OUR MISSION
The mission of the Springfield Historical Society is to collect and preserve the material culture of the Town of Springfield, to exhibit and interpret the history of the town and its people for the general public, and to offer public educational programs and events.
OUR story
The Society was founded in 1959 by a group of citizens concerned about preserving the history of Springfield. This was an informal group, meeting in private homes. As the group expanded, public programs were held in the Springfield Elementary School auditorium and the organization began to accumulate historic artifacts and papers.
In the early 1990’s the Society took up residence in the Springfield Community Center. The Historical Society Room houses the collections and archives and provides space for exhibits and research. Adjacent rooms in the Center, including an auditorium, are available for use for lectures and other public programs.
In recent years the Society adopted a Constitution and By-laws and moved to a different organizational structure. On September 17, 2013 we received a provisional Charter (five years) from the New York State Department of Education. In April of 2013, we received our 501 C 3, non-profit status.
The Society holds two meetings a year. The Annual Meeting is on the last Wednesday of April. Officers are elected at this meeting. The second meeting is held on the last Wednesday of October. Other programming is scheduled throughout the year. All meetings and programs are free and open to the public. The Historical Society Room, recently renamed the Jane Doyle Prior History Center, is open every Thursday from 10am – 12pm and by appointment, holidays excluded. A definitive history of the Town of Springfield, written by Kate Gray, has proven to be a valuable resource. Copies are available at $35 plus shipping.
OUR COLLECTIONS
The collections consist mainly of documents, photographs, manuscripts, and other materials that document the town’s cultural heritage. Volunteers have digitized more than 500 photographic images of local people, architecture, cemeteries, and historic activities in Springfield. The collections are available for research and are used in exhibits and programs. We have adopted a Collections Management Policy and have in place a procedural plan to stabilize and safeguard the collections.
