New York State Chautauqua Survey, 1999

THE FOLLOWING LISTING LOCAL CHAUTAUQUAS IN NEW YORK STATE WAS COMPILED IN 1999, BASED ON A SURVEY OF LOCAL ARCHIVISTS, LIBRARIANS AND HISTORIANS, TOGETHER WITH INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THE CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION ARCHIVES. PERSONS HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER LOCAL CHAUTAUQUA ORGANIZATIONS AND/OR ADDITIONAL RECORDS ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION ARCHIVES, BOX 1093, CHAUTAUQUA, NY 14722, 716.357.6332 or 6306.

Albany Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle.

Organized, 1880, and continued until at least 1886; located in Albany, NY.

No records located.

References: Bi-Centennial History of Albany. New York: Munsell, 1886.

Binghamton (NY) Chautauqua

In existence, ca. 1895-1904; located in Binghamton, Broome County, New York.

No records located.

Brooklyn (NY) Chautauqua

In existence, 1888; located in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.

No records located.

Catholic Summer School of America. Printed Material and Photographs, 1892-1956

The Catholic Summer School of America (1892-1940), informally known as the "Catholic Chautauqua" was located in Cliff Haven, New York, and provided an eleven week summer season, including lectures, courses and entertainment.

Records, 1892-1956, concerning the Catholic Summer School of America include pamphlets, periodical and local newspaper articles, photographs and monographs.

Special Collections, SUNY at Plattsburg, 2 Draper Ave., Plattsburg, NY 12901, 518.564.5209.

References: James A. White, The Founding of Cliff Haven; Early Years of the Catholic Summer School of America (NY, 1950); The Catholic Summer School of America, 1892-1916 (S.1., 1916).

Chautauqua By the Sea (Westerleigh, Staten Island, NY)

In existence, 1898-1920, as a land development by Isaac Funk, Benjamin Funk, and others, with emphasis on temperance.

No records located

Chautauqua Winter Assembly (Elmira, NY). Newspaper Articles 1898.

A Chautauqua Winter Assembly, under the direction of Rev. George M. Brown, was held at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, early in 1898.

Newspaper articles about the Chautauqua Winter Assembly in the Elmira Daily Gazette, February 1898.

Chemung Valley History Museum (Chemung County Historical Society), 415 East Water St., Elmira, NY 14901, 607.734.4167.

Cliff Haven -- see Catholic Summer School of America

Cuba (NY) Chautauqua

No records located.

Elmira (NY) Chautauqua -- see Chautauqua Winter Assembly (Elmira, NY)

Findley Lake (NY) Chautauqua -- see Lakeside Assembly

Keuka Lake (NY) Chautauqua

Reportedly held in 1904.

No records located.

Lake George (NY) Chautauqua

Reportedly held in 1889 and 1900, in Warren County, New York.

No records located.

Lakeside Assembly. Records, 1895-1915, 1992

The Lakeside Assembly, also known as the Lakeside Chautauqua Assembly, held summer programs at Findley Lake, Chautauqua County, New York, from 1895 to 1915. Programs included lectures, art and musical entertainment, Bible study, instruction in vocal and instrumental music, oratory and drama, and in physical culture. The Assembly hosted special days and programs for the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Lakeside Grand Army of the Republic Association, the Chautauqua Literary Science Circle and other cultural and educational events. William H. Fenton, served as Music Director and the Chapman Orchestra, under Arthur Chapman, provided music for the Association. Though the summer programs were well attended, the Association failed to make a profit, and the Assembly ceased to exist in 1916, with the property and buildings being sold to individuals.

Records of the Lakeside Assembly include programs, 1895-1900, 1902-1905, 1907-1913, 1915; postcards; photographs; copies of the Lakeside Chautauqua Magazine (1909, 1910) and other periodicals; sheet music; posters; a video-taped interview, 1992, with Eloise Mead, an attendee at the Lakeside Assembly. Subjects covered in the programs at the Association ranged from religion, missionary activities and temperance, including speeches by Carrie Nation, to woman's rights, teacher training, Native Americans, Spiritualism and other topics.

Findley Lake and Mina Historical Society, P.O. Box 522, Findley Lake, NY 14736-0522.

Long Beach (NY) Chautauqua at Hempstead

A Chautauqua Assembly was held at Hempstead, Nassau County, Long Island, N.Y., in 1895, with instruction in languages, physical culture, Bible study, and lectures on history, Famous Women of America, and America in Literature.

No records located.

Long Island Chautauqua Assembly Association. Folder of Historical Information, 1894-1898

The Long Island Association was established in 1894 at Point O'Woods on Fire Island, Long Island, New York, under the leadership of a group of ministers, including Rev. A.E. Colton and Rev. J.D. Ong. The purpose of the organization was to promote the advancement of religion, science, art, recreation and physical education. The Association developed the site at Point O'Woods, but held programs for only four years before going bankrupt. The property was subsequently developed as a resort area.

Historical information, 1894-1898, including photographs, newsletters, deeds, stock certificate, scrapbook pages, and a set of Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle books. These records are part of the Point O' Woods Archives, Point O' Woods Library, Point O' Woods, NY 11706

Ontario Outing Park Assembly

Reportedly held 1897-1899, in Wayne County, New York.

No records located.

Point O' Woods -- see Long Island Chautauqua Assembly

Reidpath Chautauqua (Williamson, NY)

No records located.

Source: Stephany, Nolan. Chautauqua Movement in Williamson: Culture Under Canvas (student paper)

Round Lake Association. Records, 1867-1960s.

The Round Lake Camp Meeting Association, located in what is now the village of Round Lake in Saratoga County, New York, was established by the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and chartered by the New York State Legislature, May 5, 1868, with the first week long camp meeting held September 1868. In the 1880s, the name of the organization was shortened to "Round Lake Association." Construction of buildings on the site began in 1869, and would later include individual cottages, churches, an auditorium and other public buildings. By the late 1800s, Round Lake had permanent residents in addition to summer visitors. After a period of decline, the Round Lake Association was dissolved in the late 1960s. In 1969, the residents voted to become a village and the Village of Round Lake received its certificates of incorporation.

Records, 1867-1990s, of the Round Lake Association Camp Meeting Association, the Round Lake Association, and Round Lake Village, 1867-1990s, including Association Minutes, 1869-1970; Lease Books, 1873-1889; Lot Registers, 1879-1990s; financial records, 1877-1990s; deeds; charters; published material concerning the Round Lake Association and its programs, and other documents.

Village Historian, Round Lake Municipal Building, 49 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake, New York 12151; Round Lake Public Library, 31 Wesley Ave, Round Lake, NY 12151.

Silver Lake Institute. Records, 1872-1990s

The Silver Lake Institute, Silver Lake, Wyoming County, originated in 1848 as the Genesee Cam Ground, then located in Bergen, New York. In 1857, the program was relocated to Silver Lake, and renamed the Silver Lake Assembly, then in 1872 chartered as the Silver Lake Institute. The Institute was associated with the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Church. The Hoag Art Gallery, part of the Institute, was established in 1896.

Records of the Silver Lake Institute and the related Hoag Memorial Art Gallery, from 1872 onward, including secretary minutes, treasurers ledgers, superintendents reports, correspondence, program, annual reports and photographs.

Silver Lake Institute, Hoag Memorial Art Gallery, P.O. Box 20, Silver Lake, New York 14549

References: Silver Lake Institute (S.1., ca. 1947)

Staten Island Chautauqua -- see Chautauqua by the Sea

No records located.

Thousand Island Park

Founded in 1875 as the Thousand Island Park Camp Meeting Association, by Rev. John Feridinand Dayan as a Methodist summer community for spiritual and physical renewal, Thousand Island Park is located on the St. Lawrence River, in Jefferson County, New York. The original Association property was sold in the 1930s, and the property is now owned by the Thousand Island Park Corporation.

Historical photographs, printed brochures, and memorabilia are located and on display at several sites at Thousand Island Park; records of the current Thousand Island Park Corporation are held in the corporate offices.

Historical Information: Thousand Island Park Landmark Society, Thousand Island Park, NY 13692; Thousand Island Park Museum, Thousand Island Park, NY 13692; Thousand Island Park Library, 42743 St. Lawrence Ave., Thousand Island Park, NY 13692; Thousand Island Park Corporation, Thousand Island Park, NY 13692; Thousand Island Park Community Association, P.O. Box 176, Thousand Island Park, NY 13692; United States Post Office, 42822 St. Lawrence Ave., Thousand Island Park, NY 13692.

References: A.W. Moore, Thousand Island Park at Wellesley Island (Montreal, 1877); Helen P. Jacox and Eugene B. Kleinhans, Thousand Island Park: One Hundred Years and Then Some (Thousand Island Park, 1975).

Tully Lake Assembly

Founded in 1892, by the Central New York Assembly, at a site on the east side of Tully Lake, in southern Onondaga County, New York; in existence until at least 1901.

No records located.

References: Dwight H. Bruce, Onondaga's Centennial: Gleanings of a Century (Boston, 1896).

Wellesley Island -- see Thousand Island Park

Williamson (NY) Chautauqua -- see Reidpath Chautauqua