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The Titanic and the Arthurs Ford
By Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistWhen news of the full extent of the Titanic disaster broke in Elmira on April 16, 1912, two families began to worry about the fate of Arthur Ford. The strange thing was,...
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Putting a Name to a Face
by Erin Doane, CuratorOn March 9, 1919, the Elmira Jewish Welfare Board hosted a banquet at the Hebrew Social Center on High Street to honor Jewish veterans of World War I. There is a photograph of...
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An Elmira-Made Movie: Adventures of Dot (1917)
By Kelli Huggins, Education Coordinator Released in 1917, Adventures of Dot was a two-reel silent film made in Elmira. It featured local actors and was produced by the Unique Photo Drama Corporation of...
View ArticleScrapbook Nation
By Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistDo you scrapbook? No? Are you sure? Have you ever shared something on Facebook, reblogged something on Tumblr, or created a Pinterest page? Then congratulations: you’re a...
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Mark Twain’s Other Bestselling Book
by Erin Doane, Curator Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) was known to be an avid scrapbooker. He also had the tendency to mock others who made scrapbooks but that didn’t stop him from making money off...
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Oddities and Crime: The Scrapbook of Chief of Police Levi Little
By Kelli Huggins, Education CoordinatorI feel a bizarre kinship to Levi D. Little that is based solely on the contents of his scrapbook. In fact, I consider Little’s scrapbook to be one of my favorite...
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War Memorial: The 107th New York Volunteers Association Scrapbooks
By Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistThe first Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30, 1868 in honor of the Civil War dead, so it seemed fitting to feature the 107th New York Volunteers Association’s scrapbook...
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The Popcorn Truck in Wisner Park
by Erin Doane, CuratorOne of the most famous sights at Wisner Park’s summer market is the restored antique popcorn truck that was originally owned and operated by Frank Romeo from 1930 until his...
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Embarrassing Moments
By Kelli Huggins, Education Coordinator Embarrassing moments: we’ve all had them, and people in the past were no exception to this shame. While I won’t be sharing any of my own personal lowlights, I do...
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Archives Explained: Part II
by Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistPeople often asks me what happens to their things after they donate. I already discussed what happens to collections of papers, but what about one-off donations? I am...
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The Saga of “Chestie”
by Erin Doane, CuratorOn the morning of July 25, 1940, a half-grown gray kitten strolled into the offices of the Community Chest, located in the Federation Building in Elmira. Undeterred by the summer...
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George Cotton, Jr.: "The Dandy of Them All"
By Kelli Huggins, Education Coordinator“The dandy of them all. Dude. Wears tight pants, and is a politician. Thinks of running for mayor. Is a ladies’ man and a great hand for society. Is keeping one...
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Theater House Riot
by Rachel Dworkin, archivistAll the young Italian couple wanted to do was see a movie at the Colonial Theater one night in June 1914. Alas, it was not to be. Despite having paid the 5 cents to sit on...
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The Bon Ton Tea Room
by Erin Doane, CuratorBon Ton Tea Room, c. 1920sI came across this photograph of the Bon Ton Tea Room while working on our newest exhibit, It’s Electric! I had never heard of this particular tea room,...
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The Queen City Macaroni Company
By Kelli Huggins, Education CoordinatorOn September 23, 1904, the Queen City Macaroni Manufacturing Company was incorporated on Railroad Avenue in Elmira by three Italian immigrants, Charles Gargana,...
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Rattlesnakes in Chemung County
By Kelli Huggins, Education Coordinator; and Bridget Sharry, Tanglewood Nature CenterRoger the rattlesnake at Tanglewood Nature Center. Photograph by Gail Norwood.It is little secret that we humans...
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The Unwanted Child
by Rachel Dworkin, ArchivistIn the autumn of 1832, the Village of Elmira was rocked by scandal. On the morning of October 19th, a baby, about three weeks old, was found abandoned on a wood pile. There...
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Millport’s Civil War Monument
by Erin Doane, CuratorOn August 4, 1904, a 14,920-pound siege gun arrived in Millport. The artillery piece was made by the Fort Pitt Foundry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for use during the Civil War....
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Time for a Change
By Kelli Huggins, Education CoordinatorI have a big, bittersweet announcement to make: I have accepted a new job as a Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Catskill Interpretive Center in Mount...
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Foundations of the NAACP Elmira-Corning Branch
By Rachel Dworkin, archivistFor the last 100 years, the Elmira-Corning Branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has worked to improve the lives of African...
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