The Herkimer County Historical Society’s Hazel Patrick Resource Center, located in the Eckler Building at 406 North Main Street, Herkimer, New York, is home to one of the region’s most valuable collections of local history and genealogy resources.
Whether you’re researching your family tree, investigating local history, or exploring the stories of Herkimer County’s past, our staff and volunteers are here to help.
The Resource Center is open:
- Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (year-round)
- Saturdays (July & August): 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free Wi-Fi is available for all visitors.
A $5 suggested donation is requested for day use of the Resource Center to help support the preservation of our collections and facilities. There is no charge for Society members.
Knowledgeable staff and volunteers are available to assist visitors with research and locating materials.
Whether you’re researching your family tree, investigating local history, or exploring the stories of Herkimer County’s past, our staff and volunteers are here to help.
Can’t visit in person? We are happy to conduct genealogy research on your behalf.
- Research Fee: $30 donation
- Research is conducted using the resources listed below.
- Society members receive complimentary genealogy research as a membership benefit.
Research requests may be:
For brief local history inquiries, there is no charge. Simply email your question, and we’ll do our best to assist you.
Our Resource Center includes:
Genealogy Resources
- Access to Ancestry.com
- Federal and New York State census records:
- 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, and 1880
- Later census records (1892–1940) available through Ancestry.com
- Family genealogy files
- Cemetery transcriptions for nearly every cemetery in Herkimer County (through approximately 1930)
- Abstracts of Wills and Will Indexes (1790s–1900)
- Newspaper marriage and obituary indexes, including:
- Various 19th-century newspapers
- Evening Telegram (1900–1920)
- Herkimer/Ilion Citizen (1867–1921)
Evening Telegram obituary index (1923–1944)
Our extensive collection includes directories covering:
- Herkimer County
- Herkimer
- Little Falls
- Mohawk
- Ilion
- Frankfort
- Dolgeville
dating from 1869 through the mid-1990s, depending on the community.
- Town and village histories (except Columbia, Danube, Stark, Warren, and Webb)
- Local history books
- Native American history
- Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, and World War II resources
- Adirondack history
- Biographies
- Military service listings for Herkimer County residents (incomplete)
- Vertical files covering:
- Businesses and industry
- Transportation
- Historic homes
- Churches
- Schools
- Community organizations
- Local people and events
- Gazetteers (1860 & 1875)
- Herkimer County Atlases (1868 & 1906)
1857 wall map of Herkimer County
Please note that the Herkimer County Historical Society does not maintain official New York State birth, marriage, or death certificates.
Statewide registration of vital records did not become mandatory until after 1880. Copies of these records may be obtained from the Town or Village Clerk where the event occurred or through the New York State Department of Health.
