With your help, we preserve and share the stories of Western New York. While the museum collects stories that go back hundreds of years, we know that history is happening today. Contemporary collecting assures that evidence of our times and experiences will be preserved for generations to come.
We encourage you to submit videos, photographs, stories, related objects, and remembrances of these times. Participation ensures your experiences will be preserved in our archives. Learn how to help with each of our contemporary collecting initiatives below.
Blizzard of 2022 Collecting Initiative
On January 26th, 2023, we created the Blizzard of 2022 Collection to document Western New Yorkers’ experiences during the devastating blizzard of Dec. 23-24, 2022. Click the links below to submit digital photos, videos, and memories of the extraordinary storm, and to view the collection.
VIEW DONATED BLIZZARD PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
To donate an object other than a photo or video related to the blizzard, please contact Michelle Harris, Senior Director of Museum Collections, at mharris@buffalohistory.org.
Chronicling COVID-19 Initiative
On May 4th, 2020, we created our Chronicling COVID-19 Collection to record the impact of the pandemic on the people of our community. Since that time, we have received over 50 donations of items and testimonials that commemorate the COVID-19 pandemic, the lives lost to it, and the front-line healthcare professionals. Click the link below to submit digital photos, videos, and recollections. To donate an object related to the pandemic, contact Michelle Harris, Senior Director of Museum Collections, at mharris@buffalohistory.org.
5/14 Buffalo Massacre Community Memory Coalition
As a member of the 5/14 Buffalo Massacre Community Memory Coalition, we continue our collaboration to combat white supremacy by collecting, documenting, and preserving an intentional and authentic record of the May 14, 2022 racist massacre on Buffalo’s East Side. This growing network of survivors, community members, and heritage-based professionals will create a repository of collective memory that will include, but not be limited to, oral history recordings and the preservation of mementos.
To inquire about donating a memento or object related to the tragedy, please contact Michelle Harris, Senior Director of Museum Collections, at mharris@buffalohistory.org.
The Newlywed Project
On June 24, 2011, Governor Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Act into law, enabling same-sex couples to legally wed in the State of New York. Not long after, the Newlywed Project was created to solicit wedding memorabilia from our region’s legally wed same-sex couples. We are interested in all objects related to your wedding: from vows, invitations, and receipts from your vendors to pictures of the wedding party, cake toppers, garments, and more. To donate, contact Cynthia Van Ness, Director of Library & Archives, at library@buffalohistory.org.
Buffalo-Area Restaurant Menus & Cookbooks
Buffalo punches above its weight in food culture. To better document the things we love to cook and eat, we are collecting menus from Buffalo-area cafes, restaurants, bars, and food trucks. The humblest pizza and wing joint is as important as the linen-tablecloth banquet hall.
We also want locally produced cookbooks. Did your church or charity or other organization publish a fundraising cookbook? Please donate a copy! Email Cynthia Van Ness, Director of Library & Archives, at library@buffalohistory.org to donate.