Rochester Public Library

The Local History & Genealogy Division of the Rochester Public Library holds more than 500 cubic feet of personal papers, records, and manuscripts related to the history of Rochester, Monroe County, and the Genesee Valley region of New York State. These important primary sources are invaluable to the preservation of the region's collective memory and provide first-hand glimpses into the lives of local luminaries and average citizens alike. Collection areas include the beginning and growth of public-supported educational media in Rochester; social reform in Rochester and Monroe County; and Rochester businesses, clubs, and organizations. Comprised of paper-based documents, glass plate negatives, lantern slides, and original artwork, highlights of these collections include a 1792 deed signed by Ebenezer “Indian” Allen; unpublished histories and biographies; and personal papers of Susan B. Anthony, former Rochester mayor Hiram Edgerton, and Nathaniel Rochester and the Rochester family, among many others.Rundel Memorial Building