What we believe:
What we do:
The Dutchess County Historical Society conserves the past to educate for the future by procuring, promoting, and preserving the history of Dutchess County. We are proud to be known for our publications, educational outreach, and collection of archival materials, photographs, and objects inclusive of the entire county. Our Annual Yearbook, published since 1914, is the oldest continuously published annual in New York State. In addition, 14 books on local history bear the Historical Society’s imprint. Exhibits, lectures, history awards, conferences, and a Living with History Series (tour and lecture of homes), round out programming for members of the Historical Society and the community at large. DCHS is a not-for-profit organization. We rely on support from memberships, gifts, grants, and donations.
Please submit requests in writing:
To facilitate the most accurate and helpful response to you, please use this online form for questions related to the library, collections or research. In terms of genealogical requests, we frequently can not add to what is now broadly available online unless a family has left us information through a Collections Gift. Bill Jeffway, Executive Director.
Board of Trustees
Rob Doyle, President
James Nelson, Vice President, Nominating Chair
Jack Cina, Treasurer, Finance Chair
Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer, Secretary
Michael Boden
Jim Brands
Peter Bunten
Peter Forman
Eileen Hayden, Membership Co-chair
Karen H. Lambdin
Antonia Mauro
Melodye Moore, Collections Chair, Publications Co-chair
Wayne Nussbickel, Development Chair
Rick Soedler
Elizabeth Strauss, Membership Co-chair
Andrew Villani, Program/Comms/PR Chair
William P. Tatum III, Ex-Officio, Publications Co-chair
Advisory Board
Steven Effron
Brad Kendall
Steve Lant
James Merrell
Dennis Murray
Al & Julia Rosenblatt
Fred Schaeffer
Paul Sparrow
Denise Doring VanBuren
Local Vice Presidents
Amenia, Julia Strauss
Beacon, Diane Lapis
Beekman, vacant
Clinton, Craig Marshall, Chair
Dover, Valerie LaRobardier
Dover, Caroline Reichenberg
East Fishkill, Rick Soedler
Fishkill, vacant
Hyde Park, Shannon Butler
LaGrange, vacant
Milan, Vicky LoBrutto
Millbrook and Washington, Jim Inglis, Alison Brooks
Millerton, Ed Downey
North East, Jane Rossman
Pawling, Bob & Nancy Reilly
Pine Plains, Dyan Wapnick
Pleasant Valley, Marilyn Bradford
Poughkeepsie, Michael Dolan
Red Hook, Elisabeth Tatum
Red Hook Village, Sally Dwyer-McNulty
Rhinebeck, David Miller
Rhinebeck Village, Michael Frazier
Stanford, Kathy Spiers
Union Vale, Fran Wallin
Wappinger, Beth Devine
Postal Mail
DCHS
PO Box 88
Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
Physical Location
Not a mailing address. New York State’s Clinton House. 549 Main Street, Poughkeepsie. Corner of (entrance from) North White Street.
The Dutchess County Historical Society at Clinton House.  Built circa 1765 for Hugh Van Kleeck, Clinton House is now a state-owned historic resource named to honor George Clinton, the first governor of New York State and former Vice-President of the United States. Although Clinton did not reside here, the house was likely used as a meeting place for New York State legislators during the period when Poughkeepsie was the capital of New York State. The house is now home to the Historical Society’s offices, library and collections and provides quarters for the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.