Archival Collections

Here are the archival collections of the Potsdam Public Museum. Those collections with finding aids are listed here. Others will be added to this list as they are completed. Please contact us about any further questions you may have about our collections. 


This collection consist of one box containing approximately 424 vintage, contemporary, and lithographic postcards and a tintype from circa 1908-1957. Most are addressed to members of the Duby family of 6 Larnard St., Potsdam. Some are unused. Many are seasonal greetings such as Christmas, Easter, New Year's.

This collection consist of 8 boxes of material ranging from 1838-1980s reflecting the history of the First Baptist Church in Potsdam NY and the organizations that were affiliated with the First Baptist Church in Potsdam NY.

This collection consist of 1 ¼ boxes and one scrapbook made up of about 81 items which includes letters, photographs, diplomas, contracts, a program, and one autograph book from 1856-1960 all relating to Healys, Clarks, Bensons, Gibsons and other related families of Potsdam. 


These records consist of two archival boxes, one legal sized standing and one oversized box, made up of correspondences, charts, ephemera, genealogies, photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia from the 1830s-1970s pertaining to the family of Jane Reynolds Pretat. Related families included in the collection are the Reynolds, Safford, Wing, and Sisson families. 

This collection consist of 11 binders of about 2,000 vintage, contemporary, and lithographic postcards from the 1890’s through 2013 illustrating buildings, place, and past events in and around the town of Potsdam, N.Y., and other locations across New York State, with a few international cards present within the collection.

This collection, dated from 1905-1998, is made up of 629 vintage, contemporary, and photographic postcards collected by the Hartle family, long time residents of Potsdam, illustrating Potsdam and much of St. Lawrence County, NY. Also included, are student handbooks, programs, photographs, decals/bumper stickers, a letter, envelopes and other ephemeral items related to the Hartle family and the various schools in the Potsdam area.

This collection consist of 1 standing archival box of material such as books, a notebook, a map, a photograph, magazines, newspaper clippings, a letter, and a payroll form dated from 1918-1924 related to World War I(WWI) and Bayard Dupree, a St. Lawrence County native's involvement in the war.


This collection consist of 1 archival box of material including receipts for services and goods, mainly from Potsdam businesses, all made out to or by the Reverend Howard Johnson and dated between 1911-1912, and 1926. In addition, are magazines entitled "The Examiner", a religious publication.

These papers consist of 1 archival box of correspondences, tickets, identification tags, newspapers, magazine, score sheets, handbooks, and ephemera of A. George Davis during the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. A few of the correspondences date to before the Games in 1978.


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