PRESERVING AND SHARING THE HISTORY OF ULYSSES
Founded in April 1975, the Ulysses Historical Society was granted an absolute charter in 1979 from the New York State Board of Regents as an education institution. The society moved into its first home in April 1976 -- the basement of the Masonic Temple on Main Street in Trumansburg. In August 1996, Adrian and Richard Pearsall gave UHS a sizable cash
donation to construct a new building to be dedicated to their father Adrian O. Pearsall, who had been a teacher, farmer, businessman and school board president in Trumansburg. A public referendum March 19, 1997, approved the use of the school lot on South Street for our building. Within days contractor Jim Stevenson started work and progressed with remarkable speed. On January 19, 1998, the society moved from its space in the Masonic Temple to the new building. The Ulysses Historical Society brings together people interested in history, especially the history of the Town of Ulysses and the surrounding area. Understanding the history of our community is basic to our democratic way of life and promotes a better appreciation of our American heritage. The society collects, preserves and displays materials that help to illustrate the history of the area -- its exploration, settlement, developments, and activities in peace and in war; its progress in population, wealth, education, art, science, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and transportation. Our collections include: printed material, such as histories, genealogies, biographies, gazettes, directories, newspapers, pamphlets, catalogs, handbills, programs, and posters; manuscript material, such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, rosters, service records, account books, charts, surveys, and field books; and museum material, such as pictures, photographs, paintings, portraits, scenes, aboriginal relics; and material objects illustrative of life, conditions, events, and activities of the past and present.
