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research dossier

THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BRONX, NY · EIN 136153378 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A82Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · bronxhistoricalsociety.org
revenue
$941K
expenses
$923K
net assets
$1.6M
employees
0
program ratio
65%
mission · from form 990

TO OPERATE HISTORIC FACILITIES, RESEARCH LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES; EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; PUBLISHING

profile · synthesized from sources

The Bronx County Historical Society operates historic facilities, research libraries, and archives dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of The Bronx. It offers educational programs, exhibitions, and publishing initiatives focused on local history, with collections spanning manuscripts, photographs, and oral histories. The organization serves researchers, students, and the public through its museum, library, and community-based projects.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH ON ITEMS OF LOCAL HISTORIC IMPORTANCE INCLUDING MAINTENANCE OF MUSEUM COLLECTIONS.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Bronx African American History Project
Community-based oral history initiative launched in 2002 with Fordham University to document Black experiences in The Bronx
Bronx County Archives
Houses more than 160 archival collections including documents, sound recordings, and images dating to the 19th century
Bronx Latino History Project
Joint project with Lehman College to collect and preserve Puerto Rican and Latino histories in The Bronx through oral histories and archival collections
Museum of Bronx History
Operates a museum in a colonial-era fieldstone house featuring rotating exhibitions on Bronx history, culture, and notable figures including dance, basketball, and literary history
Research Library
Provides access to over 198,000 books, pamphlets, images, manuscripts, and media for research on Bronx history by appointment
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
    • Award arts scholarships to high school seniors
      Awards a one-time $1,000 scholarship annually to graduating seniors at the High School for Contemporary Arts who demonstrate interest in pursuing an artistic career.
  • Local History Archival Access 1 activity
    • Conduct historical research and oral history projects
      Conducts original historical research and maintains extensive archival collections, including over 160 archival collections in The Bronx County Archives, a Vertical Files collection with over 275,000 items, a still image collection of over 75,000 images, and recorded sounds and moving images documenting Bronx life since the 1930s. Records oral histories with diverse communities including graffiti pioneers, Bronx musicians of color, Puerto Rican residents, and veterans, often in partnership with academic and community organizations.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Deliver educational and cultural programming
      Offers a range of educational programs including the Street ARt/Street Peace seminar on graffiti and hip hop culture taught by pioneering artists, interactive dance workshops for older adults and all ages led by BBoy London of the New York City Breakers, guest lectures by cultural figures like Popmaster Fabel, intergenerational panel discussions on women in street dance, virtual lectures on the American Revolution, and live performances such as “Cato: A Tragedy.” Programs are tied to exhibitions and community themes like creative expression as an alternative to violence.
  • Community Health Fairs and Screenings 1 activity
    • Host community wellness and outreach events
      Organizes Harvesting Health Markets that distribute free fresh produce and provide cooking demonstrations and wellness information at the Museum of Bronx History, combining public health outreach with community engagement.
  • Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
    • Offer membership benefits and events
      Provides members with free admission to museums and the research center, access to publications, exclusive event invitations including exhibition previews, and a 10% discount at museum gift shops.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Operate historic house museums and public exhibitions
      Manages two national landmark historic house museums—the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Museum of Bronx History at the Valentine-Varian House—and operates permanent and temporary exhibits on topics including Edgar Allan Poe’s life, early American history in the Bronx, youth dance cultures (1970–1984), hip hop and graffiti origins, heavy rock music, basketball history, and Puerto Rican community narratives. Exhibits combine archival materials, oral histories, multimedia installations, and guest collaborations.
  • Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser 1 activity
    • Organize fundraising and commemorative events
      Hosts annual fundraising events including a golf tournament at Pelham Bay Split Rock Golf Course and organizes public programs monthly through 2026 as part of the America 250 initiative, including exhibitions, lectures, and performances commemorating U.S. historical milestones.
  • Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
    • Provide public access to research resources
      Operates a publicly accessible Research Center with a Research Library and The Bronx County Archives, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering free admission to members. The library holds over 198,000 items including books, manuscripts, microfilm, and recorded sounds, supporting researchers, students, and community stakeholders.
  • Local History Publishing 1 activity
    • Publish historical journals and newsletters
      Produces and distributes The Bronx Historian newsletter and The Bronx County Historical Society Journal to subscribers, sharing scholarly articles, historical research, and organizational updates.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$941K
Contributions & grants$743K79%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$30K3%
Other revenue$168K
expenses
Total expenses$923K
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead35%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$384K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.71M
Cash$136K
Investments$642K
Liabilities$86K
Net assets$1.63M
Liquid reserves10.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -19.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DR GARY D HERMALYN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 32 $44K
board members · 11
  • GIL WALTON — TRUSTEE
  • JAC ZDREAMER — TRUSTEE
  • JACQUELINE KUTNER — PRESIDENT
  • JOEL PODGOR — TRUSTEE
  • LARRY BARRAZOTTO — SECRETARY
  • MEI SEI FONG — TRUSTEE
  • PAT LOGAN — TREASURER
  • PROF LLOYD ULTAN — TRUSTEE
  • ROBERT ESNARD — TRUSTEE
  • STEVE BAKTIDY — TRUSTEE
  • TONY MORANTE — VICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 60

Who they work with

  • Amalgamated Housing Co-op Partner — Co-hosted a lecture on Thomas Paine’s contributions to the founding of the United States.
  • American Legion Partner — Veterans service organization collaborating on recruitment for the Bronx Veterans Archival Initiative.
  • Assemblyman Michael Benedetto Government — Supported multiple America 250 events including lectures and the John Adams reenactment.
  • Baba Juice Partner — Supports Harvesting Health Markets with wellness-related offerings.
  • Columbia University's MA Program Partner — Collaborates with The Bronx County Historical Society on academic and historical initiatives.
  • Culture Pass Partner — Sponsored interactive dance workshops hosted by The Bronx County Historical Society.
  • Culture Pass NYC Network — Provides free admission access to library card holders and sponsors public programs.
  • Disabled American Veterans Partner — Veterans service organization collaborating on recruitment for the Bronx Veterans Archival Initiative.
  • East Bronx History Forum Partner — Co-hosted a historical reenactment event featuring John Adams.
  • Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Partner — Operates private group tours at the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, a national landmark, in collaboration with its dedicated programming and exhibits.
  • Edgar Allan Poe House Museum in Baltimore Partner — Collaborates with The Bronx County Historical Society on the “Death of Virginia Poe” exhibit.
  • Fordham School of Law Partner — Co-sponsored the Gouverneur Morris Endowed Lecture on constitutional history.
  • Fordham University Partner — Collaborates on the Bronx African American History Project, hosting oral histories in its online repository.
  • Fordham University Partner — Collaborates on the Bronx African American History Project.
  • From The Bronx Partner — Collaborated on multiple America 250 events including performances, lectures, and historical reenactments.
  • Guides Association of New York City Partner — Collaborative partner of The Bronx County Historical Society.
  • High School for Contemporary Arts Partner — Collaborates with the school to identify and honor scholarship recipients.
  • Historic House Trust of New York City Partner — Collaborates with The Bronx County Historical Society in support of historic preservation and programming.
  • Historic House Trust of New York City Partner — Cooperates with The Bronx County Historical Society in administering the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage.
  • IDNYC Partner — Partners with IDNYC to offer free membership benefits to IDNYC cardholders.
  • Incite at Columbia University Partner — Collaborates on the Mott Haven History Keepers project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
  • James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center Partner — Partners in organizing Harvesting Health Markets with educational programming.
  • Kingsbridge Historical Society Partner — Co-organized multiple events including a performance of 'Cato: A Tragedy' and a lecture on shifting Revolutionary War loyalties.
  • Kitchen-to-Community Partner — Supports Harvesting Health Markets with food and programmatic resources.
  • Latin Horror Partner — Co-presents the “George A. Romero: Stay Scared!” exhibit with The Bronx County Historical Society.
  • Latin Horror Partner — Collaborated on the co-organization of the 'George A. Romero: Stay Scared!' exhibition.
  • Lehman College Partner — Academic partner in recruiting Bronx veterans for the Bronx Veterans Archival Initiative.
  • Lehman College Partner — Jointly operates the Bronx Latino History Project.
  • Mott Haven Oral History Project Partner — Partners with The Bronx County Historical Society on the Mott Haven History Keepers initiative.
  • Museum of Bronx History Partner — Operates private group tours at the Museum of Bronx History, located in the Valentine-Varian House, featuring exhibits on colonial, revolutionary, and contemporary Bronx history.
+ 30 more
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-Engaged Historical Knowledge Production
    methodology: community-engaged_preservation
    By involving community members in oral history collection, archival documentation, and preservation efforts, the organization strengthens historical accuracy and inclusivity, because participatory methods center marginalized voices and build collective ownership of local history.
  • Cultural Preservation as Resistance Education
    methodology: resistance_through_culture
    By teaching the history of early hip hop, graffiti, and grassroots cultural movements as forms of nonviolent resistance, the organization fosters critical understanding of how marginalized communities respond to urban disinvestment and violence, because connecting cultural expression to social struggle deepens engagement and empowers youth.
  • Experiential Learning Rooted in Local Culture
    methodology: experiential-education
    By designing educational programs around hands-on, culturally relevant experiences tied to Bronx histories and material culture, the organization increases relevance and retention, because experiential learning grounded in students’ lived contexts fosters deeper connection and understanding.