Campaign Progress
ANNUAL GIVING 2024
Preserve local history by donating to the Annual Giving Campaign!
The Oswego County Historical Society has preserved the historic Richardson-Bates House Museum and all of its treasured collections since 1946. From the very beginning, we’ve relied on the generosity of donors like you to fund our preservation efforts and help increase public access to Oswego County history.
We’re kicking off this year’s Annual Giving Campaign fundraiser at $18,890, picked in reference to 1889, the year the Richardson-Bates House Museum completed construction.
Approximately 30% of our annual income comes from Annual Giving, and that funding is what allows us to maintain our historic house, complete projects, develop new exhibitions and programming, and more.
Can we count on your support?
If you believe, as we do, in the power of preserving local history to share with future generations, please consider a year-end donation to Annual Giving. Keep reading to learn about some recently-completed projects, and what’s in store for 2025. Thanks for considering a contribution.
Joey Sweener
Chair, Annual Giving
Eva Corradino
President, Board of Trustees
COMPLETED
Honoring Dr. Walker
The completion of a new permanent exhibit at the Richardson-Bates House Museum honoring Dr. Mary Edwards Walker—the first and currently only woman to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor—was accomplished this year. This new exhibit proudly displays her medal, and tells Dr. Walker’s story through original artifacts from the Society’s collection.
COMPLETED
Frank Barbeau Negatives Collection
Local photographer Frank Barbeau chronicled the life and times of Oswego County through his camera lens, and now his vast collection of negatives and photos have been cataloged and preserved. The collection will soon be made accessible for viewing digitally on New York Heritage thanks to your generosity.
UPCOMING PROJECT
Restore the Museum Tower's Finial
At the end of 2021, the perilously tipping 9-foot finial decoration on top of the Richardson-Bates House Museum’s tower was removed for restoration, due to structural instability caused by rotting wood in the tower’s roof. It’s been missing from the top of the museum ever since.
Thanks to historic donations received in former board member Neal Johnson’s honor, this finial is slated to be restored back to the top of the tower where it belongs; a powerful reminder of Neal’s legacy to our organization.
UPCOMING PROJECT
Collections Development
The Society has been in possession of two large collections—10 to 15 boxes each—that are in need of processing. First: The Beadle/Bentley collection, spanning the Civil War to the 1930’s. Second: The Kingsford personal family files.
Each collection will need to be cataloged and preserved in archival, acid-free materials and rehoused into new boxes in our 2nd floor Research Library, which is a costly endeavor.
Stay updated on the campaign!
Get the latest updates on the Annual Giving Campaign by submitting an inquiry form. You’ll get updates directly in your inbox about the campaign’s progress, information about the coming year’s projects, and more.
Prefer to pay by check?
Please mail your donation to:
ATTN: Annual Giving Campaign
Oswego County Historical Society
135 East Third Street
Oswego, NY 13126
Make a Gift Through Your Estate
Did you know that if you send your contribution directly from the institution handling your required minimum distribution from IRAs, you might see a tax advantage? Please consider including Oswego County Historical Society and the Annual Giving Campaign in your estate planning.