Express Links

The Genesee Valley Historical Collection

The Genesee Valley Historical Collection covers the eight counties surrounding the Genesee River in New York State: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, and Wyoming. The collection includes over 5,900 volumes, microfilm, historic maps, and atlases. Researchers should start any local history research using this collection as their main source. Even when topics require access to more specialized collections, the Genesee Valley Historical Collection provides the best starting point. A list of appropriate subject headings can be used to search the collection’s pamphlet file for more information on the Genesee Valley.

Subject strengths include:

  • Published county, city, town, and village histories
  • Iroquois; in addition to a large number of books, the collection includes a fully -indexed microfilm collection of primary source materials
  • Shakers
  • U.S. decennial Census of Population on microfilm (for the eight-county Genesee Valley area)
  • Microfilm copy of the William Pryor Letchworth Papers
  • Microfilm copy of the Library of Congress' collection of Wadsworth Papers

Regional Newspapers on Microfilm:

Milne has microfilm of the following newspapers in the Genesee Valley microform cabinet on the lower floor. Newspapers in the cabinet are arranged alphabetically by title.

Allegany County:
  • Angelica Reporter, 1837-1870
  • Genesee Valley Press (Belmont), 1863-1889
Genesee County:
  • Spirit of the Times (Batavia), 1822-1869
  • Republican Advocate (Batavia), 1822-1876, 1891
  • Progressive Batavian (Batavia), 1889-1895
  • LeRoy Gazette News, 1826-1902
Livingston County:
  • Livingston Register (Geneseo), 1824-1840
  • Livingston Republican/Livingston County Leader - Republican (Geneseo), 1837-1994
  • Genesee Valley Herald (Geneseo), 1868-1869
  • Livingston County News, 1989 to present
  • Clarion, 1989 to present
Monroe County:
  • Democrat and Chronicle, 1969 to present (located in microfilm cabinets 8 and 9)
Ontario County:
  • Western Repository (Canandaigua), 1803-1805
  • Ontario Repository and Freeman (Canandaigua), 1809-1826
  • Geneva Courier, 1831-1851

Also available in this collection is microfilm of the College's student newspaper, the Lamron, for 1922 through 1974.

Using the Genesee Valley Historical Collection

Genesee Valley File Subject Headings

The Genesee Valley Collection may be used only during hours when a reference librarian is on duty. The majority of the collection is browsable, although some rare primary sources are stored in a more secure location and therefore may not be browsed. The catalog provides full access to these rare materials, however, and a librarian may retrieve items as requested. Among these materials are a few diaries , some correspondence, and records relating to various businesses, municipal agencies, schools or school districts, churches, and military units.

Many items in the collection may be borrowed for use outside the library. SUNY Geneseo faculty and students may sign out these materials for a basic 28-day loan period, with renewals possible when items have not been requested by another user. Extended faculty loan is not available for special collection materials. Community members aged 18 and older may obtain borrower's cards and sign out these materials for the basic 28-day loan period. Some materials are restricted to in-library use, and photocopying is restricted for a very small number of items.