EMPLOYEES
PAST AND PRESENT

Jonathan became archivist for the Vedder Research Library in the Summer 2017. He is a 2012 graduate of Columbia-Greene Community College, Siena College Class of 2014, and a 2016 graduate of the Department of Information Science, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Albany with an Archives Concentration. He has served as Greene County Historian since January 2021.

A native of Athens, New York, Jonathan is a descendant of the earliest Dutch colonists of Coxsackie and Catskill. He writes weekly history features for local newspapers, and his current research focuses include the legacy of slavery in Greene County and the tenant system practiced in the Catskills.

The following text is the obituary of Raymond Beecher originally published in the Albany Times Union on October 11, 2008. Mr Beecher's legacy and impact are difficult to summarize on one page, and so we defer to the following excerpt as an appropriate, albeit brief biography:

"Raymond V. Beecher, age 91 years of Coxsackie, died at his residence October 9, 2008... Raymond graduated from Greenville Central School and he earned a bachelor of science degree from Hartwick College and master of science degree from Boston University. He was a post-graduate of State University of Albany and earned additional teaching and administrative certifications. He followed a teaching career, first at Oneonta High School and then as an assistant professor at Hartwick College. In later years, after returning to Coxsackie, he was employed at the N.Y. Vocational Institution as guidance supervisor until his retirement. During World War II, Raymond served in America's Armed Forces in the United States Army, first in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations where he earned a special commendation and was subsequently in the European Theatre of Operations until the close of the war. He was discharged with the rank of technical sergeant. Mr. Beecher gave generously of his time and substance to a wide variety of charitable and educational causes. He was a president of the Hartwick College Alumni Association, receiving its highest Meritorious Service Award. He twice served as president of the Greene County Historical Society and, more recently, as chairman of its board of trustees. He was trustee of Friends of Olana, serving as its treasurer. The Vedder Research Library was of particular interest to him, he filled the unsalaried position of librarian. Several terms of service were given as the official historian of Green County as well as for the town of Coxsackie. Local history was of special interest to Mr. Beecher, especially that of Green County. During the nation's American Revolution Bicentennial Celebration, he served as chairman of the Greene County American Revolution Bicentennial Committee. Later he coordinated the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Green County Courthouse. During the year 2000, he chaired the county's 200th birthday celebration. Mr. Beecher wrote and published extensively, being an author of four books. He established and served as the first editor of the Greene County Historical Journal. His weekly Greene Gleanings column was widely read. On August 29, 1996, in recognition of a lifetime of scholarly achievement of his alma mater, Hartwick College, awarded Raymond Beecher, the honorary Doctor of Humane Leggers. Earlier that year, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, On-Ti-Ora Chapter, presented him with their national gold medal of honor for service to the state of the nation. The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development awarded him the Prestigious Alf Evers Award in 2007. He was earlier honored with the first Greene Treasurer's Award by the Greene County Legislators on April 6, 2002. Mr. Beecher was a single-handed, driving force and benefactor in saving Cedar Grove, the Thomas Cole House, when it was available for purchase and shepherded it into the ownership of the Greene County Historical Society in 1998." - Albany Times Union

A complete list of the works authored by Ray Beecher is currently unavailable, however, cataloged items may be seen listed here.

Charles Dornbusch was the Vedder Research Library’s first librarian and the moving force behind its official creation. A man of countless unique talents and interests, he has been described (usually in one breath) as a librarian, bibliographer, writer, publisher, bookseller, scoutmaster, antiques collector, traveller, member of numerous learned societies, and baker of excellent breads. Born and raised in New York City, Mr. Dornbusch attended night school to attain his college education - at the same time working at the New York Public Library where he quickly became full-time staff. He ended up staying at the New York Public Library the entire 38 years of his career, most of that spent at NYPL's building on Fifth Avenue and 24th Street where he was an Acquisitions Specialist.

In 1963 Charles moved to Cornwallville, NY where his mother was originally from and where his family had owned a farm since 1942. The farm on Strong Road became his permanent residence and the base for many of his future endeavors. As a trustee of the Greene County Historical Society, he made one of his first retirement projects the creation of a research library out of the Society’s scattered and diverse holdings - describing it in a newspaper article at the time as his “second career” and commemorating the official opening of the library on his 1963 Christmas card.

Mr. Dornbusch went on to further achievement pursuing his other passion: Military History. He had served as a Staff Sergeant during World War II with the 409th Infantry Regiment in Europe, although his interest in the field may have predated his service. In his later years, Mr. Dornbusch went on to write an authoritative bibliography on the American Civil War, as well as numerous unit histories focusing the Armed Forces of the United States and the Canadian Military in both the 19th and 20th centuries. He was genuinely prolific and several of his works remain highly regarded among scholars today.

Hope Farm Press was Mr. Dornbusch's other great achievement. He ran a small book and print shop from his home in Cornwallville during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, printing works which he had authored himself as well as various local history selections of a significant nature. Hope Farm Press in this way became responsible for the distribution of many important and otherwise out-of-print histories related to Greene County and the surrounding region, and many publications from Hope Farm Press are featured on the Vedder Library's shelves.

Mr. Dornbusch passed away before his time in an accident while doing maintenance work at his home in 1990. His only living relative at the time of his death was his sister Irma who passed on within months of her older brother. Fortunately, Charles Dornbusch's memory lives on in the library which he was instrumental in founding and organizing on behalf of the Greene County Historical Society.