National Register Listing

Albany Institute of History and Art

135 Washington Ave., Albany, NY

The Albany Institute of History and Art formed in February 1791, is the second Oldest museum in the United States and the oldest scientific organization in New York State. The first president was Robert R.Livingston (1746-1813). Joseph Henry read his first paper on electromagnetism there in 1829.

The present Institute Building, designed by Albert Fuller in 1907,is in the neoclassical style. The Rice House, now part of the Institute, was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and his son. It is the only free-standing Beaux Arts mansion in the City.

Today the Institute, as in the past, is a cultural center for the city of Albany, placing its greatest emphasis on art and music.

Throughout its long history, it has had numerous names. The Institute began as "The Society, Instituted in the State of New York for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts, and Manufacturers." Its first president was Robert R. Livingston, signer of the Declaration of Independence, promoter of the "Louisiana Purchase," Chancellor of the State of New York, and United States Minister to France. Of the 72incorporating gentlemen, 25 had been active in the state legislature during the years 1791-93. The list of early members and sponsors contains names such as: Van Rensselaer, DeWitt, Schenck, Van Cortland,and Richard Varick, John Jay, Philip Hooker, James Duane, and George Clinton. Originally, bi-weekly meetings were held at the same time and place as legislative sessions, during the first four months of the year. The Society’s stated objective was to bring together the most recent agricultural advances from regions throughout the state through the meeting of learned representatives from each county. The Society met in New York City until the Capitol was moved to Albany in 1796.

In April of 1804, "The Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts"was formed to replace the older, expiring Society and continued with Robert Livingston as president.

An aggressive and dynamic group called "The Albany Lyceum of Natural History" was formed early in 1823 and was incorporated on April 23, 1823. The Lyceum was a museum of mineralogy, geology, and paleontology under the presidency of Stephen Van Rensselaer. The membership of the Lyceum rose from 44 in 1823 to 77 in 1824. The average age of its members in 1824 was 28 years. Obviously, the Lyceum provided competition for the Society, which had become less active by this time. As a result, in May of 1824, the Society and the Albany Lyceum joined and became known as the "Albany Institute," with a.total membership of 108, whose average age was 34.1 years. During the late 1820’s and early 1830's many scholarly papers were delivered at Institute meetings, a number of which were subsequently published. On March 6, 1829, Joseph Henry read his first paper on electromagnetism to the Institute.

The years between 1830 and 33 were a period of great activity and growth. By 1833, membership was 1100. From 1834 to 1837, the Institute suffered a decline in activities relating to budget difficulties, thereby forcing a cessation in publishing activities. Also, during this period a certain Matthew Henry Webster, the Institute's chief meteorological enthusiast, apparently caused a drop in attendance at meetings because of his fascination with
meteorology and his insistence upon presenting papers only on his subject--as many as three an evening--to a captive audience which grew rapidly less captivated and which declined to attend meetings. By 1843, the Institute could no longer maintain the broad base of public approval which had supported it. The interests of the Institute changed slightly during this period reflecting a growing fascination in the humanities and by mid-century general learning, history, and literative were as important to the membership as science had been two decades earlier.

In 1846, the Albany Gallery of Fine Arts was begun with twenty or so large paintings and Albany's public interest in the fine arts was thus established. The Albany Antiquarian and Art Association began in September 1886 and became known as the Albany Historical and Art Society in December, 1886 when its membership was 1191. In February 1898, the Albany Gallery of Fin© Arts united with the Historical and Art Society. Then in April 1900, the Albany Institute and the Albany Historical and Art Society combined to form the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society, which in 1926 became known as the Albany Institute of History and Art.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.