Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society is New York's oldest cultural institution. Its museum and internationally renowned research library collections comprise over four million items that span four centuries and document the history, culture, diversity, and continuing evolution of the United States as seen through the prism of New York City and State. The New-York Historical Society is dedicated to presenting groundbreaking exhibitions and intellectually engaging programming and educational activities that capitalize on its extraordinary museum and library collections, and to fostering research that reveals the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. --Book Jacket.