The Montgomery Place Collections contain objects, artifacts and archival materials associated with the development of the estate and the people who once lived and worked there. Stewarded by the Bard College Stevenson Library, the Montgomery Place Collections are preserved and maintained for use by faculty, students, and scholars for the purpose of advancing education and scholarship. Accumulated over the course of more than 250 years and across seven generations, this body of material offers a rich historical record that reflects both continuity and change on the estate.
The Material Collection
The Material Collection includes over 8,000 objects ranging from the late 18th century to the middle of the 20th century. It encompasses fine and decorative art, furnishings, textiles, china, silver, military items, and household goods.
Among the collections in the Montgomery Place mansion are more than 100 paintings, including works by prominent American and European artists such as Rembrandt Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and Louis-Léopold Boilly. The site also houses examples of 19th-century garden ornament and furniture, agricultural tools and machinery, as well as a range of carriages, sleds, boats, and farm vehicles.
A significant highlight of the collection is the Mushroom Drawings of Violetta White Delafield, comprising nearly 600 annotated watercolor drawings created by botanist and mycologist Violetta White Delafield between 1900 and 1926.
Among the collections in the Montgomery Place mansion are more than 100 paintings, including works by prominent American and European artists such as Rembrandt Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and Louis-Léopold Boilly. The site also houses examples of 19th-century garden ornament and furniture, agricultural tools and machinery, as well as a range of carriages, sleds, boats, and farm vehicles.
A significant highlight of the collection is the Mushroom Drawings of Violetta White Delafield, comprising nearly 600 annotated watercolor drawings created by botanist and mycologist Violetta White Delafield between 1900 and 1926.
Montgomery Place Archives
The Montgomery Place Archives preserve materials spanning the late 18th through the 20th centuries, documenting the history of the estate, the Livingston and Delafield families, and the surrounding Hudson Valley communities. Highlights include:
- Architectural and Landscape Materials: Including architectural drawings and plans for the estate created by noted American architect Alexander Jackson Davis
- Maps and Early Records: 18th- and 19th-century maps of Montgomery Place, Delafield Family Papers (1880s–1980s), Saw Kill purchase records
- Books: This collection numbers more than 6000 titles, of which approximately 1000 are currently cataloged. Representing the family libraries of multiple generations, one can find early law books of Edward Livingston, nineteenth century French novels owned by Louise D'Avezac Livingston, gardening and natural history titles collected by Cora Livingston and Violetta White Delafield, and American history titles read by John Ross Delafield, among many others.
Collection Access and Services
Collections staff are available to provide research assistance, facilitate class visits, and provide support for course projects that utilize the Collections and Archives. Faculty who are interested in integrating collection items into their curriculum or bringing a class to Montgomery Place should fill out our Collections Visit Form.
Individual Collection visits may be scheduled by students, faculty, and external researchers. Consultation visits take place at the Montgomery Place mansion, our collections storage facility, or the Stevenson Library Reading room. Email [email protected] to make an appointment or submit a research inquiry.
Individual Collection visits may be scheduled by students, faculty, and external researchers. Consultation visits take place at the Montgomery Place mansion, our collections storage facility, or the Stevenson Library Reading room. Email [email protected] to make an appointment or submit a research inquiry.
Collection Records
Our collection database provides detailed information on over 8,000 objects in the Montgomery Place Material Collection. Research on collection objects is ongoing and records are updated as new information becomes available. Curatorial files relating to the material collection are housed in our archival storage facility and contain information such as conservation reports, photographs and research documents.
Please note that there are a significant number of items in our collection that have not yet been cataloged. A large inventory project is underway to document these objects and create provisional records. Please contact [email protected] with any inquiries.
Please note that there are a significant number of items in our collection that have not yet been cataloged. A large inventory project is underway to document these objects and create provisional records. Please contact [email protected] with any inquiries.
Give Now
Your support for the Montgomery Place Campus allows us to maintain our historic grounds and continue to hold world-class events for the public.