named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Ed-Ventures at the Museum
Educational programs for school groups and students at the museum
Fenton Historic Walking Tours
Guided tours of historic Jamestown neighborhoods highlighting local architecture and history
Genealogy Support Group
Regular meetings and research assistance at the Hall House Research Center for individuals tracing family history
Soldier’s Friend Scholarship
Annual $1,000 scholarship for Chautauqua County graduates planning to serve in the military, ROTC, or civilian defense roles, honoring Governor Reuben Fenton's legacy as "The Soldier's Friend"
Vets Finding Vets
Program supporting veterans through research, community events, and the Soldiers' Friend Scholarship for Chautauqua County graduates pursuing military or civilian defense careers
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Conduct historical researchConducts research on historical artifacts, such as World War I uniforms, to identify their origins, and gathers input from educators through surveys in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Warren Counties.
- Produce and share digital contentMaintains an official YouTube channel to share content related to the history of Jamestown, NY and the activities of the Fenton Historical Society.
-
-
Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Award veterans education scholarshipsEstablishes and awards the Soldier's Friend Scholarship, providing $1,000 annually to support the education of a Chautauqua County graduate pursuing military, ROTC, or civilian defense-related service, in honor of Gov. Reuben E. Fenton’s advocacy for veterans.
-
-
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Conduct historic toursConducts guided historic walking and bus tours focused on Jamestown’s industrial history, hidden alleys, Lake View Cemetery, Lakeview Avenue, and other neighborhoods, as well as school group visits.
-
-
Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Host public educational programs and eventsHosts lectures, author events, ice cream socials, and educational workshops including beginning genealogy training, and produces a monthly newsletter titled "Walnut Grove Press" to share organizational updates.
-
-
Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate museum and historic propertiesOperates the Fenton Mansion and Hall House in Jamestown, NY as a museum, research center, library, and archives, featuring permanent and rotating exhibits such as the Fenton Drawing Room and the "Timeless Treasures" exhibit.
-
-
Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Preserve and interpret local historyCollects, preserves, and interprets materials related to the social, economic, and cultural development of Jamestown, NY and surrounding areas from settlement to recent times, including ongoing efforts to document the local LGBTQIA+ community and community experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Implement organizational capacity expansionIs implementing VISION 2030, a five-year plan to expand capacity for preserving and sharing Jamestown's history.
- Support genealogy and veteran researchOperates the Hall House as a public research center since 2013, hosting the Fenton Genealogy Support Group and the Vets Finding Vets program, including regular meetings and the "Vets Finding Vets Fenton Canteen" event.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$327K
Contributions & grants$252K77%
Program service revenue$15K5%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$59K
expenses
Total expenses$280K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead29%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$136K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$410K
Cash$114K
Investments$0
Liabilities$8K
Net assets$402K
Liquid reserves4.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +12.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONI BLACKMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $49K |
board members · 11
- DAVID PAINTER — TRUSTEE
- HANNAH JAROSZYNSKI — TRUSTEE
- JAMES JAROSZYNSKI — TRUSTEE
- JANET WAHLBERG — Vice President
- KAYCEE COLBURN — TRUSTEE
- MARIE CARRUBBA — TRUSTEE
- PAUL BENTLEY — Secretary
- RICHARD LUNDQUIST — TRUSTEE
- SAMUEL PAPASERGE — Trustee
- SHARON MATSON — TREASURER
- THOMAS GOODWILL — President
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Partner — Corporate member at the Ambassador level.
- Allied Alarm Services Partner — Corporate member at the Associate level.
- Jamestown Cycle Shop Partner — Corporate member at the Associate level.
- Mozart Club Partner — Josephine Fenton organized and led this amateur music club for forty years.
- Patreon Partner — Platform used to facilitate public support and donations through patronage.
- Reuben E. Fenton Partner — Operates museum in the historic family home of Reuben E. Fenton, former U.S. Congressman, New York State Governor, and U.S. Senator.
- Rodgers Land Surveying Partner — Corporate member at the Patron level.
- Shawbucks Partner — Corporate member at the Associate level.
- Vets Finding Vets Partner — Collaborates with Vets Finding Vets on the Soldiers’ Friend Scholarship program.
- WCA Hospital Partner — Josephine Fenton played a primary role in establishing the hospital and served on its Board of Directors.
- WJTN Partner — Corporate member at the Benefactor level.
- YWCA Partner — Jeannette Fenton was involved in the organization and outreach of the YWCA.
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.
- Civic Engagement Through Historical Advocacymethodology: civic_engagementBy leveraging historical legacy and past civic involvement—such as in the Temperance Movement and Political Equality Club—the organization advances contemporary social causes because connecting current issues to documented reform traditions strengthens public motivation and legitimacy for change.
- Community-Sourced and Inclusive Documentationmethodology: inclusive_community_documentationBy engaging the public in collecting recent history and prioritizing underrepresented communities through outreach and self-reported data, the organization produces more inclusive historical records because participatory methods capture diverse lived experiences that institutional archives alone miss.
- Integrated Collection, Preservation, and Educationmethodology: collection-preservation-educationBy systematically collecting, preserving, and interpreting historical materials, the organization ensures the continuity and accessibility of Jamestown’s local history, because integrating these functions strengthens public understanding and long-term cultural memory.