Jonah Sherman Collection, 1683 – 2005
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Jonah Sherman; Local Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County Businesses, Civic Organizations, Educational Institutions, Historical Societies, Government, Newspapers, Publishers, Religious Institutions and Citizens
- Abstract:
- The Jonah Sherman Collection is a compilation of local business records, government documents, city planning materials, local histories and ephemera. Gathered by local businessman Jonah Sherman, the Collection is extremely valuable to those seeking information on the modern history of Poughkeepsie and Greater Dutchess County.
- Extent:
- 95 Linear Feet
- Language:
- The language of the materials is predominately English. Other languages include Dutch, French and Latin.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number ], in the Jonah Sherman Collection, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Jonah Sherman Collection is a compilation of local business records, government documents, city planning materials, local histories and ephemera. Gathered by local businessman Jonah Sherman, the Collection is extremely valuable to those seeking information on the modern history of Poughkeepsie and Greater Dutchess County.
The Collection contains a rather large amount of records from local banks from the latter half of the nineteenth century up until the mid-twentieth century. In particular this includes Farmers and Manufacturers National Bank. Also available are the records of the Domestic Appliance Company, likely operated by Jonah Sherman’s ancestors, as well as early-nineteenth century entrepreneurs, the Snedeker Family. The Collection also contains the records of major Poughkeepsie institutions, including the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Eastman Business College, Vassar College, various churches as well as comprehensive records of the Luckey, Platt and Company department store.
Jonah Sherman also gathered a fairly comprehensive account of the transportation and infrastructure of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County over the last century. This includes a number of early maps and travel guides as well as information concerning the construction and use of both the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge and the Mid-Hudson Bridge. Also present are records pertaining to the City’s urban renewal plan of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Collection also features a large amount of locally-published materials including local newspapers dating back to 1839. Present are a number of local papers marking important historical events as well as complete bundles of local papers that span months or years. Jonah Sherman also collected a number of published books concerning the history of Dutchess County.
A significant portion of the Collection is dedicated to ephemera gathered from local businesses and industry. This includes numerous packaging and advertising materials as well as a substantially large postcard collection. The Collection also contains valuable graphic materials, including photographic histories of the Hudson’s shore, cabinet cards produced by early Poughkeepsie photographers, images from Luckey, Platt and Co. as well as comprehensive images of Poughkeepsie’s major streets around the turn of the nineteenth century.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Longtime local business man and historian Jonah Sherman donated his personal collection of materials and artifacts that documented the business and commercial history of Poughkeepsie to Marist College. Jonah was dedicated to Marist College and served as a trustee for more the 25 years. He also served several terms as an officer of the board. In 1993, Jonah and his wife Joan were instrumental in establishing the Marist College Center for Lifetime Study (CSL), an educational program for senior citizens that has been duplicated by other colleges and universities regionally and nationally. Both Jonah and his wife were community leaders in human services and arts organizations. They became international volunteers working with International Executive Service Corps, American Jewish World Service, and the United Way of America to assist people and organizations in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Jonah passed away April 23, 2008.
- Arrangement:
-
These records are organized into eight series: 1) Business file, has eight subseries: Subseries 1.1 has two subseries, 1.5 has five subseries, 1.6 has four subseries, 1.8 has two subseries. 2) Topical file, has twelve subseries. Subseries 2.2 has two subseries, 2.4 has four subseries, 2.6 has two subseries. 3) Maps and Guidebooks, has three suberies. 4) Newspapers, has three subseries, subseries 4.2 has five subseries. Subseries 4.2.1 has four subseries. 5) Books, has six subseries. 6) Ephemera, has four subseries, subseries 6.1 has two subseries, 6.1.1 has two subseries, 6.1.1.1 has four sibseries, 6.1.2 has one suberies. 7) Graphic Materials, has six subseries. 8) Administrative documents
Series are arranged by subject, alphabetically, chronologically, or maintain their original order.
- Rules or conventions:
- DACS Describing Archives: A Content Standard. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2013.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
There are no restrictions on this collection
- Terms of access:
-
Individuals requesting reproductions expressly assume the responsibility for compliance with all pertinent provisions of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. ss101 et seq. Patrons further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Marist College Archives and Special Collections and its staff in connection with any disputes arising from the Copyright Act, over the reproduction of material at the request of patrons. For more information please visit the following website: http://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number ], in the Jonah Sherman Collection, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College.
- Location of this collection:
- Contact:
- 845-575-3364library.archives@marist.edu