Bronx Historical Society director outlines programs, collections and school partnerships

Dr. Steven Payne, director of the Bronx Historical Society, told the committee the society operates two historic house museums — the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Museum of Bronx History — a library and archives and a range of public programs. "We offered 114 programs and exhibits" in the last fiscal year, Payne said, and described museum and off‑site events that reach schoolchildren and neighborhood audiences.

Payne outlined the society's collections and archival holdings, citing "about 7,000 books" and saying the research center holds roughly "three‑quarters of a mile" of documents. He described multiple oral‑history projects — including Bronx Aerosol Arts, Bronx African‑American and Bronx Latino history projects and a newer Bronx Hip Hop oral‑history effort — and noted that many programs are delivered in partnership with schools and local libraries. Payne said a year‑long violence‑prevention program taught in several Bronx high schools uses local street‑art pioneers as instructors and has produced improved school attendance for some students. "It's a program that has been really successful. We've been doing that now for four years," he said.

Committee members asked how the Historical Society could expand school partnerships. Payne said there is no fixed cap on the number of schools served, but capacity is limited by the organization's small staff; he encouraged schools and district leaders to contact the society to arrange programs. The committee agreed to link the society's website from the board's resources page and to follow up on potential funding or program partnerships. The society provided a contact and offered to supply flyers and materials for school outreach.

The committee did not take a formal vote on funding; next steps are outreach between the Historical Society and board staff to coordinate school programming and publicity.