The Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society, originally incorporated in 1860, had been actively collecting for over 80 years before it found a permanent home. In 1946, the Village of Penn Yan turned over rooms in the Oliver House (willed to the village by Carrie Oliver) for use as a museum. In July of 1948, the Society officially opened the door to their new museum.

Today, there are over 500 members in the Society. A staff of four plus a cadre of volunteers oversee two museums: The Oliver House Museum and the L. Caroline Underwood Museum.

Our Vision
The Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. inspires community memory on both personal and scholarly levels by preserving and sharing the story of Yates County through interactive and engaging programs and services.

Our Mission
To increase knowledge and understanding of the history of Yates County in order to promote better understanding of our county for present and future generations.

Our Society fulfills this mission by: Operating an active museum; gathering objects and recorded information; developing interpretive exhibits; assisting the public to assure accessibility and answer inquiries; providing interactive, educational programs; managing the collections while insuring preservation and protection and coordinating all resources including fostering community partnerships.