Chronology of Collection

Efner History Center and Research Library - A Chronology
  • May 29, 1946: The City Council creates office space for the City Historian. William B. Efner is appointed City Historian, to succeed Edwin G. Conde.
  • November 18, 1952: The Efner Collection" is transferred from Efner's home at 22 Front Street to its new home on the attic floor of City Hall. In 1952 Lewis Sebring, Jr. is appointed Associate Historian and Henry Ritchie is appointed City Archivist.
  • February 27, 1962: William B. Efner dies. His wife, Olive G. Efner, becomes City Historian. J. Warren Joyce is appointed Researcher.
  • December 26, 1963: Mrs. Efner dies. J. Warren Joyce is appointed to replace Mrs. Efner.
  • March 27, 1964: Henry C. Ritchie retires. He dies less than a month later, on April 21st.
  • February 1965: J. Warren Joyce is formally appointed City Historian.
  • 1969: Both Joyce and Sebring retire.
  • 1970: Larry Hart is appointed to county and city historian positions.
  • April 1976: Rhetus Galloway is appointed Librarian.
  • 1985: Miss Galloway resigns. Pauline Woods is appointed Librarian.
  • March 21, 1988: The City Archives is officially named the William B. Efner City History Center.
  • 1989: Miss Woods resigns. Francis Poulin is appointed City Archivist.
  • January 1994: Francis Poulin dies. Scott G. Haefner is appointed City Archivist.
  • October 27, 1995: Mr. Haefner resigns in order to continue his education.
  • Oct, 30, 1995: Donald A. Hulett is appointed City Archivist. Under his leadership the "Research Library" is added to the name of the City Archives.
  • June 2001: Theresa Kraham is appointed Associate City Archivist.
  • January 25, 2002: Theresa Kraham becomes City Archivist upon the departure of Donald Hulett.
  • Fall, 2003: The position of City Archivist is vacated by Ms. Kraham. The City Archives, for all intents and purposes, are closed to the public.
  • February 10, 2004: Long-time City and County Historian Larry Hart dies.
  • April 2004: Mayor Brian Stratton accepts Schenectady County Historical Society offer to manage the City History Center. Cynthia Seacord begins work at preparing the Center for reopening.
  • June 14, 2004: The City Archives are once again opened to the public. The German Turnverein opens its time capsule in the Council Chamber at City Hall as part of the celebration.
  • August 1, 2005: State Archives awards the City Archives a Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund grant upon Seacord's application, to conduct a thorough inventory of the Center's holdings.