County Historian

Welcome to the website of the County Historian!
Browse around to find online resources, request research assistance, and explore Livingston County history.

Holiday Closures: Closed Friday, Nov. 29, 2019; please call in advance for an appointment Dec. 26-27, 2019.

Livingston County Bicentennial

In 2021 Livingston County will celebrate 200 years! Keep checking back here and on Livingston County social media for updates and events leading up to the big year.

Livingston County Bicentennial Seal
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Doing Research?

We are excited to help! Here are some ways you can start: 

  1. Search our online Records Index for a name.
  2. Send us your specific questions or call us!
  3. Plan a visit - we have an extensive research center.
  4. Browse other recommended digital resources and repositories to track down information.

What's New?

Alms House Register, 1877-1921

September 2019

Indexing of this massive register has just been completed and lists those seeking assistance at the Alms House (later County Home). Searching for that missing person? This book may help track them. Search for ancestors names on our Online Records Index.

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Out With the Old!

June 2019

Our outdated microfilm readers have come to the end of their useful lives. Meet the new ScanPro2200! Now our office is better equipped to access newspapers and other resources on microfilm and provide improved digital images.

Old Microfilm machine    New Microfilm machine

Clip of Henry Wilson book coverLife of Henry Wilson, the Murderer

June 2019

Henry Wilson, alias William A. Carson, alias James Morgan, confessed to the murders of five people and was executed in Geneseo, NY in 1865 for the murder of Henry Devoe. This account, written by the man himself, tells of his travels and crimes, and is quite riveting.

Digitized - Unusual Newspapers

May 2019
The Letter Box
A collection of assorted rare newspapers was recently digitized, from the 1817 Genesee Farmer and the 1859 Frederick Douglass' Paper  to the 1901 Bungtown Bugle and 1936 Living Stream Hose Co. Carnival Booster. Other titles include the Geneseo Business Item, Geneseo Daily News, Discover Conesus, Moscow Advertiser, and Hot Cinders. All have been uploaded to www.fultonhistory.com for searching. 

Patients Property book cover

Craig Colony Patients' Property Books, c. 1912-1947

April 2019

With no known patient records from Craig Colony Hospital for Epileptics, we rely on other resources to help us learn about our ancestors who spent time at the institution. These record books detail some of the personal belongings of patients at the hospital. Two books itemize the property, and one is just an index - the record book itself is not known to survive. Search our Online Records Database by name to see if your person is indexed in this exciting new mini-collection.

Clipping of a Coroner's Decision

Coroner's Records, 1906-1936

November 2018

This series, the bulk from 1923-1936, primarily comprises detailed Coroner's Inquests and corresponding Coroner's Decisions. Because of the sensitive nature of these records, no index is published. Please contact us about a specific case.

B7 F19 p4877

Photographs from the Archives