc Cheshire — DIRECTOR
  • Mark Silberblatt — DIRECTOR
  • Michelle Torosian — TREASURER
  • Patrice Kane — DIRECTOR
  • Patrick Raftery — EX OFFICIO
  • R Allen Elliott — PAST PRESIDENT
  • Rev Jeffrey Geary — DIRECTOR
relationships · 17

Who they work with

  • Colleges and Universities Partner — Collaborates with colleges and universities to create Clio entries with students.
  • Historical Societies Partner — Collaborates with historical societies to contribute content to the Clio platform.
  • Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Funder — Provided a grant to support the Clio Project.
  • Libraries Partner — Partners with libraries to create and improve historical entries.
  • Museums and Institutions Partner — Works with museums and institutions to create entries, walking tours, and heritage trails.
  • National Historical Publications and Records Commission Funder — Funded in part the digital collection Experiencing the Neutral Ground of the American Revolution: The McDonald Interviews.
  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Funder — Provided a Preservation Grant that funded the digitization of the first 52 volumes of the Westchester County Historical Society's quarterly journal.
  • Rockefeller Archive Center Partner — Collaboration through ex officio trustee representation
  • Scarsdale Historical Society Funder — Provided a grant to support the Clio Project.
  • Westchester Community Foundation Funder — Provided a grant to support the Clio Project.
  • Westchester County Archives Partner — Co-locates reading room and collaborates on public access to historical and archival collections.
  • Westchester County Archives Partner — Co-manages the Reading Room with the Westchester County Historical Society for research access.
  • Westchester County Archives Partner — Collaborates on the Virtual Archives to present public and private historical documents from Westchester County.
  • Westchester County Archives Partner — Collaboration through ex officio trustee representation
  • Westchester County Archives Partner — Shares a reading room with the Westchester County Archives, which holds public county records, complementing WCHS's private collections.
  • Westchester County Board of Legislators Government — Appointed WCHS as County Historian in 2006
  • Westchester County Historical Society Network — Hosts and maintains the Manuscript Collection Virtual Archive as part of its library and historical resources.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Advocacy-Driven Historic Preservation
    methodology: historic-preservation-advocacy
    By maintaining comprehensive documentation of historic sites and actively engaging in preservation issues, the organization protects architectural heritage, because formal records combined with institutional advocacy strengthen community resistance to inappropriate development or demolition.
  • Archival Preservation and Public Access as Education
    methodology: archival_preservation_and_public_education
    By collecting, preserving, and providing access to historical materials—both physical and digitized—the organization advances public understanding of Westchester County’s history, because sustained access to authentic records enables broader civic engagement and educational use.
  • Collaborative Knowledge Building
    methodology: community_curation
    By engaging museums, educational institutions, and students in co-creating content and curating historical experiences, the organization expands the depth and reach of its resources, because participatory models generate richer narratives and foster community ownership of local history.
  • Digital Expansion for Public Engagement
    methodology: digital_preservation_and_access
    By digitizing historical documents—particularly those related to the American Revolution—and adding transcriptions, annotations, and metadata, the organization increases accessibility and public engagement, because digital formats lower barriers to research and enable wider participation in historical learning.