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research dossier

Rochester Historical Society

Rochester, NY · EIN 166051879 · Form 990 · FY2020 · Small ($100K-$1M) · rochesterhistory.org
revenue
$269K
expenses
$65K
net assets
$292K
employees
2
volunteers
11
program ratio
48%
mission · from form 990

Collect, preserve and restore material, records and artifacts related to the history of Rochester.

profile · synthesized from sources

Historical society dedicated to collecting, preserving, and showcasing artifacts, photographs, and records related to Rochester, NY. Maintains extensive archives including clothing, personal relics, and photographic collections. Offers research access and public exhibits highlighting local historical figures and eras.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Clothing Collection
Curated archive of over 2,000 clothing items and accessories from the 1820s to the 1970s, including garments worn by Susan B. Anthony and Civil War Col. Patrick O’Rorke.
Objects of Interest
Exhibits and preserves significant historical artifacts such as Frederick Douglass’s mourning locket and Seth Green’s tackle box.
Photo Research Gallery
Digitized and indexed historical photograph collection available for research; offers in-person visits and remote research assistance.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Local History Archival Access 3 activities
    • Facilitates public access to collections
      Allows members and researchers to schedule in-person visits to access and browse archival and photo collections, supporting direct engagement with historical materials.
    • Provides archival research services for Rochester history
      Offers access to and conducts searches within historical collections, including records and materials, to support public and genealogical research related to Rochester, NY. Services include assistance with family history inquiries and archival record searches.
    • Provides photo research services for historical images
      Conducts searches within an extensive, organized collection of historical images on behalf of clients and supports public research through scheduled in-person access to the photo collection.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Preserves and maintains historical artifacts and collections
      Collects, preserves, restores, and stores historical materials, artifacts, and records related to Rochester, including specialized collections such as historic clothing, personal items of notable individuals, and unique objects like a spiritualist table and custom locomotive lamp.
financials · form 990 · fy2020
revenue
Total revenue$269K
Contributions & grants$2K1%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$267K99%
Other revenue$140
expenses
Total expenses$65K
Program expenses48%
Admin / overhead52%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$16K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$293K
Cash$250K
Investments$42K
Liabilities$946
Net assets$292K
Liquid reserves53.9 mo
2 years on record · 2019–2020 · YoY revenue +282.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

Who runs it

board members · 7
  • Alinda Drury — Trustee
  • Bart Patton — Trustee
  • Benjamin Keller — Secretary
  • Carolyn Vacca — Trustee
  • James Sheppard — Trustee
  • Richard Calabrese Jr — Trustee
  • Thomas Latta — President
relationships · 2

Who they work with

  • Not specified Partner — Partnerships not explicitly named on website.
  • Smith Selden estate Partner — Donated a spiritualist table to the Rochester Historical Society.
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.

  • Archival Preservation as Systemic Stewardship
    methodology: archival_preservation
    By systematically collecting, restoring, and organizing historical materials and artifacts, the organization ensures long-term access and research integrity because structured curation enables sustainability and accuracy of historical record.
  • Place-Based Historical Engagement
    methodology: place-based_historical_engagement
    By anchoring historical narratives in local events—including crimes and tragedies—the organization fosters deeper public connection to regional history because stories tied to physical locations increase relevance and emotional resonance.
  • Research-Facilitated Public Connection to History
    methodology: research-assistance
    By providing research assistance and enabling access to genealogical and archival records, the organization strengthens individual and community ties to the past because personal discovery drives sustained engagement with historical content.