Collections

Archival and Archaeology

The Historical Society of Rockland County's collection of archival materials consists of 185 cu. ft. of manuscript, photographic and paper ephemera dating from the late 17th century and significant materials relating to the Blauvelt family. Among the over 4,000 archival items are Dutch bibles from the families of Rockland County settlers, deeds and letters, architectural drawings, maps and atlases, account books and ledgers of local family businesses, and the papers of New York Senator Clarence K. Lexow (1878-1915).

The Sherwood Map Collection, now housed in the Rockland County Archives building, contains 10,000 Rockland County maps, aerial photographs, architectural and engineering drawings documenting the rapid suburbanization of the County from 1950-80. The photographic collection contains film positives, negatives and over 2,400 glass plate negatives, lantern slides and prints. Oral history and folklife survey interviews are maintained on cassettes and videotapes. Important acquisitions include Civil War diaries and documents of a Rockland County soldier and his family.

The collection of archaeological items includes artifacts dating from approximately 8000 BC - 1400 AD produced by the Proto-Munsee, the first inhabitants of the region. Among these are 2,000 projectile points, scrapers and axes including a rare winged atlatl weight and several bifurcate projectile points. The collection was a gift of noted 20th century New York historian George Budke.

Structures which are treated as part of the collections include the unique brick Dutch-American style Jacob Blauvelt House (c. 1832) and the Dutch/English transitional barn and carriage house (c.1860) that document the architecture of rural farm life in 19th c. Rockland.

The Society also maintains a collection of hands-on reproductions for use in the education programs and demonstrations.
 

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