Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook Vol 050 1965

HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF DUTCHESS COUNTY Over the years, the Dutchess County Historical Society has enjoyed the hospitality of some of the other historical societies of the county and has always been impressed with the wealth of information which is avaliable and has been gathered in the rural areas. After visiting the Little Nine Partners Historical Society of Pine Plains in the fall of 1965, the trustees of the Dutchess County Historical Society have thought that its members would be interested to learn of the activities of some of the other groups and have asked the officers of the seven existing societies within the county to tell something of their organizations, their aims and accomplishments.

In the local newspapers of 1845 and 1846 there are references to the organization of a Dutchess County Historical Society. A number of prominent residents of Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park and Fishkill were interested and became members and officers. It is a matter of regret that the organization which got off to a good start in the 1840's seems to have left no record, other than a few newspaper items, but it is assumed that it was absorbed into the Lyceum, which already owned a cabinet of minerals and a library. The present active society was organized in 1914 and celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1964.

A brief account of each of the other historical groups has been furnished through the cooperation of officers of the organizations: Mrs. Oakleigh T. Cookingham, Sr., president of The Historical Club of Upper Red Hook; Mrs. Fred C. Daniels, a trustee and former president of the Historical Society of Quaker Hill and Vicinity; Mr. Albert McClure, secretary of the Hyde Park Historical Association; Mr. Theron Van Scoter, president of the East Fishkill Historical Society; Mr. Howard H. Cramer, president of the LaGrange Historical Society; Mrs. Willa Skinner, Town of Fishkill Historian and Mrs. William B. Jordan, president of The Little Nine Partners Historical Society.

THE HISTORICAL CLUB OF UPPER RED HOOK was founded in 1901.

The first year was devoted to the study of Holland. The histories of many foreign countries have since been studied, as well as our own country, New York State and Dutchess County. In addition to history, the club has studied Shakespeare for two years, Biographies, Sciences and Inventions, and other subjects. So, while we are called an historical club, we are more accurately a study club.

Our list of members includes one charter member, four honorary members, ten associate members and twenty-four active members. The active members write papers on subjects assigned to them by the Program Committee. Occasionally, we have a speaker, or slides to supplement our papers, and we have made pilgrimages to places of historic interest.

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