ABOUT OUR COLLECTIONS
What We Collect
Historic Saranac Lake collects printed and manuscript materials, maps, photographs, film, video and audio tapes, paintings, artifacts, ephemera, and other items which were created in, used in, or related to the Saranac Lake area, as defined by Saranac Lake Central School District.
Areas of Particular Interest:
What We do NOT Collect
We do not collect materials on the general history of the Adirondacks, the history of communities outside of the Saranac Lake Central School District, or TB treatment in other locations, except in cases where they belonged to or relate to notable persons or events in the Saranac Lake area. This is intended to reduce redundancy with collections of other local institutions with more appropriate collections scope and expertise.
Historic Saranac Lake collects printed and manuscript materials, maps, photographs, film, video and audio tapes, paintings, artifacts, ephemera, and other items which were created in, used in, or related to the Saranac Lake area, as defined by Saranac Lake Central School District.
Areas of Particular Interest:
- The tuberculosis industry in Saranac Lake, c. 1884-1954, including doctors, scientists, patients, caregivers, and others involved in the industry.
- The Saranac Laboratory and its body of scientific research and publications.
- The life and work of Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau and his descendants.
- Patients who came to Saranac Lake for tuberculosis treatment..
- The architecture of Saranac Lake, especially its cure cottages.
- Saranac Lake’s Union Depot and railroads.
- The Bela Bartok Cabin and Bela Bartok’s time in Saranac Lake.
- Daily Life in Saranac Lake and the surrounding communities (as defined by the school district).
What We do NOT Collect
We do not collect materials on the general history of the Adirondacks, the history of communities outside of the Saranac Lake Central School District, or TB treatment in other locations, except in cases where they belonged to or relate to notable persons or events in the Saranac Lake area. This is intended to reduce redundancy with collections of other local institutions with more appropriate collections scope and expertise.
Collections History
In 2011, Historic Saranac Lake was awarded National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grant to support a collections care project. The grant supported the services of a professional consultant and the purchase of storage materials. Eileen Corcoran helped to develop a plan for the collection and trained HSL staff and volunteers in collections practices. In 2016, we successfully completed the first phase our collections care project by completely inventorying and rehousing our collection of artifacts, photographs and documents.
In 2016, Historic Saranac Lake was honored to accept the collection of the papers of David V. Pecora, M.D. A generous donation from the Pecora family is making possible the cataloging and storage of this collection and other materials in our collection.
In 2017, we received an Institute of Museum and Library Services "Museums for America" grant to fund a year-long plan to create a long-term preservation plan for our collections. This plan, completed October 2018, outlines best practices, immediate next steps, and long-term goals. This document will help us move forward with our planning for collections storage and exhibit spaces at the Trudeau Building at 118 Main Street.
In 2011, Historic Saranac Lake was awarded National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grant to support a collections care project. The grant supported the services of a professional consultant and the purchase of storage materials. Eileen Corcoran helped to develop a plan for the collection and trained HSL staff and volunteers in collections practices. In 2016, we successfully completed the first phase our collections care project by completely inventorying and rehousing our collection of artifacts, photographs and documents.
In 2016, Historic Saranac Lake was honored to accept the collection of the papers of David V. Pecora, M.D. A generous donation from the Pecora family is making possible the cataloging and storage of this collection and other materials in our collection.
In 2017, we received an Institute of Museum and Library Services "Museums for America" grant to fund a year-long plan to create a long-term preservation plan for our collections. This plan, completed October 2018, outlines best practices, immediate next steps, and long-term goals. This document will help us move forward with our planning for collections storage and exhibit spaces at the Trudeau Building at 118 Main Street.
