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Research & Collections

From its beginning in 1836, the New York State Museum has been home to some of the nation’s leading scientists, including pioneers in archaeology, paleontology, ethnology, and botany. Its collections now rank among the finest in many fields and total more than sixteen million specimens, objects, and artifacts. 

 

Archaeology

Archaeology

Biology

Biology

Ethnography

Ethnography

Geology

Geology

History

History

Paleontology

Paleontology

State History1

State History1

Research at the New York State Museum today is as exciting as it is varied, with scientists and historians actively directing projects in biology, anthropology, geology, paleontology, and history. Research by staff represents one tangible way in which information about the natural and cultural histories of New York, and the world, is made available to the public. Research findings are presented in scholarly and popular publications, at professional meetings, in exhibitions, and in public programs.

Researchers throughout the world use the collections of the New York State Museum to address questions about New York's natural and human heritage. The Museum’s collections are made available to researchers and scholars and are also used in exhibitions and public programs. Participation in Museum collections curation and research projects is possible through internships and volunteer opportunities.

To explore the Museum’s Research and Collections Division, hover your mouse over the Research and Collections block at the top navigation bar.

News Articles

Visitors to Roll Up Their Sleeves For Audience Participation Tour at Staatsburgh State Historic Site

Published May 16, 2017 | State History

STAATSBURG, N.Y. (5/15/17) — The “Gilded Age Experience Deluxe Audience Participation Tour” at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, also known as Mills Mansion, will have visitors participate in activities that give them the flavor of life at the mans...

2017 PROCLAIMED THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN IN TOMPKINS COUNTY!

Published May 15, 2017 | State History

By: Carole West, Director of Youth Education and Eight Square Schoolhouse According to Tompkins County historian Carol Kammen, this proclamation "...recognizes the long struggle for a woman to be able to take her place in the world outside...

Cottage Lawn Farmers’ Market at the Madison County Historical Society Opening May 16

Published May 15, 2017 | State History

The 3rd Annual Cottage Lawn Farmers’ Market on the grounds of the Madison County Historical Society located at 435 Main Street in Oneida will open every Tuesday from 3- 7 pm from May 16- September 5.(The market will not be open on Tuesday, July 4)...

American Alliance of Museums Releases 2017 Museum Board Leadership National Survey

Published May 11, 2017 | State History

From the AAM: Good governance is essential to the work of museum trustees and directors, providing the very foundation for the museum’s success. Together the board and the director set the direction of the museum, obtain and manage the resource...

The Path to Cultural Sensitivity? Inclusion and Co-Curation

Published May 11, 2017 | State History

By: Chris Brusatte   This article appeared on the National Council for Public History's blog History@Work on May 3, 2017 Historical interpretation has come a long way from the days when museums would sequester African and Asian culture...

Many Thousands Failed: A Wakeup Call to History Educators

Published May 9, 2017 | State History

By: Andrew K. Koch This article appeared in the May 2017 issue of Perspectives on History, published by the American Historical Association In his essay “Many Thousands Gone,” the 20th-century novelist and social critic James Baldwin observe...

The History Classroom in an Era of Crisis: A Change of Course Is Needed

Published May 9, 2017 | State History

By David Pace This article appeared in the May 2017 issue of Perspectives on History, published by the American Historical Association. This is not a time for business as usual. In a “post-truth” age of “alternative facts” and “fake news,” h...

New York State Library Highlights World War I Poster Collection

Published May 9, 2017 | State History

The year 2017 marks the centennial of the United States' involvement in World War I: Congress declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and with that, the U.S. entered the "Great War" that had been raging in Europe since 1914. In commemoration ...

Humanities New York's Reading & Discussion Programs for Adults Fall 2017 Applications Due June 16

Published May 9, 2017 | State History

Applications are due Friday, June 16 for a Fall 2017 program! Open to any tax-exempt organization in New York State, Humanities New York's Reading & Discussion Programs for Adults bring together community members ...

Federal Support for Museum and Library Services Assured for FY 2017

Published May 8, 2017 | State History

Giuliana Bullard 202-653-4799, gbullard@imls.gov Washington, DC--Friday, President Donald Trump signed into law a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government through the end of September 2017. The legislation includes $231,...

Harvard President Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust to Address 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Published May 5, 2017 | State History

Harvard University President and renowned historian Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust will be presenting her lecture "From the Civil War to 9/11: American Confronts Mass Death" at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum June 7th at 7:00pm.   Har...

Knives from Walden, the Sinking of the Lusitania, and more from the Office of the Orange County Historian

Published May 4, 2017 | State History

Follow the link below to view the latest newsletter released by the Office of the Orange County Historian that includes fascinating documentation about a $50,000 Knife Cargo from Walden, New York, that was lost with the sinking of the Lusitania in...

Empowering Individual History Makers: The Story of Maine Memory Project and My Maine Stories

Published May 2, 2017 | State History

This article orgininally appeared in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Newsletter Primary Source. Project Snapshot Grant Program name: National Leadership Grants For Museums Grant log number: MG-10-13-0009-13 Ye...

What Public Historians Can Learn from Fourth-Graders

Published May 1, 2017 | State History

By: Nick Sacco, Park Guide, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site This article was originally published on the Broadside Blog of the American Association of State and Local History. As a former classroom teacher and a current front-li...

SUNY Press Announces New Series, Public History in New York State, Edited by the University at Albany Center for Applied Historical Research

Published May 1, 2017 | State History

The field of public history has experienced significant growth as an academic discipline, but public history extends well beyond the academy. The State of New York is exceptionally rich in its number of museums,historic sites, and archival reposi...

New York History Day Winners Announced

Published May 1, 2017 | State History

Winners of the 2017 New York State History Day competition held in Cooperstown April 24th, 2017 at the Fenimore Art Museum, Farmers Museum and Baseball Hall of Fame were announced.  Congratulations to all who participated in this wonderful ev...

Path Through History Weekends

Published April 28, 2017 | State History

Discover the people and places that shaped American history  June 17 - 18 and October 7 -9, 2017! Path Through History Weekends are a showcase of New York State's rich and fascinating history and will feature hundreds of events happening ...

Chief Storytellers and the Search for Relevance: What History Organizations Can Learn from This For-Profit Trend

Published April 26, 2017 | State History

By: Bethany Hawkins This article orginially appeared on the AASLH's BROADSIDE blog.  Over the weekend, I was having a conversation with my husband, who works for a regional financial institution. He told me that his company recently hir...

On the Bright Side: History Day brings hundreds of students to Cooperstown

Published April 25, 2017 | State History

By: Mark Boshnack, Oneonta Daily Star This article originally appeared in the Oneonta Daily Star A Cooperstown-based state competition brought out the love of history in its participants, several involved said Monday at the Farmers’ Museum i...