Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society

Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society
P.O. Box 247, 14 West Cayuga Street
Moravia, New York 13118
colhs@localnet.com

About Us

The Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society (COLHS) is committed to preserving the history and heritage of the Moravia, New York area. In addition, we are dedicated to preserving and presenting information and items belonging to the 13th president of the United States of America, Millard Fillmore, who was born in the Moravia, New York area. To achieve this purpose, the society collects, preserves, exhibits and researches artifacts and information that document our area's history and heritage at the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society & Museum ("the History House"), located at 14 West Cayuga Street in Moravia. We do this in the hope that we can educate, inspire and expand our sense of community through an understanding of our area's past and its place in American history.

Our area of knowledge is generally limited to the towns located in the southeastern corner of Cayuga County. For questions pertaining to other areas in Cayuga County, please visit the Cayuga NYGenWeb Site or the Cayuga County Historian's Website.

Southern Towns of Cayuga County

Some 800+ family files, housed in the Luther Research Center and Archives at the History House, augment the records of individuals who have lived in the area represented by the Historical Society. These range from notices, letters, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, to whole lineages of several generations. This collection began when the collection of Leslie Leon Luther, and his wife Bertha Kind Luther, were left to the Society by his family. Mr. Luther was the Historian in Moravia for 25 years. An informational packet, including the surname index will be provided upon request.

COLHS is a qualified not for profit charitable organization chartered by the Regents of the State of New York. Contributions are 100% tax deductible under IRS regulations per section 501(c)(3). Your support is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Events and News

	Saturday November 14 GENEALOGY AND HISTORY RESEARCH DAY. 10 am - 2 pm at the History House in Moravia. COLHS volunteers will help you find information about your ancestors in our files at the Luther Research Center and Archives. This will be the last Saturday Research Day until March 13, 2010. See Research Fees below.
	Thursday November 19 MONTHLY MEETING - TEENAGER LIFE IN THE 1800s: FIRST PERSON NARRATIVES COLHS meeting at 6:45, followed by the featured program at 7:00 pm, at Sylvan Lodge Masonic Hall, 159 Main Street, Moravia. Noted historian and artist Diane Janowski will speak about a new Learning from History series of books published by New York History Review. Read excerpts from one of the books here. Free and open to the public.
	Saturday December 5 CHRISTMAS IN MORAVIA OPEN HOUSE. 10 am - 3 pm at the History House in Moravia. House tours and refreshments. Entertainment by the Port Byron Brass Quintet. Free and open to the public.
	Sunday January 3, 2010 MILLARD FILLMORE'S 210th BIRTHDAY BASH. 10 am - 3 pm at the History House in Moravia. House tours, refreshments and entertainment. Free and open to the public.

History House Location and Hours of Operation

Researchers are welcome to do on-site research at the Luther Research Center and Archives located in the History House, 14 W. Cayuga St., Moravia, New York 13118 (click here for map and directions).

The History House is staffed by volunteers and is open for visitors on Mondays from 9am to noon, March through December, except for holidays and during inclement weather.

Our next Genealogy and History Research Day will be on Saturday November 14, 2009. Research Days are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month, March through November, at the History House from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We recommend you contact us by email or phone in advance to let us know the family surnames you will be researching. Please send an email to colhs@localnet.com or call and leave a message at (315) 497-3906.

We will be happy to open the house for research and tours by special appointment, however a minimum $25 donation is expected in addition to our regular research and copying fees. A group up to six researchers may share the donation cost. COLHS Collections Management policy requires two members be present at all times when the History House is being used for research. Please send an email to colhs@localnet.com or leave a message at the History House at: (315) 497-3906.

We recommend you call ahead to confirm volunteer availability at least one week in advance of your planned visit.

Our email address is: colhs@localnet.com

Genealogy Research Sources at the Luther Research Center and Archives

The following is a worksheet used by the Genealogy Staff , and used by visitors at the Center:

______ Bible Records, indexed
______ Family File Folders (800+ surnames see list)
______ Abstracts of Cayuga County Newspapers 1819-1865, indexed
______ "History of Cayuga County, New York", by Elliott G. Storke, indexed by Leslie and Bertha Luther
______ "Bibliography of Cayuga County", indexed
______ "Moravia and Its Past" by Leslie Leon Luther, Indexed
______ "Historical Sketches of Moravia From 1791 to 1918" by James A. Wright, indexed
______ Moravia, Niles Vital Records, indexed L. Luther and M. Crosby
______ Atlases and Maps showing family names
______ 1828 Map of Locke, indexed by Madeline Carey
______ 1853 Map of each town, indexed by COLHS volunteers
______ 1859 Hanging Wall Map
______ 1875 Atlas
______ 1904 Atlas
______ Census Information including 1828 Quaker Census by Loren Fay
______ Scrapbooks, indexed by COLHS Volunteers
______ Local published histories of area towns
______ Church Information / booklets
______ Published Genealogies of Area Families
______ Cemetery Information: 10 volumes of 267+ Cemeteries in Cayuga County Indexed by each town (DAR project)
______ Cemetery information from Seneca County, Tompkins County Onondaga County.
______ Photograph Collection, indexed
______ "Gazetteer of the State of New York" by J.H. French, indexed
______ "Abstract of Wills of Cayuga County, New York" by Gertrude A. Barber, indexed
______ Kelloggsville Blacksmith Account Book (1839), indexed
______ Luther's Store Account Books(1826), indexed
______ Day Otis Kellogg's Account Book Owasco(1825), indexed
______ 1847-1851 Vital Records, indexed by Mable Crosby
______ "Tree Talks" archive from the Central New York Genealogical Society, 1968 to present

Research Policy And Fees

Research requests should be sent to:

THE LUTHER RESEARCH CENTER AND ARCHIVES
c/o Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society
P.O. Box 247, 14 West Cayuga Street
Moravia, NY 13118

or by email to colhs@localnet.com (note that we prefer to respond to research requests by standard US Mail, so please include your mailing address)

Fees as of January 2008; subject to change without notice:

Surname Search Requested via Mail or email - COLHS volunteers conduct a checklist search of a specific name in Luther Research Center and Archives. A fee of $20 per surname (payable in advance) includes a search of any items found in the Family Files and also covers the postage. Up to 20 photocopies included in base fee. Additional photocopies 25¢ per page (these will be sent to requestor after additional payment is received). All work is done on a first come-first served basis. COLHS will return payment to requestor if volunteers determine that no or minimal information is on hand.
Assisted Research – COLHS volunteers consult with visitor and conduct customized search. Volunteers work with visitors to review files and find additional information in available COLHS resources. May include providing guidance and training for those new to genealogy or history research. Non-members $10.00 per hour for the first hour and $5.00 for each additional hour. Members $5.00 per hour for the first hour and $2.50 for each additional hour. Photocopies 25¢ per page. Subject to availability of volunteers. Priority will be given those who call or email in advance, otherwise on a first come-first served basis.
Self-directed Research (COLHS members only) – Experienced researchers can review COLHS resources independently. Work must be done in designated areas on COLHS premises under the supervision of a trained volunteer who will retrieve requested items. Only one item (book, file, scrapbook or box of photos) may be viewed at a time. No charge. Photocopies 25¢ per page.
Photocopies are 25¢ each (members & non-members). There is a limit to the number of photocopies that the society will allow and there is also material that the society will not photocopy. Due to copyright restrictions, we do not photocopy entire books, chapters, manuscripts, etc. We encourage note taking.
Research fees are payable to: COLHS.
Money orders and checks only (cash is also accepted if paying in person). No credit cards. Research paid on out of town checks may be held for bank clearance.

Membership Information

Annual membership in the society is open to any person of good character interested in the aims and objectives of the society. Members will be placed on our mailing list to receive our newsletters and further information about the society. Newsletters are sent four times per year. Please help us save postage by providing us with your email address on your membership form.

Members are entitled to discounts on publications and research fees. Members are also invited to attend our regularly scheduled meetings, generally on the 4th Thursday of each month, May through November. Our annual banquet and election of officers takes place in April.

Effective January 2008, annual membership is $10.00 for Individuals or $15.00 for Families (A Family Membership includes any number of people living at the same mailing address). Life Membership may be granted to individuals for unusual contributions to the Society and/or the community and requires a majority vote by the membership. Paid Life Memberships are no longer available.

To enroll, please print and fill out a Membership Form

and mail it with your check or postal money order payable to COLHS.

Gift Shop

COLHS offers for sale several books, prints, maps and other items pertaining to area history in a small gift shop area in the main office at the History House. Click here to view our online items and printable order form.

Select items are also available at the Anthony Gallery, 106 Main Street, Moravia, the Cayuga County Historian's Office in the Historic Old Court House Building, 157 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY and Meyer Bookbinding, 35 Market Street, Auburn.

This website is maintained by COLHS volunteers. You are our # 14579 visitor.

Send comments or suggestions to:
Website Coordinator
colhs@localnet.com

Links:

Cayuga County NYGenWeb Project Genealogy Resources Page
Cayuga County NYGenWeb Project Home Page
Town Historians and Links to other Cayuga County Museums and Historical Societies
Cayuga County Historian's Office