Wills that go back to 1783, deeds from 1684, marriage records from 1908, incorporation papers from 1876, as well as maps, photographs, naturalization records and other documents are housed in a climate-controlled storage vault in a single-story brick structure at the Westchester County Archives in Elmsford. And they’re all available for family/genealogy research.
Jackie Graziano, archivist and Reading Room manager, provided a tour recently and pointed out the possibilities of discovery within this free treasure trove of public records:
From the collection of over 35,000 wills/probate files: “There was a Loyola University professor here last summer researching Isaac M. Singer, inventor of the sewing machine, who had an estate in Yonkers. He had 25 children, so if any of his descendants still live in the area. . . we have Mr. Singer’s probate file.”
From the collection of over 35,000 deeds: “Lewis Brady, an escaped slave, bought property in Ossining and lived there until his death in 1886. A local historian has done a lot of great research on him, located some descendants who now live in Connecticut, and shared with them that we have his deed, a map showing his property, and school reports showing his children and grandchildren in Ossining schools.”
From the collection of over 100,000 marriage records spanning 1908-1936: “One of actress Gloria Swanson’s six marriages took place in Sleepy Hollow (then North Tarrytown) in 1931. We have many kinds of records on file that are useful to genealogy researchers–not just for celebrities,” says Graziano. “Marriage records, in particular, are especially revealing because they confirm the bride and groom’s ages, the parents’ names on both sides and where they were born, the number of previous marriages, and the bride’s residence at the time of the ceremony.” Graziano pointed out that a marriage record on file at the Archives confirms that the marriage license was obtained somewhere in Westchester County. That document, along with other vital records such as birth and death notices, would be recorded with the clerk’s office at the city, town or village where the event occurred.
No appointment is necessary to visit the Reading Room on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but an email or call ahead with your inquiry will help the staff prepare for your visit. Says Graziano, “We have indexes, finding aids, and collection guides to assist you in your research, and our professional staff and trained volunteers are ready to help you with your discovery process.” Even if you are unable to visit in person, staff is still available to assist you over the phone by calling (914) 231-1500, by emailing the ArchivesReferenceDesk@westchestercountyny.gov, . . or by guiding you through the digital collections online archives.westchestergov.com.
More help with family research is just down the hall. The Westchester County Historical Society (www.westchesterhistory.com), housed in the same building as the Westchester County Archives and Records Center, can often supplement the Archives in genealogical searches.
According to Associate Director and Librarian Patrick Raftery, this is particularly true if the person being researched was a public figure or a member of a family with a long history in the county. Newspaper clippings, photographs, books by and about that person are kept in secure, climate-controlled vaults for preservation. “We also maintain microfilms of thirty Westchester churches, census records, city directories, and cemetery records going back to the 18th Century—these are just some of the collections that can provide clues in family research,” says Raftery.
So, where to begin your genealogy journey? Start by orienting yourself to all the resources available by navigating the collections and indexes on the Westchester County Archives site and the Westchester County Historical Society site. Become familiar with the types of records and their formats (hard copies, digital records, microfilm). Be sure to have handy the names and birth/death dates of family members you are researching and check all Reading Room guidelines for accessing and copying records.
When asked what it’s like to guide researchers, Graziano summed it up this way: “When we are able to help someone put all the pieces of their family story together to make something wonderful . . . it’s like music!”
The Westchester County Archives
914-231-1500
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM
Westchester County Historical Society
914-231-1401
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9AM-4:30PM
