November 2010

The museum documents the history of northwest Georgia's Bartow County, spanning more than 200 years since the Cherokee were the area's primary residents. Artifacts, photographs, documents, and a variety of interactive permanent exhibits tell the story of settlement, Cherokee removal, Civil War strife, and lifestyles of years past. Regional experiences and events are explored and re-discovered. Even a national or global event, such as the World War II, had an impact in Bartow County, and the exhibits bring that to light.

The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on the City of Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items. The Society is one of the largest family history libraries in the nation, has preeminent printed collections on Pennsylvania and regional history, and offers superb manuscript collections renowned for their strength in 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century history.

With the addition of the holdings of The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies in 2002 (and those of The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania in 2006 through a Strategic Alliance Agreement), the Society has become a chief center for the documentation and study of the ethnic communities and immigrant experiences shared by people whose American history began more recently-between the late nineteenth century and our own times. Together these holdings, old and new, make the Society one of the nation's most important special collections libraries-a center of historical documentation and study, education, and engagement.

The New York State Historical Association was founded in 1899 by New Yorkers who were interested in promoting greater knowledge of the early history of the state. They hoped to encourage original research, to educate general audiences by means of lectures and publications, to mark places of historic interest with tablets or signs, and to start a library and museum to hold manuscripts, paintings, and objects associated with the history of the state.

Today, the collections and programs continued to expand and a separate library building was constructed in 1968. In 1995 a new 18,000 square foot wing was added to Fenimore House to house the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection which is one of the nation's premier collections of American Indian Art. In 1999 in recognition of our world class collections we changed the name Fenimore House Museum to Fenimore Art Museum.

In order to provide a thorough history of the state, the Tennessee Historical Society maintains a large collection of artifacts and documents pertaining to the history. For Tennessee’s 160th anniversary in 2009, the historical society has planned a series of lectures including subjects such as the state’s archaeology and architecture.

With the help of the University of Tennessee Press, The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture is now available online, providing an excellent source of historical, cultural and geographical information.

The surrounding seven acres of original grounds look the same as they did 160 years ago. Fourteen Doric columns line three sides of Barrington Hall, and Civil War bullets removed from the tops of the columns during the restoration provide evidence that the house was used as Union headquarters. Generations of the King family can be absorbed through the many furnishings, artifacts, and stories throughout the home.

The original outbuildings on the current site include a smoke house, icehouse, kitchen, and two wells. Barrington Hall posseses the only antebellum public garden in the greater Atlanta area.

The Museum’s collection features over 20,000 artifacts from the 1800s to the present day. One of the earliest artifacts owned by the museum, a desk used by town founder William Phillips, is currently on display in the newly renovated gallery. Artifacts from recent history include lava lamps, crock pots and Army issued clothing used during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Artifacts found in the collection range from agriculture implements to personal clothing from many different historical periods. The museum’s collection includes quilts, medical equipment, toys and games, sewing machines and kitchen appliances. The archival collection houses paper based or two-dimensional artifacts such as books, bibles, certificates, maps and photographs.

The museum includes The Warrior Collection, a complete set of traditional Lakota clothing worn by Joseph and Louise Warrior of White Horse, well-displayed so viewers can see every detail and the L.C. Lippert Collection, made up of early reservation-era Indian items from the Standing Rock Reservation, where Lippert was agency superintendent.

The Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society collects, preserves, and interprets the social, political, and cultural history of the State of South Dakota and Dakota Territory. The exhibits are divided into the following five galleries: Oyate Tawicoh’an, Proving Up, Changing Times, Observation Gallery and a temporary changing exhibit.

The Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum, named after the Georgia Bishop of the Methodist Church who also served in World Wide Missions for over 20 years, began as a small library and became a Museum when it was dedicated in June 1966 and given its present name.

The Museum initially had a Southern Methodist focus and contained artifacts gathered by Moore during his travels. Dr. Charles Laymon, a noted theologian, writer and professor of Bible at the University of Florida, was initially responsible for the emphasis to gather John Wesley data and artifacts that rapidly began to fill the displays. Later, North Georgia clergyman, Rev. David Ogletree began making generous gifts from his substantial collection of Wesley historical artifacts, and many of these are now on display. A research library in the Museum has also expanded greatly through the years. The history of the development of American Methodism is taught through videos, displays and “circuit rides” through the Museum.

Permanently on display in the second-floor galleries is a highly regarded collection of tableware, sanitary ware and artware produced in the 19th and 20th centuries by Trenton's prolific ceramics industry. Also on display is a period Victorian room representing an Ellarslie parlor as it may have looked when the building was a private residence in the 1860s. The museum also boasts a fascinating collection of fine arts, decorative arts, industrial memorabilia and historical objects, displayed on a rotating basis in the remaining second-floor galleries.

The first floor galleries are host to changing exhibitions of contemporary art in all media, where visitors enjoy a diverse and exciting visual experience throughout the year. In addition to exhibitions, the museum hosts many special events, musical programs, and art classes. The Trenton City Museum also hosts an annual juried exhibition, the Ellarslie Open, which highlights the abundance of regional artistic talent. This exhibit provides visitors with an opportunity to view the finest regional work from the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, as well as work from as far away as California.