BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

IN 2024, THE MUSEUM PROGRAM AND EXHIBITS- THE BUFFALO HISTORY MUSEUM PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN BOTH PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF OUR REGION AND UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES OF ITS PEOPLE. WE ARE DISTINCTIVELY LOCATED AT THE CROSSROADS OF PAST AND FUTURE A VIBRANT, HISTORIC DESTINATION SET AT THE HEART OF A RE-ENERGIZED CULTURAL CORRIDOR. SINCE 1862, WE HAVE SERVED AS THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORICAL AMBASSADOR, THE DEDICATED SAFEKEEPER AND STORYTELLER OF OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY. THROUGH A COLLECTION OF OVER 550,000 OBJECTS AND AN EVER-CHANGING ARRAY OF EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, WE SHARE THE STORIES OF OUR REGION'S TRIUMPHS AND STRUGGLES.OUR 2020-2030 MASTER PLAN BUILDS ON OUR GENERATIONS-LONG COMMITMENT TO WESTERN NEW YORK BY ESTABLISHING A NEW VISION AND BY REFOCUSING ON HOW WE ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR HISTORIES FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVES. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER AN ATMOSPHERE OF STORYTELLING, CONVERSATION, AND ENGAGEMENT THAT IS BUILT ON INPUT FROM OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. WE AIM TO CREATE CONTENT AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, SHARING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON HISTORY AND HOW IT CONNECTS WITH CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. WE BELIEVE SHARING IN LOCAL HISTORY BUILDS AND FOSTERS COMMUNITY- CREATING A STRONGER SENSE OF PLACE AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE. IN A RECENT SURVEY, ALMOST 60% OF OUR VISITORS SAID THAT THE MUSEUM CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.CREATING ACCESS FOR ALL TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY:-COMPLETE COLLECTIONS STUDIES AND PLAN FOR CENTRALIZING COLLECTIONS AT THE RESOURCE CENTER. -OFFER VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES PROVIDING LOCAL STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO DISCOVER THEIR HISTORY, SUPPORTING AND REINFORCING THE WORK OF LOCAL EDUCATORS.-AWARD-WINNING PODCAST REACHING AUDIENCES FAR BEYOND OUR WALLS WITH OVER 60,000 DOWNLOADS TO DATE AND LISTENERS IN EVERY STATE AND OVER 75 COUNTRIES.-DIGITIZING MORE COLLECTIONS RECORDS WITH TRANSITION TO PASTPERFECT ONLINE EDITION - CONTINUE PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH APPROACH TO ADMISSION FEESCOLLECT AND PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITY'S STORIES:-CONTINUE DEVELOPING OUR NEW CONTEMPORARY COLLECTING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING: CELEBRATIONS & CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND RECIPES & HISTORIC MENUS-CONFRONT WHITE SUPREMACY AND SYSTEMIC RACISM WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE MAY 14TH BUFFALO MASSACRE COMMUNITY MEMORY COALITION-CONTINUE TO BUILD PASTPERFECT ONLINE ARTIFACT DATABASE, PROVIDING REMOTE ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS BY ADDING MORE RECORDS AND VIDEO/AUDIO CONTENT WHEREVER POSSIBLE.-CREATE ACCESS TO RESOURCES DIGITALLY INCLUDING A PERSONAL NAME INDEX TO OUR COLLECTION OF ERIE COUNTY CLERK RECORDS-CONTINUE DIGITAL PRESERVATION INITITIATIVE WITH NEWPAPERS.COM CREATING ACCESS TO OUR VAST NEWSPAPER COLLECTION.-CONTINUE TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO, BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CREATING INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SKILLS.-STEWARD THE ONLY STANDING STRUCTURE FROM THE 1901 PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION- A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING OVERLOOKING MIRROR LAKE AND OLMSTED'S DELAWARE PARK. EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS ATTRACT DIVERSE AUDIENCES:- EXPAND SAY THEIR NAMES: HONOR THEIR LEGACIES, EXHIBIT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNCROWNED QUEENS INSTITUTE WHICH SHARES THE STORIES, WISDOM AND INSIGHTS OF BUFFALO'S COMMUNITY ELDERS. BUILDING FROM THE PILOT IN 2023, A DOZEN ADDITIONAL PROFILES-INCLUDING PORTRAITS, BIOGRAPHIES AND VIDEO INTERVIEWS THAT CAPTURE THE STORIES OF A GROUP OF BUFFALO'S SENIOR COMMUNITY BUILDERS WILL BE FEATURED. BUFFALO'S UNCROWNED QUEENS INSTITUTE WORKS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE EXHIBIT RUNS THROUGH APRIL 2024.-HISTORY MAKERS II INTRODUCES GUESTS TO THE STORIES OF EIGHTEEN OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST NOTABLE OR IMPACTFUL MEN AND WOMEN PAIRED WITH OBJECTS AND PORTRAITS ILLUMINATING THEIR STORY. FEATURED SUBJECTS INCLUDE JOHN ALBRIGHT, GLENN CURTISS, WINIFRED STANLEY, EVA NOLES, WILLIAM WELLS BROWN, WILLIAM FARGO AND MORE THAN A DOZEN ADDITIONAL FIGURES FROM THE 18TH, 19TH, AND 20TH CENTURIES.-FEATURE THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BUFFALO'S GREAT NORTHERN GRAIN ELEVATOR, A COMPANION EXHIBIT TO PHOTOGRAPHER AND ACTIVIST BRUCE JACKSON'S NEW BOOK BY THE SAME TITLE. THE EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTS THE STORY OF THIS KEY ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK THROUGH TEXT, DOCUMENTS, AND JACKSON'S OWN PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DECADES TO TELL THIS TRAGIC STORY THAT WILL APPEAL TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY AND PRESERVATION OF AMERICA'S INDUSTRIAL CULTURE.-HISTORY OF BUFFALO'S 1901 PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION RETURNED TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE WITHIN THE MUSEUM. DURING THE EXPOSITION, THE MUSEUM SERVED AS THE NEW YORK STATE BUILDING AND IS THE ONLY REMAINING MAJOR STRUCTURE LEFT OVER FROM THE FAIR. THE EXHIBIT SHARES THE STORY OF THE EXPOSITION, ITS PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, ALONG WITH THE IMPORTANT QUESTION OF WHY BUFFALO WAS CHOSEN AS THE HOST CITY FOR THE BENCHMARK EVENT. THE ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE INCLUDES ONE-OF-A-KIND IMAGES AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE FAIR, INCLUDING PAINTINGS BY JOHN ROSS KEY, SOUVENIRS AND MEMORABILIA, AND RARE EXPOSITION WORKERS PASSES. -FEATURED TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBIT FOR LOCAL PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING EDITORIAL CARTOONIST ADAM ZYGLIS. HIS CARTOONS ARE INTERNATIONALLY SYNDICATED AND HAVE APPEARED IN MANY PUBLICATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON POST, USA TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND LOS ANGELES TIMES. POLITICAL CARTOONS- BOTH CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORIC PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT LENS INTO THE COMPLEXITY OF HISTORY AND NECESSITY FOR THINKING CRITICALLY WHEN CONSUMING INFORMATION.-THE ANNUAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL- A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION OF THE JAPANESE GARDENS AND MULTICULTURALISM IN BUFFALO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY, MUSIC IS ART, FRIENDS OF THE JAPANESE GARDEN AND CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS. -M&T FREE THIRD FRIDAYS OFFER FREE GENERAL ADMISSION EACH MONTH-EXHIBITS IN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE: ERIE CANAL 2025 AT CANALSIDE AND GOO GOO DOLLS RETROSPECTIVEENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING:LIKE OUR EXHIBITS, OUR PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS ARE DIVERSE IN TOPIC, WITH A VARIETY OF FORMATS INCLUDING TOURS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, LECTURES, FAMILY DAYS, FREE M&T THIRD FRIDAYS, DOCUMENTARY VIDEOS, AND PODCASTS. WE PROACTIVELY SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE BIPOC / LGBTQ+ HISTORIES TO CONTINUOUSLY EXPAND OUR REACH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE HISPANIC HERITAGE COUNCIL, THE UNCROWNED QUEENS INSTITUTE, THE BUFFALO AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, AND THE BUFFALO-NIAGARA ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHAPTER WHO WE PLAN TO CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH.REACTIVATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: OUR EDUCATION COORDINATOR INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS FROM 9 SCHOOLS IN 2022 TO 56 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT 2024. WE REINVIGORATED THE DOCENT AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, ADDING NEW TRAININGS AND ACTIVITIES TO REENGAGE OUR VOLUNTEER BASE. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FOR M&T THIRD FRIDAYS, JUNIOR HISTORY BUFFS, THAT INCLUDES A STORY-TIME ACTIVITY WITH MUSIC AND A HISTORY LESSON.DEAI INITIATIVES FORM A PRACTICE TAKING ACTION:-CO-CREATE EXPERIENCES TO AMPLIFY DIVERSE VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT BUFFALO'S FUTURE. -SUPPORT THE MISSIONS OF PARTNER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BY SHARING OUR RESOURCES TO DELIVER COLLABORATIVE EXPERIENCES WITH OVER 60 CO-SPONSORED PROGRAMS. -OFFER NEW WAYS FOR GUESTS AND PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE THROUGH VIRTUAL AND ON-SITE FREE PROGRAMMING.-SUSTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SEEKING 1-2 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE COLLABORATIVE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS.-CONTINUE TO FOSTER THE DYNAMIC OF THE MUSEUM'S DEAI COMMITTEE AT BOTH THE BOARD AND STAFF LEVELS, REALIZING KEY GOALS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.LOCAL HISTORY FEEDS DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMAKING WORK IN WESTERN NEW YORK:LOCAL HISTORY SHAPES AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE REVITALIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK. MANY RECENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE DISTINCTIVE BECAUSE THEY CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL STORY- I.E., CANALSIDE, LARKINVILLE, RICHARDSON OLMSTED COMPLEX, AND BUFFALO RIVERWORKS. THE MUSEUM IS THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR AUTHENTIC, UNIQUE RESOURCES. POTENTIAL AUDIENCES INCLUDE THE GROWING COMMUNITY OF PRESERVATIONISTS, GENEALOGISTS AND CASUAL RESEARCHERS.REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION:IN 2024, THE MUSEUM SERVED A TOTAL OF OVER 40,000 GUESTS. THE MUSEUM TRACKED OVER 14,000 GENERAL ADMISSION GUESTS TO THE MUSEUM FOR A VISIT. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM SAW OVER 3,786 ATTENDEES TO OUR PROGRAMS EX: HAPPY HOUR HISTORY LECTURES, M&T THIRD FRIDAYS, AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING. 2,085 ATTENDEES TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING BOTH ON AND OFF SITE. AND OVER 9,000 ATTENDEES TO OUR SPECIAL EVENTS.

LIBRARY-RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TWO-DIMENSIONAL ITEMS IN THE COLLECTION: BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, LETTERS, DIARIES, PERSONAL PAPERS, ORGANIZATIONAL & BUSINESS RECORDS, PERIODICALS, NEWSPAPERS, SCRAPBOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTCARDS, PRINTS, DRAWINGS, POSTERS, MAPS, ATLASES, MICROFILMS, AND EVEN SOME DVDS. IN 2024, OVER 550 PATRONS USED OUR LIBRARY'S RESOURCES FOR ON-SITE RESEARCH, MANY OF THEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY AND 1 PART-TIME ASSISTANT SERVICED THESE GUESTS AND TOURS; ANSWERED HUNDREDS TELEPHONE AND EMAIL QUERIES, AND SCANNED HUNDREDS OF ARTIFACTS TO FULFILL REQUESTS. DIGITAL PRESERVATION MAKES COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLE- TODAY, MOST OF BUFFALO'S ENGLISH-LANGUAGE, PUBLIC DOMAIN NEWSPAPERS FROM 1811-1923 ARE SEARCHABLE ONLINE AT NEWSPAPERS.COM. THIS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES ACCESS- OTHERWISE COST-PROHIBITIVE- FOR MUSEUM/RESEARCH LIBRARY USERS.2024 ARCHIVAL ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE: STAFFING CAPACITY IN THE ARCHIVES REMAINED REDUCED. FROM THE GREG D. TRANTER COLLECTION, HUNDREDS OF PAPER COLLECTIONS WERE REHOUSED AND NUMBERED. OVER 61 DONATIONS AND NEARLY 38 PURCHASES WERE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION, INCLUDING A LARGE LOCAL MENU COLLECTION.