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O.B. BREWSTER MEMORIAL LIBRARY & ARCHIVES

The Adirondack History Museum’s research library is named for the Honorable Osceola Byron Brewster (1886-1953). Dedicated in 1959 by James Rosenberg, ECHS board member and artist, the library is located on the top level of the museum. Judge Brewster served 12 years as District Attorney of Essex County and 28 years as a New York State Supreme Court Justice. He was a well-known and respected Essex County citizen and according to legend, a fantastic story teller.

We are committed to making the Library accessible to the public, while adhering to the highest standards of current library and archival practices. We offer diverse resources and a variety of research services for personal, commercial, and/or non-profit researchers for a nominal fee. These fees aid in the preservation of our collections.

Items of particular interest to researchers in our collection include:

Family Surname Files & Genealogies

Historic Newspapers & Maps

William Gilliland Papers & Other Documents of Early Settlers

Civil War Letters, Documents, and Photographs

Iron Mining Collection

Historic Adirondack Photograph Collection

Verplanck Colvin Land Surveys

High Peaks Hiking & Adirondack Recreation Collections

Please be advised, ECHS does not hold birth, death, marriage, or naturalization records. Such records are kept by town clerks, the New York State Archives, and the National Archives.

RESEARCH AT THE BREWSTER LIBRARY

Open by appointment only.

Please call ahead when planning your visit to the library.

Research Library Use Fee (per day):

$8.00 per person for non-members
$4.00 for all college students (undergraduate, graduate, PhD)
No charge for ECHS members, teachers, or grade school students

Members of the Essex County Historical Society receive special benefits at the Brewster Library:

1. FREE use of the library during library hours
2. Research queries from a distance less than 1/2 the regular price
3. Publication rates are less than 1/2 the regular price
4. ONLY $.15/copy

At the Brewster Memorial Library, we strive to create an enjoyable research environment.

The following rules and regulations are designed to ensure an orderly and pleasant environment in which all visitors are able to use the library's resources and services effectively. Upon entering the library please leave all bags under the research/reading table, sign in, and put all pens away. Because our materials are rare, delicate and/or extremely valuable to the social history of Essex County, we must ensure that they are in a safe environment in order to preserve them for future generations.

Please note the library is non-circulating. Also, be advised that the public does not have direct access to all works in the Brewster Research Library & Archives.

1. Research materials may be accessed by appointment only, made in advance with the staff. Call 518-873-6466 or email research@adkhistorymuseum.org

2. Photocopies: $.15/copy members, $.25/copy non-members.

3. The Adirondack History Museum/Essex County Historical Society reserves the right to restrict usage of material depending on its fragility.

4. All library and archival material must remain inside the research room.

5. Only a pencil may be used. Audio recorders and computers are also welcome.

6. No marks may be made on materials. No notes written on top of materials. No sticky notes can be placed on materials. No tracing. No books or other objects may be placed on materials.

7. Researchers must use particular care in handling all materials; many are old, valuable, and/or unique, thus easily damaged. Pages must be turned slowly, carefully and with two hands. DO NOT crease pages.

8. Eating & drinking are strictly prohibited.

9. Researchers must remain within the general library (work table, bookshelf) area.

10. Please request photocopies from the staff. Please note that ECHS reserves the right to refuse photocopies of materials (books, manuscripts, photographs) too fragile for handling.

RESEARCHING FROM A DISTANCE

Research Rates

Requesting information from a distance (phone, email, or mail) will incur the following fees:
$12.00/hour/request for members
$25.00/hour/request for non-members
$50.00/hour/request for commercial researchers

If you are in grades K-12 and you have questions regarding the history of Essex County please call or email and we'll gladly help you at NO CHARGE.

Please follow these procedures in order for you needs to be met:

1. All research requests must be submitted on the Request for Information Form. The research form must be submitted to us before we can begin any research. Copies and/or digital reproductions of our special collections & archives may be requested.

Download - the Request for Information Form HERE

2. If, after we have conducted preliminary research for you which included surrogates of a document (text or image), and you would like permission to use the surrogates for publication, a Reproduction Permission Form for Publication must be submitted to the Director. Please allow 30 days for permission to be granted and for us to prepare the images.

Download - the Reproduction Permission Form HERE

Please direct all research queries to: