Michelle Henry

Michelle Henry, research historian for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is being honored by the state’s Genealogical and Biographical Society. The Preservation in Action: The Power of One award spotlights leaders and trailblazers whose innovative work inspires, educates, and has a lasting impact on the genealogy and family history field.

Michelle Henry started her career in the history field as director of the Chautauqua County Historical Society in Westfield. In 1996 she was hired by County Clerk Sandra Sopak to organize the historical records held by the county. With numerous federal, state, and local grants, a state-of-the-art archival program was established.

Chautauqua County was the first county in the United States to be recognized by the National Genealogical Society for making historical records available to researchers. In 2000, Henry was appointed County Historian, a position she held until her retirement in 2023.

In 2011, Henry was awarded the Julia Reinstein Awarded for Excellence in the Field of Public History, and in 2012 she received the Wheeler B. Melius Award for Excellence in Establishing a Records Management Program for the county. Michelle is one of only two historians in Chautauqua County who is a certified Registered Historian. She has served as a consultant for the state’s Museum Collection Assessment Program, providing assistance and advice to small museums in Western New York.

The county’s history has been highlighted in numerous articles by Henry, published in state and regional magazines, and she has spoken across New York and Pennsylvania about local history and historical records.

Founded in 1869, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is the oldest and largest genealogical society in New York State. Researchers can search records on the Society’s website at: www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org