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New-York Historical Society bequests, gifts and related matters

Call Number

NYHS-RG 16

Date

1852-1992, inclusive

Creator

New-York Historical Society

Extent

9.54 Linear feet in 20 document boxes and 1 record carton

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English.

Abstract

The New-York Historical Society bequests, gifts & related matters record group (NYHS-RG 16) primarily includes records concerning estates in which N-YHS was named as a beneficiary. Most of these instances resulted in N-YHS receiving museum objects, manuscripts, books, or other items or a financial legacy. The record group also includes files of some donations of objects and funds from donors during their lifetimes, as well as some purchases. The record group includes files on some of the most important patrons and objects in N-YHS's history.

Arrangement Note

The record group is organized in four series, three of which are restricted.

Series I. Bequests to Circa 1960 (1852-1986)

Series II. Bequests from Circa 1960-1982 (1927-1984) RESTRICTED UNTIL 2033

Series III. Bequests from Circa 1983-1988 (1953-1990) RESTRICTED UNTIL 2039

Series IV. Bequests from Circa 1989-1992 (1964-1992) RESTRICTED UNTIL 2043

Scope and Contents Note

The New-York Historical Society bequests, gifts & related matters record group (NYHS-RG 16) primarily includes records concerning estates in which N-YHS was named as a beneficiary. Most of these instances resulted in N-YHS receiving museum objects, manuscripts, books, or other items or a financial legacy. In some instances, N-YHS was named as a residuary legatee or specified conditions needed to be met to receive the bequest. In yet other instances, N-YHS renounced the bequest.

In addition to bequests, the series also includes records of some donations of objects and funds from donors during their lifetimes, as well as of items placed on deposit with N-YHS. Some purchases are also documented in the series. The files most commonly hold correspondence, wills and codicils or abstracts of same, Surrogate Court notices and filings, and receipts. Many files also hold inventories, appraisals, agreements related to purchases, deposits or other transactions, and other documents.

The record group includes files on some of the major patrons and objects in N-YHS's history, including the Beekmans, Belknaps, Thomas J. Bryan, Crawford's sculpture The Indian, the Gallatin family, Cass Gilbert drawings, the Livingstons, Katharine Prentis Murphy, James Lenox's Nineveh sculptures, Katherine R. Rogers, the Thompson family, and many others. The container list includes a detailed inventory of the files.

Access Restrictions

Series I is open to qualified researchers. N-YHS generally restricts the records of the Board and the Executive Office, and certain other related records, for fifty years following the conclusion of the tenure of a President and CEO (formerly, Director). Accordingly, Series II, III, and IV are restricted until 2033, 2039, and 2043, respectively.

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation Note

This record group should be cited as New-York Historical Society bequests, gifts & related matters (NYHS-RG 16), The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Related Archival Materials Note

This finding aid relates to just one record group of the New-York Historical Society archives. For information about the other record groups and for overall information about the archives, please see the Guide to the New-York Historical Society Archives (NYHS-RG Archives).

Though this bequests, gifts & related matters record group (NYHS-RG 16) includes extensive and substantive content, there are several other record groups that include files concerning N-YHS acquisitions. These are as follows:

The Collection Accession Registers (NYHS-RG 15) include lists of donations and purchases from the 1840s to 1962, though they can be inconsistent in their coverage and detail.

The New-York Historical Society management committee records (NYHS-RG 1) includes minutes and so-called "official papers," both of which include reference to acquisitions.

General Correspondence (NYHS-RG 2) includes acquisitions, among many other topics.

The Museum Department Records (NYHS-RG 20) and Library Department Records (NYHS-RG 21) include acquisition records, principally for the twentieth century.

Collection processed by

Larry Weimer

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:49:43 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English

Processing Information Note

Most of the original files were processed over time, perhaps circa 1980-2000, with documents transferred from original folders to archival containers. In 2016, project archivist Larry Weimer integrated additional unprocessed material and created a detailed inventory, but the record group remained restricted at that time. In late 2017, Weimer and volunteer Alison Barr rearranged the content to facilitate opening Series I, which includes most of the files, to patrons.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024