Collections

General Collections

The collection of 3,650 objects dates from the early 18th century to the present, including important collections of furnishings original to the Blauvelt House family, and to the early farms and industries of Rockland County.

The general collections include textiles, clothing, clothing accessories, personal items, furniture, decorative arts objects, household equipment unique to Rockland County, culinary food processing and service items, and agricultural and industrial artifacts including ice harvesting tools; Haverstraw bricks, toys, games and dolls.
Notable items include: a rare Rockland County Kas (c. 1705-15); woven coverlets by David Haring (c. 1834); a rare Dutch plow (c. 1790); and the entire contents of the Eckerson Blacksmith & Wheelwright shop.

The collection also includes sculpture, prints and paintings which document the artistic and cultural aspects of the Rockland County from 1825-1970 and include works by prominent 19th and 20th century artists J.W. Hill, William Henry Bartlett, marine artist J.O. Davidson, printer/painter/sculptor Mortimer Borne, and early 20th century artists Martha Ryther, Henry Varnum Poor, Morris Kantor and Hugo Robus.

Recent acquisitions reflect the newer immigrant history; Haitian dolls by a famous local craftswoman, wooden carvings and basketry by the Ramapo Mountain Indians and artifacts from the Italian, Irish, Haitian and Asian American community residents.

Of particular note is the collection of Pierre A. Bernard, Blanche DeVries and the history of the Clarkstown Country Club. Bernard was the father of the American Yoga movement and Eastern (Tantric) philosophy in the US, and the Club was their headquarters in Rockland County. Several years ago, HSRC broadened the scope of its collections to reflect newer immigrant groups, such as local Latino communities that are interested in preserving their heritage.
 

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