Since its founding in 1921, the East Hampton Historical Society has gathered a collection of nearly 20,000 artifacts. Dating from the 17th through the 21st centuries, the collection features decorative and fine arts, tools, equipment, clothing, and household furnishings.
Currently, only a portion of the collection is accessible in the online database, but the number of records digitally available is increasing every month.
Our current collecting practices focus on objects with direct provenance to East Hampton and particularly the historic sites and museums we preserve and interpret. We are especially interested in collecting objects related to people, cultures, or histories in East Hampton that have been typically overlooked.
For research and general inquiries, please complete the Research Request Form below and email it to info@easthamptonhistory.org, with the subject line “Collections Research.” Please allow for at least 3 business days for a response.
Research
The collections of the East Hampton Historical Society consist primarily of three dimensional objects. For researchers interested in genealogical resources, we recommend starting with the Long Island Collection at the East Hampton Library. They have collected deeds, wills, letters, photographs, and other documents associated with a variety of East Hampton families. To see what materials are available online, please visit www.digitallongisland.org.