Collection

TGCHS maintains a Collection of period objects from the mid nineteenth century through the early 20th century.
 

Mission
Turning History into Action; The Garden City Historical Society is an essential community resource

that welcomes, celebrates, and advances our community's history by involvement and education. 

History
Founded in 1975, The Garden City Historical Society (the “Society”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, chartered by the New York State Board

of Regents. It is dedicated to preserving the historic character and ambiance of the Village of Garden City and educating its members and the public in preservation and history related matters. The Society owns and operates The Garden City Historical Society Museum, housed in an original 1872 A.T. Stewart-era Victorian structure, as well as a gift shop and a consignment shop—the A.T. Stewart Exchange—on the lower level of the Museum. The Society’s collection includes objects and archival material pertaining to the Village and its immediate surrounding communities. The Society offers periodic lectures and presentations and maintains an Historic Structure Survey of pre-1935 residential and non- residential structures in the Village of Garden City. 
 

The Society maintains a Collections Management Policy. This Policy is intended to further the stated mission of the Society by guiding and facilitating operationsregarding the objects held in the public trust by the organization. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the Society’s standards regarding the development, documentation, access, and care of its collections. It also authorizes the specific committees and parties who will be given the responsibility of these actions and entrusts them with using their own judgment and discretion. 
 

Scope of Collection
The Society seeks to maintain and continually develop and refine culturally and historically significant collections.
In particular, the Society focuses its collecting activities to the following: 

1. Objects made or used by residents of Garden City and its immediate surrounding communities. 

2. Objects that contribute to a clear understanding of the development of Garden City, its environs, and the changing cultural, social, political, religious, economic, architectural, and artistic landscape created by its inhabitants. 

Collections Categories 

Preservation Collection

These materials include all objects formally Accessioned by the Society with the intention to preserve and maintain them in the indefinite long term.

This is the primary collection of the museum and is afforded the highest degree of security, care, and conservation that the museum is able to provide. 

 

Education Collection

These materials include objects owned by the Society, designated for use in programs, and may be used by visitors and guests. These materials will not be formally Accessioned and shall not be part of the Preservation Collection but will be registered and labeled accordingly for clarity. Material that has been Deaccessioned from the Preservation Collection may be retained by the Society for use in the Education Collection. This may include historic furniture or objects that have been designated for use in programs, events, or rental events rather than long-term preservation. 

Reference Collection

These are materials retained by the Society for research or record-keeping purposes rather than indefinite preservation. Examples include published reference books and monographs that may be readily replaceable rather than a historic document or book appropriate to the Preservation Collection. These materials will not be formally Accessioned and shall not be part of the Preservation Collection but may be registered and will be labeled accordingly for clarity. Material that has been Deaccessioned from the Preservation Collection or deregistered from the Education Collection may be retained by the Society for use in the Reference Collection.