I need to clear up some misconceptions here.  County historical societies in New York, including those in New York City, are not departments of county government.  They are private not-for-profit corporations chartered by the Board of Regents or by the Legislature, or incorporated by the Department of State.  Second, they receive little if any county money.  Some receive small county appropriations, and some others may be headquartered in county buildings.

County historical societies raise their budgets from membership dues, admissions fees in some cases, programs and events, gift shop sales, publications, contributions, grants and an occasional endowment.  Wayne Miller's point about financial paucity is accurate.  Many of these organizations are struggling financially.

County historians, by contrast, are individuals who are public officials, appointed by their county governments.  They might receive a small salary, office space and/or expenses but this is far from universal.

David W. Palmquist
Chartering Program
New York State Museum
New York State Education Department
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>>> [log in to unmask] 08/19/00 11:09PM >>>
Dear Jerry,
While your point is well taken, it is a sign of the value placed on history
and historians by many communities. Funded largely by county government,
most county historical societies in this part of the State are able to
offer even more embarrassing wages. Given the paucity of jobs for
historians, they (surprisingly) are usually able to fill them with
competent, if not always credentialed people. Needless to say, given the
difficulty of keeping body and soul together on such wages, burnout and
turnover rates are high. Nonetheless, I was happy to post this opening for
the CCHS Board and insisted that they include a salary range, however low,
so potential applicants could apply with their eyes open.

Wayne Miller