Museum collections on display and in storage at the Tennie Burton Museum constitute a rich and diverse body of resources with which to interpret Lima’s past and preserve the memory of it. Some, particularly a sizeable early collection on loan from the Lima Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) date as early as the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.
Material objects include 19th and early 20th century furniture, china, tools, musical instruments, toys, household, and farm equipment. Collections of men’s and women’s clothing hats and accessories are extensive and exceptionally well preserved. They are exhibited on a rotating basis.
Our Resource Room contains an enormous number of historic photographs and glass negatives, many of which are identified as to name, place, and date are available for genealogical and other types of research. These are supplemented by informational files relating to particular houses, businesses, individuals, families, schools, and organizations from Lima. Files and memorabilia relating to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and College are particularly rich and abundant.
Finally, a large collection of historic reference books, maps, newspapers, letters, yearbooks, and census data, as well as Lima Town and Village records, dating back to as early as the 1790’s, are preserved and available for study.
