Research & Finding Tools

18th Century 19th Century

Low resolution images for reference Contact us for higher resolution images. In May of 2022, the Hudson River Heritage (HRH) Board voted for their Dows Collection to be relocated under the perpetual care and stewardship of the Dutchess County Historical Society. The Dows Collection consists of thousands of photographs, decades of diaries, countless letters and books that had been given to HRH by Deborah Dows, the lifelong resident of Foxhollow Farm in Rhinebeck. Deborah Dows, the daughter of Tracy Dows, and sister to the artist Olin Dows, founded what is active today as the Southlands Foundation, which is “dedicated to providing for and understanding of the environment and its creatures through outdoor recreational activities, particularly in the instruction of horsemanship, horse mastership and husbandry to people of all ages.” The extraordinary insights we gain from the collection are from a family of obvious wealth and connections, evidenced by invitations to the White House or casual notes about Memorial Day lunch with FDR and his mother. But the Dows family also lived a classic Rhinebeck life. The children are gathered on the roof of a car to watch the Dutchess County Fair performances. There are photographs of what would have been one of the earliest farm tractors powered by gasoline engine can be seen on the active Foxhollow Farm. Deborah Dows died in 1994.  In 2010 HRH Board member David Byars studied the photographs and used them in a book that remains available to purchase, Our Time at Foxhollow Farm. It is a pleasure, and of course a wonderful responsibility, to be stewards of the stories of this extraordinary family. Album 002: 1906 to 1908 Album 003: 1908 Album 004: 1911 Album 005: 1912 Album 006: 1913 to 1914 Album 007: 1914 to 1915

Under the heading, Dutchess County Defense Attitudes, the anthropologist Manet Fowler, early in her career, conducted interviews among Blacks in Dutchess County. She made three trips that included Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and a handful of small towns. We are not sure under whose auspices or direction these were conducted. A profile of Fowler is provided at right, including her obituary and some local newspaper references. She was for a time, Professor at Bard College and resident of Millbrook. When you click on any file, the pdf viewer will launch it in full view for best reading. To close the full view, and return to this page, either press the escape key on your keyboard, or click on the full screen icon that will be at the bottom right of your screen. March 29 and 30, 1941City of Poughkeepsie April 5 and 6, 1941City of Beacon May 9 and 10, 1941Multiple Towns

This award honors exceptional contributions to the Dutchess County community and beyond in the areas of preservation, history, and/or education. 2022 Awardees: Lou & Candace Lewis At the 2018 Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley event which “honors individuals who are instrumental in improving lives through their community philanthropy,” Lou and Candace Lewis were recognized as “empowering local institutions both with financial support and personal involvement.” That is an apt description of their involvement with DCHS and local history for over a half century. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, Lou’s involvement with DCHS formally started with his 1963 DCHS membership, the same year that he met Candace. “Two good choices that year,” Lou is happy to share! Candace’s involvement with local history commences at that time, as well.  A practicing lawyer for 50 years, Lou has represented many local non-profits including Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Locust Grove and Walkway over the Hudson. He serves on the board of the Dutchess County Interfaith Council. His is known at DCHS for his generosity of time, financial contributions, his fundraising efforts, and his ability to recruit key people, such as the current board President and Executive Director. Candace, a Vassar College graduate with a Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU, has taught art history at Vassar and Marist colleges. Among her outstanding achievements at DCHS, in addition to being DCHS president, is her eight year tenure as DCHS Yearbook editor spanning the landmark 2014 Centennial Edition to volume 100, the 2021 Women of Dutchess County, New York: Voices and Talents, Part II. Candace’s invention of a two-part consecutive series amplifies the journal’s role as an in-depth resource that is used for generations. Whether measured individually, or together, Lou and Candace leave a lasting impression and have been among a top tier of financial donors, fundraisers, and stewards of DCHS and its landmark publication, the Yearbook. Lou & Candace Lewis At the 2018 Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley event which “honors individuals who are instrumental in improving lives through their community philanthropy,” Lou and Candace Lewis were recognized as “empowering local institutions both with financial support and personal involvement.” That is an apt description of their involvement with DCHS and local history for over a half century. Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, Lou’s involvement with DCHS formally started with his 1963 DCHS membership, the same year that he met Candace. “Two good choices that year,” Lou is happy to share! Candace’s involvement with local history commences at that time, as well.  A practicing lawyer for 50 years, Lou has represented many local non-profits including Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Locust Grove and Walkway over the Hudson. He serves on the board of the Dutchess County Interfaith Council. His is known at DCHS for his generosity of time, financial contributions, his fundraising efforts, and his ability to recruit key people, such as the current board President and Executive Director. Candace, a Vassar College graduate with a Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU, has taught art history at Vassar and Marist colleges. Among her outstanding achievements at DCHS, in addition to being DCHS president, is her eight year tenure as DCHS Yearbook editor spanning the landmark 2014 Centennial Edition to volume 100, the 2021 Women of Dutchess County, New York: Voices and Talents, Part II. Candace’s invention of a two-part consecutive series amplifies the journal’s role as an in-depth resource that is used for generations. Whether measured individually, or together, Lou and Candace leave a lasting impression and have been among a top tier of financial donors, fundraisers, and stewards of DCHS and its landmark publication, the Yearbook. Prior Awardees Ralph & Doris Adams ~ J. Winthrop Aldrich ~ Myra Young Armstead ~ Barbara & Robert Bielenberg ~ D. David Conklin ~ Elizabeth A. Daniels ~ Frank Doherty ~ Edward E. Downey ~ Margaretta Downey ~ Jesse Effron ~ Frances Fergusson ~ John J. Gartland, Jr. ~ Joyce C. Ghee ~ Burton Gold ~ John & Gloria Golden ~ Frederica S. Goodman ~ Clyde Griffen ~ James F. Hall ~ Ada Scism Harrison ~ Bernard & Shirley Handel ~ E. Stuart & Linda Hubbard ~ Larry Hughes ~ Bradford H. Kendall ~ Michael Korda ~ Bill & Mary Lunt ~ Melodye K. Moore ~ Robert Murphy ~ Dennis J. Murray ~ Joseph N. Norton ~ Walter Patrice ~ Ruth Stafford Peale ~ Alice Provensen ~ Frances S. Reese ~ Caroline Reichenberg ~ Lorraine M. Roberts ~ Gretta Tritch Roman ~ Albert M. Rosenblatt ~ Fred Schaeffer ~ Dr. Sam Simon ~ Willa Skinner ~ Elizabeth Smith ~ Roger Smith ~ Marie Tarver ~ Gretta Tritch Roman ~ Denis D. VanBuren ~ Barbara Van Itallie ~ Norma W. VanKleeck ~ Kay Tremper Verilli ~ Mary Kay Vrba ~ Richard K. Wager ~ Kenneth Walpuck ~ Thomas S. Wermuth

Honors teachers at Dutchess County middle or high schools who bring innovation and creativity to impart a love and appreciation of local history. 2022 Awardee:Henry Frischknecht, Bulkeley Middle School, Rhinebeck Henry came to our attention last summer when he led an effort across Bulkeley Middle School Social Studies Classes, in Rhinebeck, encouraging students to creatively express what they learned about the event called Juneteenth, which had just been announced as a new federal holiday. Ensuring students were briefed with a good deal of local history, students created individual flags that when put together added up to a single iconic flag that was featured on the front lawn of Rhinebeck Town Hall. Frischknecht is known for having abandoned the old memorize-and-test approach. Instead, he invents creative approaches that use innovative technology to first inform students about a subject, and then subsequently asks them to express their critical thinking and understanding in equally creative ways. One of his most recent projects involves having students develop a documentary film discussing topics related to the Civil War.  He has brought in local film makers, leveraged students’ technological aptitude and brought in a multitude of primary sources, allowing them to research, script, film, and edit their own movies.  “This is the kind of authentic experience that helps our kids to think critically and be creative outside of the classroom” he said. Henry holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Dutchess Community College, continued his education at SUNY Albany where he majored in History with minors in Religious Studies and Anthropology, and completed his M.Ed degree at Marist in 2010.