The Broome County Church Architecture Collection consists of 133 ecclesiastical surveys done on 115 Broome County and 3 other churches, missions, synagogues, and temples, along with several letters, essays, church bulletins, journals, and other items. Seventy surveys of sixty-one different structures were done in the city of Binghamton, NY. Nine of the structures were surveyed twice. Sixty surveys were done in other parts of Broome County on fifty-four structures, six were surveyed twice. In addition to the Broome County Ecclesiastical surveys one was done on the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego, Tioga County, NY.

Two surveys were also done on churches outside of New York State. King’s Chapel and Trinity Episcopal Church were both surveyed in Boston, MA.

The surveys were done between January 1953 and May 1955 as part of an Art History class, ART 1, taught by Dr. Kenneth Lindsay at Harpur College, Endicott, NY. Dr. Lindsay undertook this project because the many churches of this region provided the students in the art history program with an opportunity to research the ecclesiastic architecture and symbolism as it related to a churches’ denomination/belief. The project also provided an insight into the trends of architectural styles utilized by the churches throughout the region.

The surveys describe the location, exterior, interior, furnishings, and art work of the building in question. In addition there is often commentary on the symbolism, and occasionally a critique of the aesthetics, of the architecture and/or art. Most of the surveys include photographs or slides. Many of the surveys are typewritten, though some are handwritten.

See the Container List for a detailed inventory of the collection.