COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

Geneva Historical Society
Geneva, NY · EIN 160800368 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A82Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · historicgeneva.org
revenue
$1.2M
expenses
$715K
net assets
$16.4M
employees
15
volunteers
56
program ratio
62%
mission · from form 990

Historic Geneva (Geneva Historical Society) shares and preserves Geneva's stories through crafted educational experiences that engage the community and visitors with its diverse history.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Geneva Historical Society, operating as Historic Geneva, preserves and shares the local history of Geneva, New York through curated exhibits, educational programs, and historic site tours. It manages the Rose Hill Mansion, a 19th-century estate open for seasonal guided visits, and produces community-engaged exhibitions on topics ranging from local art and innovation to social history. The organization serves both residents and visitors with a focus on engaging the public through tangible connections to Geneva's diverse past.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Community-Sourced Exhibits
Exhibits like "My Geneva is…" that feature photos and stories contributed by community members to document personal connections to the city
Juxtapositions Exhibit Series
Annual exhibit curated by students from Hobart and William Smith Colleges featuring selections from the Historic Geneva collections
Past Exhibits Program
Rotating curated exhibits on Geneva's history including topics such as local artists, military service, education, and community life, displayed at various venues
Rose Hill Mansion Tours
Seasonal guided tours of the 1839 Greek Revival mansion offering insight into the Swan family and 19th-century life on a working farm overlooking Seneca Lake
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Local History Archival Access 2 activities
    • Accepts and manages historical donations
      Accepts donations of artifacts, archival materials, and photographs for inclusion in its permanent collections and regularly reviews and documents new acquisitions.
    • Provides public access to historical collections and research materials
      Offers appointment-based and online access to archival and research materials, including city directories, family files, newspaper indexes, photographs, and finding aids. Maintains a collection of approximately 5,700 three-dimensional objects, 3,400 costumes and textiles, 1,000 cubic feet of archival materials, and over 20,000 photographs. Digital materials are accessible via New York Heritage and Empire Archival Discovery Cooperative.
  • Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
    • Conducts guided and specialty tours of historic properties
      Offers seasonal guided tours of Rose Hill Mansion and behind-the-scenes, preservation-focused specialty tours by reservation. Also provides scheduled public access to Johnston House and walking tours of historic neighborhoods including Liberia Street and Torrey Park.
  • Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
    • Conducts historical research and publishes findings
      Engages in ongoing research into local history, including the lives of enslaved individuals at Rose Hill, public health efforts in the 20th century, and the history of local institutions. Publishes articles, shares historical texts, and makes research publicly available through exhibits and online platforms.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Curates and hosts temporary and commemorative exhibits
      Produces annual temporary exhibits on diverse themes such as urban renewal, travel by Genevans, local art, community gatherings, and the Black community since 1966. Also develops commemorative exhibits for events like the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, including collaborations with students and community-sourced content.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Offers educational programs and school field trips
      Provides ongoing educational and cultural programs for people of all ages, including school-based field trips such as Cemetery Stories, Taking Tea, and Tales of Christmas Past. Programs combine classroom learning with hands-on experiences at historic sites and include virtual options for remote participation.
  • Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
    • Operates gift shops to support historical programming
      Runs physical and online gift shops selling souvenirs, local history books, and other items to support the organization’s mission and operations.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Operates historic sites and museums with public exhibits
      Manages and operates multiple historic sites and museums, including the Geneva History Museum, Rose Hill Mansion, and Johnston House, featuring permanent and changing exhibits that document Geneva's history from prehistory to the present. Sites include the Carriage House Visitor Center and the Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Produces and shares digital educational resources
      Creates and distributes online educational materials including virtual tours, video tutorials (e.g., gravestone rubbing), lesson plans on Geneva in 1900 and changes in local schools, and educational videos featuring historical interpreters such as Mrs. Swan and Mrs. Becker.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.17M
Contributions & grants$338K29%
Program service revenue$57K5%
Investment income$749K64%
Other revenue$29K
expenses
Total expenses$715K
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$347K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.40M
Cash$1.02M
Investments$13.21M
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$16.40M
Liquid reserves238.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Kerry Lippincott Executive Director 40 $76K
board members · 17
  • Colleen Purbeck — Trustee (thru 6/24)
  • Dick Buck — Ex Officio Trustee
  • Eileen Broyles — Trustee
  • Frank Capozzi — Trustee (beg. 7/24)
  • Heather Teets — Treasurer
  • John Brennan — Ex Officio Trustee
  • Josephine Perry — Immediate Past President
  • Joyce Toher — Trustee
  • Judy Campbell — Trustee
  • Marilu Segura — Trustee (beg. 8/24)
  • Max Whelan — Trustee
  • Melanie Sage — Vice President (thru 2/24), Trustee
  • Michael Collins — Trustee
  • Nicole Pilet — Trustee (beg. 7/24)
  • Spike Herzig — President
  • Susie Flick — Trustee (thru 6/24)
  • Windsor Wade — Trustee (thru 8/24), Vice President
relationships · 17

Who they work with

  • City and Town of Geneva Government — Provides funding to Historic Geneva for the operation of Rose Hill Mansion.
  • ESL Charitable Foundation Funder — Sponsored in part the "One House, Many Workers: Workers of Rose Hill" exhibit.
  • ESL Charitable Foundation Funder — Sponsored in part the exhibit "Without Asking Permission: The Art of Agnes Swan Hutchins and Margaret Hutchins"
  • Empire Archival Discovery Cooperative Partner — Provides access to finding aids and collection lists from Historic Geneva.
  • Geneva Public Library Partner — Collaborates on providing access to Geneva City Directories from 1862 to 2000.
  • Historic Geneva Network — Geneva History Museum is owned and operated by Historic Geneva.
  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges Partner — Collaborated with students to curate the Juxtapositions 2025 and Juxtapositions 2026 exhibits
  • Johnston House Partner — Engages in historical programming and preservation activities involving the Johnston House.
  • New York Heritage Network — Hosted a digital version of the exhibit "Lift Every Voice: Geneva’s Black Community Since 1966"
  • New York Heritage Partner — Collaborating with New York Heritage on an exhibit about urban renewal in New York State.
  • New York Heritage Partner — Hosts digital materials from Historic Geneva's archives online.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides funding to Historic Geneva for the operation of Rose Hill Mansion.
  • Prouty-Chew House Partner — Includes the Prouty-Chew House in its museum and educational programming.
  • Rose Hill Mansion Partner — Collaborates on programming and interpretation related to the mansion and its history.
  • Rose Hill Mansion Partner — Johnston House is part of the Rose Hill Complex and shares administrative and programmatic coordination with Rose Hill Mansion.
  • Seneca Falls Historical Society Museum Partner — Collaborates on the Taking Tea school field trip program.
  • local people and organizations Partner — Loans artifacts for exhibits
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-Centered Storytelling and Curation
    methodology: community-centered_curation
    By centering community-sourced stories, artifacts, and perspectives in exhibits and programs, the Geneva Historical Society fosters public engagement and shared stewardship of local history because it reflects lived experiences and strengthens communal ownership of the historical narrative.
  • Experiential and Object-Based Learning
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By using hands-on interaction with historical objects and primary sources, the organization connects Geneva's history to education and critical thinking, because tactile and personal engagement deepens understanding and retention of historical context.
  • Inclusive Historical Interpretation
    methodology: inclusive_historical_narrative
    By applying evolving, human-centered language and land acknowledgment practices, the organization reframes historical narratives to reflect accuracy and the humanity of marginalized communities, because this builds ethical credibility and fosters reconciliation with colonial legacies.