BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1 MUSEUM CT, BUFFALO, NY 14216-3160

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

MELISSA LEONARD, ONE MUSEUM COURT, BUFFALO, NY 14216

Signed the 990

MELISSA LEONARD, BOARD PRESIDENT

Phone

(716) 873-9644

Website

WWW.BUFFALOHISTORY.ORG

Return prepared by

LUMSDEN & MCCORMICK LLP

Mission

EXPERIENCING HISTORY WITH YOU, BY, REMEMBERING, DISCOVERING, SAFEKEEPING, AND SHARING OUR STORIES; LEARNING AND EXPLORING TOGETHER; SPARKING EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITHIN OUR UNIQUE COMMUNITY.

Program accomplishments

• MUSEUM COLLECTIONS-CATALOGUE AND SAFEGUARD A VAST ARRAY OF TREASURES. MORE THAN 100,000 PHYSICAL OBJECTS AND OVER 450,000 ARCHIVAL ITEMS COMPRISE OUR COLLECTION AND SHAPE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WNY'S STORY. CUSTOMIZED ARTIFACT STORAGE UNITS AND CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE ARE FEATURES OF OUR OFF-SITE COLLECTIONS FACILITY. THREE FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, TOGETHER WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS, CARE FOR THE COLLECTIONS. THEY PROCESS NEW DONATIONS AND CONDUCT INVENTORY WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PROCESSING MANUAL. COLLECTIONS STAFF ALSO PRIORITIZE AND RECOMMEND ARTIFACTS FOR CONSERVATION TREATMENT. ANNUALLY, WE SPEND AT LEAST $20,000 ON ARTIFACT CONSERVATION FROM A FUND RESTRICTED FOR COLLECTIONS CARE-AUGMENTED BY SPECIAL GRANTS AND DESIGNATED GIFTS. ACCEPTED OVER NEARLY 156 THREE-DIMENSIONAL ITEMS TO BE ACCESSIONED, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 23 ARTIFACTS RELATING TO ROUVILLE TONY LEBARRE'S SERVICE IN THE MILITARY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR; 2 BUFFALO BANDITS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS (1992, 1993); 12 OBJECTS OF ART DOCUMENTING THE OLD PINK AND MULLIGAN'S BRICK BARS THAT WERE RECENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRES; A FAN AND FLAG FROM BUFFALO'S PRIDE PARADE ON JUNE 1, 2025. COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS RELATING TO THE OUTDOOR GAME KANJAM, ITS INVENTORS, AND PACKAGING INCLUDING THE METAL CAN PROTOTYPE, FULL KANJAM SET, ORIGINAL CARDBOARD PACKAGING, FLYING DISC IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGE, AND THE US PATENT.
  Expenses $627,181
• MUSEUM PROGRAM AND EXHIBITS- THE BUFFALO HISTORY MUSEUM PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN BOTH PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF OUR REGION AND UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES OF ITS PEOPLE. WE ARE DISTINCTIVELY LOCATED AT THE CROSSROADS OF PAST AND FUTURE A VIBRANT, HISTORIC DESTINATION SET AT THE HEART OF A RE-ENERGIZED CULTURAL CORRIDOR. SINCE 1862, WE HAVE SERVED AS THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORICAL AMBASSADOR, THE DEDICATED SAFEKEEPER AND STORYTELLER OF OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY. THROUGH A COLLECTION OF OVER 550,000 OBJECTS AND AN EVER-CHANGING ARRAY OF EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, WE SHARE THE STORIES OF OUR REGION'S TRIUMPHS AND STRUGGLES.OUR 2020-2030 MASTER PLAN BUILDS ON OUR GENERATIONS-LONG COMMITMENT TO WESTERN NEW YORK BY ESTABLISHING A NEW VISION AND BY REFOCUSING ON HOW WE ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR HISTORIES FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVES. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER AN ATMOSPHERE OF STORYTELLING, CONVERSATION, AND ENGAGEMENT THAT IS BUILT ON INPUT FROM OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. WE AIM TO CREATE CONTENT AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, SHARING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON HISTORY AND HOW IT CONNECTS WITH CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. WE BELIEVE SHARING IN LOCAL HISTORY BUILDS AND FOSTERS COMMUNITY- CREATING A STRONGER SENSE OF PLACE AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE. IN A RECENT SURVEY, ALMOST 60% OF OUR VISITORS SAID THAT THE MUSEUM CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.CREATING ACCESS FOR ALL TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY -DEVELOP PLAN FOR CENTRALIZING COLLECTIONS AT THE RESOURCE CENTER. -OFFER VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES PROVIDING LOCAL STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO DISCOVER THEIR HISTORY, SUPPORTING AND REINFORCING THE WORK OF LOCAL EDUCATORS.-AWARD-WINNING PODCAST REACHING AUDIENCES FAR BEYOND OUR WALLS WITH OVER 60,000 DOWNLOADS TO DATE AND LISTENERS IN EVERY STATE AND OVER 75 COUNTRIES.-CATALOG AND EXPAND DIGITAL ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS BY ADDING 1,000 OBJECTS TO THE PASTPERFECT ONLINE ARTIFACT DATABASE, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 9,115 OBJECTS AND ENHANCING RECORDS WITH VIDEO AND AUDIO CONTENT WHERE POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT REMOTE ACCESS.- CONTINUE PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH APPROACH TO ADMISSION FEESCOLLECT AND PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITY'S STORIES-CONTINUE DEVELOPING OUR NEW CONTEMPORARY COLLECTING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING: CELEBRATIONS & CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND RECIPES & HISTORIC MENUS-CONFRONT WHITE SUPREMACY AND SYSTEMIC RACISM WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE MAY 14TH BUFFALO MASSACRE COMMUNITY MEMORY COALITION-CREATE ACCESS TO RESOURCES DIGITALLY INCLUDING A PERSONAL NAME INDEX TO OUR COLLECTION OF ERIE COUNTY CLERK RECORDS-CONTINUE DIGITAL PRESERVATION INITITIATIVE WITH NEWPAPERS.COM CREATING ACCESS TO OUR VAST NEWSPAPER COLLECTION.-CONTINUE TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CREATING INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP RESEARCH AND COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SKILLS.-STEWARD THE ONLY STANDING STRUCTURE FROM THE 1901 PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION- A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING OVERLOOKING MIRROR LAKE AND OLMSTED'S DELAWARE PARK. EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS ATTRACT DIVERSE AUDIENCES-"WATERWAY OF CHANGE," SPONSORED BY THE ERIE CANAL HARBOR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DEBUTED AS A SIGNATURE ERIE CANAL BICENTENNIAL EXPERIENCE IN BUFFALO, WELCOMING OVER 25,000 VISITORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE EXHIBITION BEGINS WITH THE TRADITIONAL HOMELAND OF THE HAUDENOSAUNEE AND THE CANAL'S 1825 OPENING, TRACING BUFFALO'S RISE AS A MAJOR PORT AND SHIPPING HUB. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, BLACK INDIVIDUALS, WOMEN, AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, REVEALING THE CANAL'S COMPLEX CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL IMPACT. THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCEINCLUDING SHORT FILMS, TOUCHSCREENS, AUDIO, ARTIFACTS, AND DRAMATIC LIGHTINGVISITORS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES ENGAGE WITH BUFFALO'S RAPID GROWTH, THE CANAL'S TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO SHAPED THE CITY. THE EXHIBIT PROVIDES A DYNAMIC LENS ON HISTORY, CONNECTING PAST ACHIEVEMENTS WITH ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, AND THE CANAL'S ENDURING LEGACY.- DEBUTED "AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ERIE CANAL AND CONNECTED WATERWAYS" AS PART OF BUFFALO'S COMMEMORATION OF THE ERIE CANAL'S BICENTENNIAL, OFFERING A CONTEMPORARY LENS ON A HISTORIC WATERWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY. DEVELOPED BY WESTERN NEW YORK ARTISTS PAUL BARTOW, RICHARD METZGAR, AND DAVID WERBERIG, THE EXHIBITION CAPTURES PRESENT-DAY RELATIONSHIPS TO THE CANALWAY THROUGH INNOVATIVE "TREE DRAWINGS" SHAPED BY ATMOSPHERIC FORCES AND PSYCHOGEOGRAPHY MAPS CREATED THROUGH INTERVIEW-BASED DRAWING EXERCISES. TOGETHER, THESE WORKS TRANSLATE BOTH HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS INTO VISUAL FORM, REVEALING THE CANAL AS AN ACTIVE, LIVING SYSTEM SHAPED BY DIVERSE INTERACTIONS. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES 40 TREE DRAWINGS, 40 INTERVIEW MAPS, LARGE-FORMAT PRINTS, VIDEO ELEMENTS, AND SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS TO SITUATE CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVES WITHIN A BROADER HISTORICAL CONTEXT. BY INCORPORATING VOICES FROM A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF CANAL USERS AND STEWARDS, THE PROJECT UNDERSCORES THE CANAL'S ONGOING CULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE. THROUGH THIS APPROACH, THE EXHIBITION INVITES VISITORS TO REFLECT ON THE ERIE CANAL AS A SITE OF "HISTORY IN THE MAKING," CONNECTING PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES.-HISTORY OF BUFFALO'S 1901 PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION FEATURED AS ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE IN MUSEUM'S "STATE COURT." DURING THE EXPOSITION, THE MUSEUM SERVED AS THE NEW YORK STATE BUILDING AND IS THE ONLY REMAINING MAJOR STRUCTURE LEFT OVER FROM THE FAIR. THE EXHIBIT SHARES THE STORY OF THE EXPOSITION, ITS PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, ALONG WITH THE IMPORTANT QUESTION OF WHY BUFFALO WAS CHOSEN AS THE HOST CITY FOR THE BENCHMARK EVENT. THE ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE INCLUDES ONE-OF-A-KIND IMAGES AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE FAIR, INCLUDING PAINTINGS BY JOHN ROSS KEY, SOUVENIRS AND MEMORABILIA, AND RARE EXPOSITION WORKERS PASSES. -CONCLUDED TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBIT FOR LOCAL PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING EDITORIAL CARTOONIST ADAM ZYGLIS. HIS CARTOONS ARE INTERNATIONALLY SYNDICATED AND HAVE APPEARED IN MANY PUBLICATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON POST, USA TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND LOS ANGELES TIMES. POLITICAL CARTOONS- BOTH CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORIC PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT LENS INTO THE COMPLEXITY OF HISTORY AND NECESSITY FOR THINKING CRITICALLY WHEN CONSUMING INFORMATION.-PARTNERED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CO-CREATE EXHIBITIONS CELEBRATING THEIR MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES. HONOR HALLWALLS' 50-YEAR LEGACY THROUGH AN EXHIBITION SHOWCASING ITS IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY ART, FROM LAUNCHING THE PICTURES GENERATION TO SUPPORTING OVER 9,000 ARTISTS ACROSS VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, AND FILM. BUFFALO SEMINARY'S 175TH ANNIVERSARY MARKED WITH A SPECIAL EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTING ITS RICH HISTORY, ENDURING LEGACY, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION IN BUFFALO. BY SHARING OUR SPACE WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THE MUSEUM RAISES VISIBILITY FOR KEY STORIES THAT ILLUMINATE THE CULTURAL, ARTISTIC, AND EDUCATIONAL THREADS SHAPING OUR REGION TODAY.-WELCOMING OVER 10,000 GUESTS THE ANNUAL TWO-DAY CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE JAPANESE GARDENS AND MULTICULTURALISM IN BUFFALO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY, MUSIC IS ART, FRIENDS OF THE JAPANESE GARDEN AND CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS. -M&T FREE THIRD FRIDAYS OFFER FREE GENERAL ADMISSION EACH MONTH-EXHIBITS IN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE: GLAM-ERICA 250, ROYCROFTER-AT-LARGE ASSOCIATION 50TH, AND GOO GOO DOLLS RETROSPECTIVE.ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMINGOUR PROGRAMS ARE AS DIVERSE AS OUR EXHIBITS, INCLUDING TOURS, LECTURES, OUTREACH, FAMILY DAYS, FREE M&T THIRD FRIDAYS, PODCASTS, AND DOCUMENTARY VIDEOS. WE ACTIVELY SHARE BIPOC AND LGBTQ+ HISTORIES TO BROADEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE DEBUTED PARTICIPATION IN THE EXHALE MEMORY CAF COLLECTIVE (EMCC), CREATING A WELCOMING SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MEMORY LOSS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH SUPPORT FUNDED BY THE RALPH C. WILSON, JR. FOUNDATION AND THE HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK. WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING THE HISPANIC HERITAGE COUNCIL, THE UNCROWNED QUEENS INSTITUTE, INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S INITIATIVE, NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND THE BUFFALO-NIAGARA ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHAPTER TO RAISE VISIBILITY FOR STORIES THAT SHAPE OUR REGION TODAY.ENGAGING STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH HANDS-ON HISTORYEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS REACHED 1,290 STUDENTS THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, 706 GUESTS ON GUIDED TOURS SUCH AS THE PAN-AM WALKING TOUR, NEARLY 600 CHILDREN THROUGH JUNIOR HISTORY BUFFS ON M&T FREE THIRD FRIDAYS, 510 STUDENTS THROUGH HISTORY KITS, AND 450 PARTICIPANTS VIA OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR, WE EXPANDED HOW STUDENTS EXPLORE THE ERIE CANAL WITH NEW HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES--ONE KIT, DESIGNED FOR 3RD
  Expenses $856,939 · revenue $580,443
• LIBRARY-RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TWO-DIMENSIONAL ITEMS IN THE COLLECTION: BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, LETTERS, DIARIES, PERSONAL PAPERS, ORGANIZATIONAL & BUSINESS RECORDS, PERIODICALS, NEWSPAPERS, SCRAPBOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTCARDS, PRINTS, DRAWINGS, POSTERS, MAPS, ATLASES, MICROFILMS, AND EVEN SOME DVDS.IN 2025, OVER 500 PATRONS USED OUR LIBRARY'S RESOURCES FOR ON-SITE RESEARCH, MANY OF THEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY SERVICED THESE GUESTS AND TOURS; ANSWERED HUNDREDS TELEPHONE AND EMAIL QUERIES, AND SCANNED HUNDREDS OF ARTIFACTS TO FULFILL REQUESTS. DIGITAL PRESERVATION MAKES COLLECTIONS ACCESSIBLEMOST OF BUFFALO'S ENGLISH-LANGUAGE, PUBLIC DOMAIN NEWSPAPERS FROM 18111923 ARE NOW SEARCHABLE ONLINE THROUGH NEWSPAPERS.COM. THIS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES USERS WITH OTHERWISE COST-PROHIBITIVE ACCESS TO THESE HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.2025 ARCHIVAL ACQUISITIONSSTAFFING CAPACITY IN THE ARCHIVES REMAINED REDUCED AT TIMES DURING THE YEAR DUE TO THE RETIREMENT OF OUR LONG-TIME LIBRARY DIRECTOR AFTER 18 YEARS OF SERVICE AND OTHER TEAM TRANSITIONS. FROM THE GREG D. TRANTER COLLECTION, HUNDREDS OF PAPER MATERIALS WERE REHOUSED AND NUMBERED. THE ARCHIVES ADDED OVER 64 DONATIONS AND NUMEROUS PURCHASES, INCLUDING A COLLECTION OF 500 LETTERS DOCUMENTING THE AQUILA FAMILY AND A CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION OF BUFFALO SPANNING 19992003.
  Expenses $111,471

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

16-6000166

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1945

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Assets (IRS master file)

$8,954,287

Income (IRS master file)

$3,223,454

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 16-6000166).

Questions about BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

What is the EIN of BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY?

The employer identification number (EIN) of BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY is 16-6000166.

Is BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1945.

Are donations to BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY due?

The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.

Who is the principal officer of BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MELISSA LEONARD.

Who are the officers and directors of BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 21 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $97,592 (MELISSA BROWN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,603,539, expenses of $2,626,353 and total assets of $8,954,287 at year end.

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