NEW: Oral history interviews with residents of Rochester's 19th Ward!

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NEW: The Voice was Rochester's longest running Black-owned newspaper. Explore selected issues here!

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NEW: Erie Canal lessons for Grade 4 now available! Find them on our Classroom Connections pages!

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Discover the past through the stories of those who lived it!

The Gleason Tool Company at Brown's Race, ca. 1890s.

From the collection of the Rochester Public Library Local History Division.

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Rundel Memorial Building of the Rochester Public Library, ca. 1950-1970.

From the collection of the Rochester Public Library Local History Division.

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Topics

Learn about different subjects through a variety of historical materials drawn from across our collections. View All

Collections

Explore original documents, photographs, interviews, and other primary sources from the special collections of the Rochester Public Library and its partners. View All

Exhibits

Discover the stories of Rochester’s past through selected texts and images capturing the experiences of those who lived it. View All

Timelines

Take a virtual trip through Rochester's past with these interactive timelines to learn about the people, places, and events that shaped America's first boomtown. View All