Washington G. Smith (1828 – 1893) and Arthur J. Telfer (1859 – 1954) spent almost one hundred years photographing people, events, and scenes in and around Cooperstown. At the time of his gift Telfer was 93 years old and was widely thought to be the oldest working photographer in the United States. Washington Smith worked with partners while he learned the daguerreotype and ambrotype processes in the 1850’s. In 1864 he bought the Willoughby Block in Cooperstown and established his own “Photographic Gallery” where he remained until his death in 1893. Telfer reluctantly joined Smith in 1887; he suspected that photography was a passing fad but Smith assured him that as long as folks continued to have weddings and babies he would never want for work. Telfer continued the business after Smith’s death and for another sixty years beyond. While portraits provided the bulk of their income, both photographers ventured outside the studio to record the world around them using large view cameras and, for the most part, glass plate negatives. In 1951 Arthur “Putt” Telfer donated approximately 54,000 glass plate and film negatives to the New York State Historical Association, a priceless record of his work and the work of his predecessor Washington G. Smith.

Incorporated as the Village of Skaneateles in 1833, photography was first introduced around 1867 when O.H. Wildey began advertising photographs, ambrotypes, and meloneotypes or tintypes in the local Skaneateles newspaper. A couple of years later, Wildey opened a studio called Photographic Studio and advertised local stereoscopic views of the Skaneateles area and lakeshore views. Following Wildey, other photographers began to open their own studios or operated their photography business at home, like Edward L. Clark, leading to many scenes and people of Skaneateles being photographed. Eventually, O.H. Wildey’s studio changed names and owners, becoming Lakeside Studio run by Mr. Manfred Shattuck until the early 1930s when he left for Syracuse. The last photography studio in Skaneateles, run by Clark’s daughter Mabel, ceased production in 1940 upon her death thereby ending photography studios in Skaneateles. Since then, photography became easier and available for everyday people to use, allowing people to capture moments and create memories of Skaneateles.
The Collection shows businesses, homes, the Skaneateles landscape, people, and various activities. Ranging from the 1860s to the present day, the bulk of the collection dates around the 1880s to early 1900s. These photographs contain snapshots of history, daily life, and document the change that occurred around Skaneateles since the first photographs were taken in Skaneateles. As well as, how technology and technological advancements have changed Skaneateles Village and Town.

Skaneateles is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. Its name is Iroquoian meaning “long lake” a reference to Skaneateles Lake which borders the south side of the town. The village was formally incorporated in 1833. The area has been a popular tourist destination and vacation spot for over a century.

Named for the Iroquoian word for “long lake,” Skaneateles Lake is one of the eleven Finger Lakes in Central New York. Formed as a glacial valley, Skaneateles Lake is long and narrow, with a north-south orientation. Owing to the high ridges on its east and west shores, Skaneateles Lake has some of the cleanest water in the entire country--as such it provides both drinking water and recreation for Syracuse and the surrounding region Several small hamlets dot the southern end of the lake, while the Village of Skaneateles sits on the northern shore.
The area has been a popular tourist destination and vacation spot for over a century, with visitors being drawn to its clean waters and tranquil views. During the late nineteenth century, the Glen Haven Hotel, situated at the southern end of the lake, offered its guests "water cure" treatments, under the proprietorship of Dr. W.C. Thomas. These included half baths, dips in the cold lake, healthy eating with no coffee, tea or liquid; and drinking large amounts of water to cleanse the system. Across the lake in Fair Haven, an establishment offered alcoholic beverages. Patrons of the water cure that were tired of its restricted diet could row across the lake for a little liquid relief.

Hilbert College has its roots as a teacher training college, developed in 1957, for the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. In 1969, the College broadened its curriculum to include degrees outside of teacher training and expanded its enrollment to include both men and women, and the institution officially became known as Hilbert College. It is named after the founder of the FSSJ, Mother Colette Hilbert.
Sister Joanette Rutkowski, Hilbert College Archivist for more than 20 years, is the first and only official archivist at the college since it was founded. The collection was named in her honor in April 2008. The content at present reflects the history of the College.

World War II took place from 1939 - 1945, but the United States did not join in until the last few years of the war after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. World War II veterans from the Mechanicville, New York area had their photographs taken by Charles Siciliano at his restaurant, Siciliano's located in Mechanicville. The time when the photographs were taken was between 1942-1945. Some of the servicemen were on leave or just out of boot camp.

Shortly after the tragedies of September 11, 2001, the Special Collections Department at Hofstra University established its September 11 Project Collection and began collecting a wide variety of material related to the devastating events of that day. Later, after receiving a Documentary Heritage Program grant from the New York State Archives, work was begun on locating and photographing all of the permanent September 11 memorials and monuments on Long Island. Robert L. Harrison of East Meadow was chosen as the photographer.