College Archives & Special Collections: Genesee Valley Historical Collection

The Genesee Valley Historical Collection is the Library's largest and most accessible collection of local history materials. Its geographical scope covers the eight counties included in the Genesee River watershed in New York State:  Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, and Wyoming.

The collection includes books, serials, maps, atlases, video and sound recordings,  pamphlets and ephemera, plus some maps and rare/unique primary source materials which are kept locked when not in use.  Some of the richest and most heavily-used materials, including local newspapers and detailed U.S. census information, are on microfilm.

Accessing and using materials from the Genesee Valley Historical Collection

The circulating portion of this collection is housed in the Special Collections Reading Room. The Reading Room is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM weekdays or by appointment. Items can be checked-out for 28 days.

Materials in this collection which do not circulate can be requested for use in the Special Collections Reading Room by using the request button in the GLOCAT record for each item, and can be checked out for 28 days. or by contacting the Special Collections Librarian. 

Using Genesee Valley Historical materials in the classroom and research assignments

While the history of the Genesee Valley region is unique in many ways, almost any topic can be examined at the local level (e.g., demographics, social movements, industry, agriculture, environmental issues, education, indigenous culture) through a variety of secondary and primary sources available in the Genesee Valley Historical Collection.

Please contact the Special Collections Librarian to discuss ways to incorporate these materials into your assignments and class projects.

• GLOCAT, the Library’s online catalog,is the best source for discovering materials by keyword, subject, title, author.
• Local & SUNY Geneseo History Subject Guide for more sources and help in researching local history topics.
• Portions of the collection have been added to the New York Heritage Digital Repository including:
  • 20th Century Remains of the Genesee Valley Canal
  • Jackson Health Resort Collection
  • Architecture of Livingston County, NY
  • Genesee Valley Hunt
  • Flood of 1972, Genesee River in Letchworth State Park
• Select titles from the collection are also available for download or purchase through the Library’s Genesee Valley Historical Reprints series.