The Catchpole family immigrated from England in 1834 to Geneva. George and son Alfred Catchpole were both inventors in different industries.

Charles Bean was a Geneva based lawyer, teaching law at Keuka College, and published a number of history booklets.

Charles J Folger served as Secretary of the Treasury in President Chester A Arthur's cabinet.

This collection focuses on the family of Beverly Chew, president of Shuron Optical. He resided at 543 South Main Street from the 1920s through 1960 when he and his wife Edith gifted the building to the Geneva Historical Society as a permanent home for the Geneva History Museum.

The DeZeng family were involved in several ventures in the early to late 1800s in Geneva, including in the founding of Trinity Church and Hobart College.

Collection covers four generations of Dove family members, but focuses on brothers Paul and Arthur Dove.

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor in the United States in 1849 through the Geneva Medical College.

Dr. Robert Stanley Breed was a well known authority on the sanitation of milk and worked at the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station.

Dr. Robert E Doran was a physician in Geneva in the 20th century and was very involved with the Geneva Historical Society.

Edwin Becker was a poet who produced several books during his lifetime. He was also an engineer and a keen inventor.