Beginning in the Eighteenth century, many beautiful and architecturally significant estates and mansions were built along the Hudson River from New York City to Albany, New York. Many of the oldest estates located north of Poughkeepsie, New York were built by members of the Livingston family, who were some of the earliest and most prominent settlers of the Hudson Valley region and the United States. Some of the estates built later were a result of the new wealth of the Gilded Age, or a combination of Livingston lineage and new wealth. Many of the estates are now owned by the state of New York, the National Park Service and various not-for-profit organizations dedicated to their restoration and preservation and are open to the public. They provide a fascinating and informative look at a period of early United States and Hudson Valley history.

This pathfinder organizes and compiles some of the many and varied resources available on this topic in particular and on related subject areas of interest, such as architecture, art, history and historic preservation. It provides guidance as to which sources provide authoritative, high-quality information. This can be a particular concern with web sources, because of the tourism-related nature of this subject. This pathfinder is for any member of the general public who has an interest in the topic and could be used to gain additional information in general, or on any of the specific properties, Hudson Valley families, represented architectural styles, etc. It can also be used to plan visits or trips and to conduct genealogical research. Secondary, college and graduate students conducting research may also find it helpful. It includes print and electronic resources available through the State University of New York, University at Albany Libraries and the Upper Hudson Library System of public libraries, as well as web resources. The Upper Hudson Library System materials can often be found in more than one of its member libraries. In this pathfinder, I have indicated only the largest library in the system where a particular material can be found. Checking the online catalog for the system will provide a complete list of all holdings.

The following subject headings can be used in various combinations to search most online library catalogs for materials related to historic estates and buildings of the Hudson River Valley. They may also be useful in searching electronic databases and print indexes, as well as the World Wide Web.

If you prefer to browse through the library shelves, additional materials, beyond what is included in this pathfinder, may be found in and around these ranges and call numbers.

The following books represent the best of the many books available on this subject and in related subject areas. Some of the books are not exclusively about the Hudson River Valley estates, but address them in the context of a larger topic such as architecture, history or art.

• Dwyer, M. D. (2001). Great houses of the Hudson River. Boston, MA: Bullfinch Press.
  APL: 974.73 G

  An oversized book with beautiful aerial color photographs of selected Hudson River estates. Includes history, architecture and landscape information. From the preface: "Whatever your interest in history - whether it be politics, the military, art, architecture, science, business, the decorative arts, social history, agriculture, or practically anything else - you will find someone here who played an essential role on a national scale and some place here that can bring it to life for you when you make a visit."

• Keller, A. (1997). Life along the Hudson. Bronx, NY: Fordham University Press.
  UALB ULIB: F 127 H8 K38 1997
  WKSTL: R 974.7 KEL

  "This book is a history of those who peopled the Hudson Valley. Keller (journalism, Columbia) chronicles everything from the European discovery of the river in 1524 … to the coming of trains and beyond. Contains many black and white reproductions of portraits, drawings, and paintings." (Book News, Inc.) Of particular interest are Chapter III, "The English Take Over;" Chapter X, "Dreamers, Doers, Shakers, and Others;" and Chapter XI, "Those Stately Mansions."

• Randall, M. (1995). Phantoms of the Hudson Valley. Woodstock, NY: Overlook Press.
  BPL: 779.474 RAN

  "A stunning architectural tour of 28 abandoned estates that loom as mysterious ruins along the Hudson River between New York City and Albany. Many of the now-faded mansions were designed by Stanford White, the premier architect of New York's gilded age, and were owned by such illustrious families as the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Whitneys. The author's evocative sepia-tinted photos capture the architectural splendor of these once luxurious homes… This book is a haunting reminder of a bygone era and lifestyle." (Amazon.com)

• Ryan, J. A. (2001). Frederic Church's Olana: architecture and landscape as art. Hensonville, NY: Black Dome.
  APL: 728.809 R

  "Named for a fortress treasure-house in ancient Persia, Olana was the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), a major figure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Today, Olana is a New York State Historic Site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Hudson Valley. Ryan, the site manager of Olana from 1979 to 1999, details the design and construction of Olana and the life and work of Frederic Church. An afterword recounts the history of Olana from 1900 to the present. Color photos and illustrations are included." (Book News, Inc.) The book "tells the story … thoroughly, eloquently, and with a deep understanding." (Franklin Kelly, curator of American & British paintings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC)

• Smith, McK. (1998). The great estates region of the Hudson River Valley. Tarrytown, NY: Historic Hudson Valley Press.
  BPL: 728.8 G

  From the foreword: "This guide takes you to ten important landmarks in the Great Estates Region… As you will quickly discover, the map of this part of the Hudson Valley is a complex web of family relationships, 'a maze,' quipped Eleanor Roosevelt, 'from which there is no emerging.' ... This is the only publication in print which pulls the story of the Great Estates Region together in one place."

• White, S. G. (1998). The houses of McKim, Mead & White. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Incorporated.
  GPL: 728.097 WHI

  "Though aimed at a broad market, this book should prove valuable for specialists as well as others in graphically underscoring the creativity as well as elegance of houses by one of America's most celebrated architectural offices. Invaluable for its subject and a model of its kind." (Choice) This is a beautiful, informative book with many color photographs. It includes Hudson Valley mansions Staatsburgh (also know as Mills Mansion) and Hyde Park.

• Zukowsky, J. & Stimson, R. P. (1985). Hudson River villas. New York: Rizzoli.
  UALB ULIB OVER: NA 7561 Z85 1985

  From the introduction: "We have chosen to include both extant and demolished houses in this book so that it may serve as the most useful possible historical survey. Obviously our selection cannot be comprehensive, as several hundred houses of some distinction existed and still exist in this corridor. …One of the criteria for inclusion was that the house have a direct relationship to the river…" The book includes many plans, drawings and photographs of the estates, as well as a glossary of architects and a selected bibliography of related materials.

The following list materials on two topics related to the historic estates of the Hudson River Valley. Additional bibliographies and source lists are located in the back of many of the other books listed in this pathfinder.

• Grimmer, A. E. (1989). Historic building interiors: an annotated bibliography. Washington, DC: US Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resources, Preservation Assistance Division.
  UALB ULIB GOVDOC: J 85 I 29.82:B86/994/V.1-2 Bldg Only

  Part of the National Park Service Reading List series. A "selective, not comprehensive, bibliography." "Includes primarily publications in print or readily accessible in libraries." Subject categories include Features, Finishes & Materials and Rehabilitation Case Studies.

• United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Cultural Resources. (1992-1994). Catalog of historic preservation publications. Washington, DC: National Park Service.
  UALB ULIB GOVDOC: J 85 I 29.82: P 96/2/ Bldg Only

The first three of the following sources are about three of the most prominent Hudson Valley families. Additional biographical information about members of these families and other key figures in Hudson Valley history may be found in the last three sources.

• Brandt, C. (1986). An American aristocracy: the Livingstons. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
  UALB ULIB: CT 274 L58 B73 1986
  APL: 929.2 L

  "It is an imposing task to write a biography of an important family over 300 years of American history, but Brandt has done just that. She keeps track of literally hundreds of Livingstons and provides a genealogical scorecard for readers. She traces the transition from aristocracy to democracy in the passage of generations of this powerful Hudson River Valley clan. Founder Robert Livingston arrived in Albany in 1674. … For 150 years a Livingston played a role first powerful, then peripheral, in New York and American politics. … An entertaining, educational, and comprehensive book." (Library Journal) The book includes extensive source notes and a bibliography.

• Piwonka, R. (1986). A portrait of Livingston Manor, 1686-1850. Germantown, NY: Friends of Clermont.
  UALB ULIB OVER: F 127 L73 P58 1986
  APL: 974.735 P

  This book is the product of a reassessment of the Livingston family portraiture and social history of Livingston manor which was done in preparation for the tercentenary celebration of Livingston Manor. The book is noteworthy for its maps, which trace the geographic evolution of the manor from its creation through English royal patent in the 1680s. The second half of the book is a selection from the over 400 portraits which were painted of Livingston family members. The Livingstons were among the first Americans to sit for portraits, which eventually became a popular national art form.

• Vanderbilt, A. T. II. (1989). Fortune's children: the fall of the house of Vanderbilt. New York: Morrow.
  APL: 929.2 V

  "Among the author's earlier books is ... an award-winning biography of his grandfather, Arthur T. Vanderbilt. His latest history, witty, entertaining and sad, also merits a prize for the writer, a lawyer and one among many members of the fabled family who inherited the Vanderbilt name but not the wealth." (Publishers Weekly) "… The story is not so much about the people as the palaces they built … all of which became white elephants sold to preservation societies or Towers of Babel that fell under the a wave of taxes and upkeep cost. An absorbing social history." (Library Journal)

• New York Biographical Dictionary. (1996). New York: Somerset Publishers, Inc.
  UALB ULIB REF: CT 251 N46 1996 V.1, V.2
  GPL: REF 920 V.01, V.02

  The dictionary's stated purpose is to "detail the lives and activities of those persons, past and present, who have made history or news here…"

• The New York and genealogical and biographical record. 1870-. New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.
  ULIB UALB: MIC Per AP 2 A55X (microfilm) Reel 251-255

  Invaluable source for in-depth genealogical research.

• VanDoren, C. (1974). Webster's American Biographies. Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Company.
  UALB ULIB REF: CT 213 V36

  This one-volume dictionary lists over 3,000 biographies. Geographical and career/professions indexes would be especially helpful in researching key Hudson Valley architects, businesspeople, etc.

While the Hudson Valley estates are not the exclusive focus any dictionary-type book in print, this source does provide historic site information about all of New York State, including the Hudson Valley.

• Dictionary of New York Historic Places. (1997). St. Clair Shores, MI: Somerset Publishers.
  UALB ULIB REF: F 120 D54X 1997 V.1, 2, 3
  WKSTL: 974.7 DIC

  This three volume set is arranged alphabetically by county name and lists all of New York State's historic sites, as designated by the National Register of Historic Places, "the official list of the Nation's cultural resources worthy of preservation." Volume 3 includes some photographs and an alphabetical index of all the sites.

While there are no encyclopedias that focus solely on the historic estates of the Hudson River, this source is a good reference tool for basic information on all facets of New York State: geographical, historical, etc.

• Gille, F., Capace, N. & Gille, T. (1999). Encyclopedia of New York. St. Clair Shores, MI: Somerset Publishers.
  UALB ULIB REF & UALB DEWEY REF: F 118 E57 1999 V.1, V.2
  WKSTL: 974.7 ENC

  This two volume set provides basic history and other information about New York State. Of particular interest in Volume 2 are an extensive list of historic places, arranged by county, and a bibliography of other materials.

These sources are useful for visiting the Hudson Valley today and for discovering the historical geography of the area. Historical maps can also be found in many of the books listed elsewhere in this pathfinder.

• New York State atlas & gazetteer. (2001). Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping Co.
  UALB ULIB REF: G 1250 D4 1998
  APL: R 912.747 N

  The atlas portion of the book contains detailed topographic maps of New York State and an index of all towns. The maps include most roads, which is useful in finding historic properties that are in more remote areas. The Gazetteer portion contains many indexes, including a historic sites/museums index.

• Munger, W. P. Historical Atlas of New York. (1941). Phoenix, NY: F. E. Richards.
  UALB GRENENDER SPE: Over***F 117.6 M9

  1941 atlas of New York State. Of particular note are the historical maps at the front of the book, which include Royal Grants in the New World (1663)and New York State region 1664-1783. The majority of the book is comprised of maps of every county and selected cities, with county histories on the reverse side of each county map. Those for Columbia, Dutchess and Putnam counties are of relevance to the historic Hudson Valley estates.

The following books are the best of the many travel books about New York and the Hudson Valley. They were chosen because of their good reputations and for their treatment and coverage of the topic of Hudson Valley historic estates.

• Bird, C. (2000). New York State handbook, 2nd edition. Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publications.
  APL: 917.47N

  Travel guide to selected areas of New York State. One chapter (pp. 313-377) covers the Hudson Valley and includes a one page box highlighting the "Great River Estates." Specific information about visiting the estates is covered in the text of the chapter. This book received the New York Public Library Outstanding Reference Book Award.

• Michaels, J. & Barile, M. (2001). The best of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains: an explorer's guide. Woodstock, VT: Countryman Press.
  BPL: 917.473 MIC

  This book is a highly-rated typical travel guide, with information on things to do, lodging and eating out. "… For useful and … complete travel information on the Hudson Valley, look to Joanne Michaels and Mary-Margaret Barile's" guide. (Library Journal)

• Mulligan, T. (1985). The traveler's guide to the Hudson River Valley. New York: Random House.
  APL: 917.47 MUL (BPL has the 1999 edition, which I did not review)

  This travel guide has a section on Great Houses (pp. 118-136), which gives an overview of the topic and in-depth descriptions and histories of five historic houses.

The following electronic databases are a useful place to find materials on the historic estates of the Hudson River Valley and related topics such as history, preservation, and architecture. They are listed in rank order, based on a sample search using the following keywords: "historic buildings" and "Hudson Valley". Other keywords for searching include: historic sites, historic estates, Hudson River Valley, Livingston family and New York State (see Subject Headings above for other ideas).

• InfoTrac OneFile. Available to affiliated users through the University at Albany Library web site. A general database that includes 6,000 publications (3,000 available in full text), including refereed journals and general interest magazines. Coverage begins in 1980. Updated daily.

• ArtIndex. Available to affiliated users through the University at Albany Library web site. This database indexes international English-language arts publications (none available in full text). Coverage is from 1984 forward. The database is updated monthly.

• Expanded Academic ASAP. Available to affiliated users through the University at Albany Library web site. This general database covers many different subject areas from 1980 forward. It is updated daily and contains selected articles in full text.

These print indexes are useful for those interested in the related area of historic preservation:

• America preserved: a checklist of historic buildings, structures, and sites. (1995). Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service.
  UALB ULIB GOVDOC: J 85 LC 1.2:H 62/7

  From the library catalog record notes section: "Chiefly a checklist and index to the collections of the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historical American Engineering Record housed in the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division."

• Choe, H. Y. (1988). Index to historic preservation periodicals/National Trust for Historic Preservation Library of the University of Maryland, College Park. Boston, MA: G. K. Hall.
  UALB ULIB OVER: E 159 Z999 I54 1988

  Index of publications of international, national, regional, state and local historic preservation associations, as well as popular and scholarly serials with material on historic preservation.

The following periodicals cover a range of subject areas and focuses, from a general-interest regional magazine to historical groups' journals.

• New York History. Cooperstown, NY: New York State Historical Association. 1932??-. Quarterly.
  UALB ULIB: Per AP 2 H89X
  APL: Periodical, Adult APLM 1945-

  The journal of the New York State Historical Association. Indexed in ten-year spans.

• Historic Preservation. Washington, DC: National Council for Historic Sites and Buildings. 1952-. Quarterly.
  APL: Periodical, Adult APLM

  The quarterly journal of a national historic site organization.

• Hudson Valley. Poughkeepsie, NY: Suburban Publications. 1988-. Monthly.
  APL: Periodical, Adult

  General interest magazine with frequent articles about historic houses and other sites in the Hudson Valley.

While I did not personally review these video recordings, they were produced by the well-regarded A & E (Arts & Entertainment) Television Network and have been shown on television as part of two A & E continuing series. I feel that they would be a worthwhile introduction to this topic.

• Cinetel Productions in association with A&E Network (Producer). (1995). America's castles, the grand tour: Hudson River Valley Estates [video recording]. United States: A&E Home Video.
  APL: VHS 917.304 A

  Part of A & E's "The Grand Tour, America's Castles" series.

• A&E Television Networks (Producer). (1995). The Vanderbilts: an American dynasty [video recording]. United States: A&E Home Video.
  APL: VHS 92V

  From the A & E "Biography" series.

The World Wide Web abounds with sites of varying quality about the Hudson River Valley and its historic sites, including the river estates. Listed here you will find some of the most complete, accurate and interesting sites. Most of the historic estates have their own web sites, which are not listed here because you can link to them from many of the pages listed below.

• Beauty and the Brick, Illustrated Books & Nineteenth Century Domestic Design. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.hudsonvalley.org/beauty/index.html.

  This web site, developed by Historic Hudson Valley (see above), is an online exhibit about illustrated books and nineteenth century architecture from their extensive collections. Of special interest is a section on "the A.J.s" (Alexander Jackson Davis and Andrew Jackson Downing) who designed many of the homes and renovations of the historic estates.

• Estates of the Hudson Valley. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from www.hudsonriver.com/estates.htm.

  This site is maintained by hudsonriver.com, a Hudson Valley web information source. It provides a general overview of the historic river homes from Yonkers, New York to Albany, New York. Includes general history, visitor information (hours, prices, etc.), a basic map with locations of all the estates described and links to most of the homes' web sites.

• Experience Your America, National Park Service, New York. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parksearch/state/state.cfm?statevar=ny.

  This page is the National Park Service's New York guide. The page has a map with all National Historic Sites in New York, with links to each one. These include some of the historic estates of the Hudson River Valley such as Springwood, home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park.

• Great Estates of the Hudson River Valley. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.hvnet.com/houses.

  This web site is maintained by Hudson Valley Network, "the Valley's Most Comprehensive Web Resource." The site has a map with all historic estates shown. Clicking on an estate on the map links you to a page about that estate with information and directions with map. Ten estates are covered, with more "coming soon."

• Great Estates of the Hudson Valley. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.hudsonrivervalley.net/learning/linksgreatestates.php.

  This is part of a larger site maintained by the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist College whose mission includes "communicating the wealth of the Valley's resources" as a National Heritage Area. This page lists historic properties from Westchester to Albany Counties, with very brief descriptions of each and links to each property's web site.

• Historic Estates of the Hudson River Valley. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.albany.edu/~ec5748/isp523/final/.

  This site was created a SUNY graduate student. It provides pages on each of eight historic estates, with information, links to the property's web site, and original photographs. It also includes a brief history of the Livingston family, one of the Hudson Valley's most influential families, as well as a source page listing books and other materials about the Hudson Valley estates.

• Historic Hudson Valley. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.hudsonvalley.org.

  This site is maintained by Historic Hudson Valley, founded in 1951 by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., as a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving the beauty of the Hudson Valley region. The site provides general visitor information, primarily concentrating on the lower Hudson Valley region, with links to pages about historic homes and sites in "Sleepy Hollow Country", south of Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

• Historic Preservation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.nysparks.com/hist/.
  This site is maintained by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. It provides a map of the state and links to all of the state's historic sites, including some of the Hudson Valley estates such as Olana, Clermont and Mills Mansion. Each historic site's page has a mapping feature and links to other nearby historic sites.
• Hudson River Heritage. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.hudsonriverheritage.org/.

  Hudson River Heritage is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the Hudson River National Historic Landmark District, a 32-square-mile area along the Hudson River in Dutchess and Columbia Counties. The site includes a map, short descriptions of each of eight estates in the area, links to those estates' web sites and general tourism information.

• Hudson Valley Research: The East Side. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2003, from http://www.nygbs.org/info/articles/NYS_Hudson_East.html.

  This is the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society's page about genealogy of families from the east side of the Hudson River in New York. The page lists many resources for those interested in learning more about the early families of the Hudson Valley. It is based on the proceedings of a major conference held in Tarrytown, New York in 1997.