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Three Village Historical Society

East Setauket, NY · EIN 116080527 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE A82Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · tvhs.org
revenue
$266K
expenses
$306K
net assets
$1.3M
employees
5
volunteers
30
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

Education on local history

profile · synthesized from sources

The Three Village Historical Society, founded in 1964 and based in Setauket, NY, is dedicated to preserving and educating the public about the local history of the Three Village area. The organization collects artifacts and documents, operates a museum, and develops educational programs for learners of all ages. It emphasizes community engagement, historical preservation, and inclusive interpretation of regional heritage.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Archival and Oral History Preservation
Collection and curation of photographs, documents, and recorded oral histories, including those of Setalcott elders, to preserve Black and Indigenous histories
Dominick-Crawford Barn Education & History Center
Repurposed historic barn providing teaching facilities, interactive exhibits, and archive access; serves as an ADA-compliant community space for programs, lectures, and workshops
Founders Day Program
Annual educational event connecting fourth-grade students from the Three Village Central School District with local history through immersive activities and site visits
Land Acknowledgement Initiative
Commitment to recognizing the Setalcott Nation's ancestral ties to the land, supporting Indigenous sovereignty, and co-stewarding archaeological collections and historical narratives
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
    • Deliver educational programs on local history
      Provides educational programming for children and adults focused on the history of Old Field, Poquott, the Setaukets, Stony Brook, Indigenous peoples, the Culper Spy Ring, and Stony Brook University through hands-on activities, workshops, walking tours, and events such as Founders Day for fourth-grade students. Programs include educator-led sessions at the Three Village Farmers Market and interactive experiments like invisible ink.
    • Host public exhibits on local history
      Operates physical and online exhibits to educate the public about local history, including an interactive exhibit on the Culper Spy Ring at the Bayles-Swezey House and a digital exhibit on the Chicken Hill community in Setauket. The organization also maintains archival materials in partnership with the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library.
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Offer free admission to military personnel
      Provides free admission to veterans and active military personnel with valid ID through participation in the Blue Star Museum program.
  • Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
    • Preserve Indigenous and Black historical narratives
      Collects and preserves audio-recorded oral histories of Setalcott elders, photographs, documents, and archaeological artifacts from Indigenous settlements dating back 8,000 years. Actively integrates Black and Indigenous histories into institutional interpretation, recognizing cultural centers such as Bethel AME Church and American Legion Irving Hart Post 1766.
  • Public Garden Tours and Events 1 activity
    • Promote sustainable landscaping through public tours
      Organizes the Sustainable Gardens Tour, which showcases pollinator patches, rain gardens, meadows, and low-maintenance lawns as models of sustainable landscaping practices in the community.
  • Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
    • Provide volunteer training in local history
      Offers learning workshops and training sessions for volunteers to deepen their knowledge of local history and support the organization’s educational and preservation efforts.
  • Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
    • Restore and repurpose historic structures
      Rescued the c.1840 Dominick-Crawford Barn from demolition and is constructing the Dominick-Crawford Barn Education and History Center, including pouring footings, installing a fireproof staircase, and framing exterior sheathing.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$266K
Contributions & grants$63K24%
Program service revenue$189K71%
Investment income$14K5%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$306K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$159K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.44M
Cash$269K
Investments$469K
Liabilities$120K
Net assets$1.32M
Liquid reserves28.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -22.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 14
  • Brian Bennett — Trustee
  • Brian Bennett — Trustee
  • Christina Tortora — Trustee
  • David Prestia — Trustee
  • David Tracy — Trustee
  • Holly Brainard — Trustee
  • Michael O'Dwyer — Trustee
  • Orlando Malone — Trustee
  • Orlando Malone — Trustee
  • Patty Cain — Trustee
  • Ron LaVita — Trustee
  • Ron LaVita — Trustee
  • Vinny Menten — Trustee
  • Vinny Menten — Trustee
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Blue Star Museums Partner — Participates in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to veterans and active military.
  • Chamber of Commerce Partner — Janette supported the Chamber of Commerce, reflecting collaboration between TVHS and local civic organizations.
  • Emma S. Clark Memorial Library Partner — Houses The Captain Edward R. Rhodes Memorial Collection of Local History, which contains archival materials maintained by the Society.
  • Good Shepherd Hospice Partner — Janette supported Good Shepherd Hospice, indicating community engagement across nonprofit sectors.
  • Improvements By Design Partner — Construction contractor responsible for building the Dominick-Crawford Barn Education and History Center.
  • John Cunniffe Architects Partner — Architectural firm involved in the design of the Dominick-Crawford Barn Education and History Center.
  • NY State Assemblyman Steve Englebright Funder — Secured a $300,000 grant for the barn restoration and education center project.
  • ReWild Long Island Partner — Collaborates with Three Village Historical Society on the ReWild Community Managed Garden initiative
  • Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funder — Funds the Semiquincentennial Fellowship Program through which the Three Village Historical Society hosts research fellows.
  • Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funder — Provided a $350,000 grant for the barn restoration and education center project.
  • Setalcott Nation Partner — Collaborates with the Setalcott Nation on land acknowledgment, artifact stewardship, exhibition interpretation, and cemetery preservation efforts.
  • Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities Partner — Sold the Bayles-Swezey House to the Three Village Historical Society in 1998.
  • St. James Parish Partner — Janette co-founded the soup kitchen at St. James Parish, indicating a community partnership through shared service initiatives.
  • Suffolk County JumpSMART Downtown Business Investment Program Funder — Provided a $300,000 grant for the barn restoration and education center project.
  • Three Village Central School District Partner — Longstanding partner in delivering the annual Founders Day history program for fourth-grade students.
  • Three Village Farmers & Artisans Market Partner — Hosts children's educational programs during market events.
  • Three Village Historical Society + Museum Network — Board of Trustees provides governance and strategic direction for the organization.
  • Ward Melville Heritage Organization Partner — Owns the neighboring Thompson House (1700), located adjacent to the Society's headquarters.
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.

  • Education Through Preservation and Research
    methodology: education-through-preservation-and-research
    By collecting, preserving, and researching locally significant historical materials, the organization develops authentic educational programs that deepen public understanding of Three Village area history, because grounded content increases credibility and engagement.
  • Engaging Public History Presentation
    methodology: engaging_public_history
    By using lively, interactive, and immersive presentation methods—including hands-on activities and practical demonstrations—historical and sustainability education becomes more accessible and enjoyable, leading to greater public engagement because experiential learning increases retention and interest.
  • Shared Stewardship with Indigenous Communities
    methodology: shared_stewardship_with_indigenous_nations
    By relinquishing interpretive and conservation authority over Native American heritage to the Setalcott Nation and engaging in collaborative consultation, the organization produces more accurate, respectful, and inclusive historical narratives because tribal sovereignty ensures culturally authentic representation.