Our Organization
Long Island Historical Societies (formerly Association of Suffolk County Historical Societies-ASCHS) was founded by Robert David Lion Gardiner in 1969. Two key elements of its Mission were described in the 1969 Charter:
"To coordinate and unite the various historical societies located in Suffolk County, New York, as well as to preserve and work for the preservation of historical societies, buildings and landmarks in the County. To promote and encourage historical research, and to foster and promote public knowledge of and interest in local and national history."
In 2017, the Board of Directors voted to expand and promote membership to the historical societies on Long Island and change its name to Long Island Historical Societies. The name change reflected this new outreach and vision, specifically to preserve local history, landmarks and historical buildings by supporting, coordinating and unifying the historical societies of Long Island. The current Board of Long Island Historical Societie's vision is to offer services through increased programming and education on funding resources. "Robert David Lion Gardiner had a great respect for Long Island's historic stewards. When he founded ASCHS it was to recognize their efforts. With the name change to Long Island Historical Societies, Robert Gardiner's original vision has expanded to be more inclusive and focused on the growth and success of these organizations," said Kathryn M. Curran, the Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
Executive Committee
Vision Statement
Help coordinate and support efforts to preserve documents, artifacts, and buildings overseen by its membership including historical societies, museums, landmarks, municipal historians, NYS chartered and provisional organizations.
Serve as a hub for their membership, and a conduit for communication, education, marketing and collective economic impact.
Advise and share best practices and contemporary trends for effective management, staffing, Internet utilization, fund-raising, acquisition, grant-writing, preservation and restoration techniques
Provide workshops on institutional development and sponsor planning, educational training related to historical organizations, effective management and staffing coordination, fund-raising and grant writing techniques, and Internet utilization.
Offer programs on developing and strengthening partnerships with Long Island institutions including: colleges, libraries, town and village historians and private businesses.
Organize outreach to elected officials for support for their historic and cultural institutions.
Encourage peer-to-peer networking and event promotion through the Newsfeed and other promotional programs.
