The Brunswick Historical Society...

...began in the early 1970's, when a handful of community members interested in preserving both the history and historically significant structures of Brunswick began meeting for conversation and an investigation of the past. The original group assembled in rooms of local churches, school libraries, and in each other's homes, while soliciting town residents for the donations that later became the foundation of the society's collections. As the group did not yet have a permanent address, the collected historical records, documents, and objects were housed around town in the garages and outbuildings of kindly neighbors.

Due to the considerable interest, in 1974 the members invited all residents to a meeting to discuss the possibility of formalizing a historical society for the Town of Brunswick. Further meetings were scheduled and, in the fall of that year, Charter Memberships were issued to those who had initially organized the group. While membership was limited at first, the celebration of both New York State and America's Bicentennial sparked an interest in local history thatprompted many other town residents to join the group. 

The Brunswick Historical Society was granted its Absolute Charter by the Regents of the State of New York on May 22, 1981.  Following its mission to bring together people interested in the discovery and preservation of local history, members published "Artifacts," the Society's quarterly newsletter, organized numerous events and lectures, and undertook the identification of historic structures of significance.

Today, the Brunswick Historical Society has its permanent home at the historic Garfield School, where it maintains a library and its collection of reference materials, photographs, objects and other ephemera intrinsic to local history. 

Our Mission

The Brunswick Historical Society shall bring together those persons interested in the discovery, collection, and preservation of historical materials as they relate to the Town of Brunswick and Rensselaer County, New York. The Society shall also encourage and promote the preservation of historical buildings, cemeteries, monuments, and markers of local importance.

The Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents since 1981. In accord with the Society's Absolute Charter, the Society continually meets the requirements of the Board of Regents, including research, collections management, and providing programs and interpretive activities for the educational benefit of the public.