This series contains certificates of membership to museums and art related clubs and societies. Included are certificates of membership to the Allied Artists of America, the International Art-Union, NewYork Gallery of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also included is John McComb's 1816 membership certificate for the American Academy of Fine Arts; and a hand lettered certificate, given to Samuel T. Shaw by the Salmagundi Club, to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Shaw Purchase Prize. Certificates from the National Academy of Design include those given to J. Carroll Beckwith, Asher B. Durand, and Helen M. Turner.

This series includes certificates issued by or to business organizations. Included is a certificate from the NY State Office of the Secretary of State granting Strobridge Lithographers a license to do business in New York. One certificate of note is a certificate of membership to the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, given to General William T. Sherman in 1889. Another is a hand-lettered certificate presented to Edwin B. Moore upon his retirement from the New York Tribune. Of special interest is an 1893 certificate from Tiffany and Co. presented to Adalbert Emil Herrman Nordbrock upon completion of his apprenticeship in the silversmith department.

This series contains certificates related to the planning, funding, and participation of a variety of expositions, fairs, events. Certificates include an invitation to the dedication ceremonies of the New York State Monument at Gettysburg in 1893, a blank certificate for the New England Sanitary Commission Fair in 1863, and a souvenir of the Civic & Industrial Parade, in New York City, 1889. Also included are certificates for the 1939 New York World's Fair and two certificates, designed and engraved by the Major & Knapp Co., for the United States Centennial Exhibition.

A beautifully detailed and hand-colored certificate created by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, thanking William Sulzer for his participation in their St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Albany, 1894. Two certificates from the 1877 Agricultural Society of New South Wales' Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition awarded John Rogers bronze medals for his statuary. Certificates given to J. Carroll Beckwith commemorate his participation in the Universal Exposition in St. Louis, the Exposition Universell of 1900, the First International Exposition of Modern Decorative Arts in Turin, and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Asher B. Durand's certificate for engraving from the 1876 International Exhibition in Philadelphia is included as well. Certificates from the American Institute Fair are heavily illustrated and engraved by the American Bank Note Company.

Of special note is an 1852 certificate issued by the Common Council of the City of New York announcing a public reception for Irish patriot Thomas Francis Meagher "in appreciation of his services in the cause of Civil Liberty."

This series includes commendations, membership, and professional certificates. Most were issued by fire and police departments

One fire department certificate is a colorful lithograph printed by Currier and Ives. New York City Fire Department certificates include several engraved by Peter Maverick from a drawing by Archibald Robertson. Another certificate, a fireman's exemption from jury duty, has an 1829 ten cent piece attached. Other fire department certificates were isuued by Albany, Paterson, San Francisco, and Toledo departments.

Police department certificates include appointments to various positions in the New York City and Morrisania departments as well as a membership certificate to the Police Endowment Fund Association. One 1896 certificate is signed by Theodore Roosevelt, then president of New York's Board of Police Commissioners. Certificates given to policemen to commemorate cases they helped solve are hand-lettered and illustrated. One of these has an albumen portrait of Elmira, NY Police Chief Levi D. Little attached.

Membership certificates from the Committee of Vigilance of the City of San Francisco include several that once belonged to John Stoneacre Ellis. There is also a certificate heralding the appointment of Benjamin Crane to Superintendent of Central Park 1870.

Certificates honoring retiring or resigning workers are particularly beautiful. A certificate recording the resignation of fireman Zophar Mills includes an albumen photograph of a fire engine. Another, given to Colonel J. Mayhew Wainwright upon his resignation as the Commissioner of the Westchester County Park Commission, is hand-lettered in the style of an illuminated manuscript. Also included are certificates for Columbus Ryan, George Rivet Van Namee, and John W. Chambers. An albumen photograph of John Chambers is included on his certificate.

This series is comprised of certificates of merit, diplomas, and teaching certificates. The bulk of the merit certificates and grammar school diplomas came from public schools in New York City. Diplomas include those from Columbia University, Cooper Union, Eastman National Business College, Princeton University, Rutgers Female Institute, the University of Maine and Yale University. Many of these certificates were printed on parchment and have elaborate seals. Includes diplomas from a variety of colleges and universities.Other certificates include teacher certifications, course completion certificates for classes at Cooper Union, a certificate of apprenticeship from the New York State Board of Pharmacy, and membership certificates for the Free-School Society of New-York and the American University Popular Course of Home Reading. There are certificates to various clubs and organizations at Columbia University and Harvard University. Library certificates include two certificates of membership to the New York Society Library.

This series contains bank notes, stocks and other financial documents. Bank notes include those for the Hungarian Fund and an uncut sheet of four bank notes from The Farmers Bank. New York stocks include stock in the Brooklyn Union Elevated Railroad, the Coney Island and Brooklyn Railroad Company, the New York Pier and Warehouse Company, the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation and the Bennett Combined Automatic, and Manual Organ Company of New York. Many of these certificates are illustrated.

Other financial documents include Confederate States of America coupon bonds, used to raise capital for the war effort; a copy, probably printed as an advertisement, of a life insurance policy for Robert E. Lee, issued by the State Mutual Life Insurance Company; and bonds issued by the City of New Orleans.

This series includes certificates in Arabic, Dutch, Danish, French, Greek, Latin, Polish, Spanish, Italian and German. The certificates have not been translated but include religious, academic, and honorary subjects.

Certificates in French are mainly honoring soldiers who served in World War I. One of these certificates of honor has the Chateau-Thierry Medal attached. The medal depicts the busts of Washington & Lafayette and the Legion of Honor on the reverse. A 1907 membership certificate records aviator Alan Hawley's membership in L'Aero-Club de France.

This series includes certificates of membership to fraternal organizations and lodges including the Odd Fellows and the Freemasons. Freemason organizations represented include the Scottish Rite, the Police Square Club, and Knights Templar. Several certificates use the Masonic calendar, recording years in AL or AO. Many of these certificates are printed on parchment and have wax or embossed seals.

The collection includes several certificates of membership, given to John Stoneacre Ellis, to both California Freemason and Odd Fellow organizations. A colorful lithograph, titled "Masonic Chart" and printed by Strobridge & Co., contains religious and symbolic imagery. A memorial certificate for Benjamin S. Clark records his history with the masons and includes an albumen portrait.

This series is comprised of membership certificates to organizations that base their membership on lineage. Societies include the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York, the Society of California Pioneers, the Society of the Cincinnati and Sherwood Kindred of America. Some of these certificates are printed on parchment and have original wax seals.

This series is comprised mainly of certificates of membership and acknowledgements of financial contributions to organizations focused on commemorating various aspects of American history.

Membership certificates include those to the American Antiquarian Society, the American Historical Association, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the New-York Historical Society. New-York Historical Society membership certificates are illustrated with an image of the arrival of Henry Hudson, engraved by Asher B. Durand. Blank New-York Historical Society fellow and patron certificates include an original drawing of the certificate by its designer, E. D. French. Also included are certificates from the New Hampshire Historical Society, the American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial Association, and a number of presidential societies. The American Bank Note Company printed the certificates of membership for the Roosevelt Memorial Association and the Alexander Hamilton National Memorial Association.

Acknowledgements of contributions include those to the Washington National Monument, the Bunker Hill Monument Association, and the National Lincoln Monument in Illinois, as well as a certificate acknowledging a donation to provide a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.

This series contains membership certificates for the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Woman's Central Association of Relief, Cape Palmas Female Orphan Asylum Society, the Lawrence Benevolent Institution of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Sanitary Commission, the New-Jersey Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.

Certificates for the New York Marine Society, a group formed to provide assistance to widows and children of deceased sailors, include both reproductions and originals with wax seals. There are also certificates from other maritime organizations that provided assistance to sailors and their families.

Of special interest is a certificate for completion of an apprenticeship at the New York House of Refuge, circa 1870.

This series includes birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, and certificates of admission to the bar. Some are on parchment and include wax or foil seals. Also included are leases, receipts, a deed for land in the Dakota Territories, and a certificate from the London Trade Marks Registry Office.

Of special interest is an ornate lithograph recording the marriage of Henry Lockwood and Zana Rowland in 1885. Cartes de visite of the bride and groom are attached to the verso.

Also of note is a hand-lettered document from the State of New York Executive Chamber. The certificate, created in 1913, is affixed with the pen that was used to sign a bill regarding the Highway Act into law.

This series contains certificates related to the medical profession, including diplomas from medical schools, certificates of membership in medical societies, and registrations to practice medicine.

Certificates of membership from the Society of the New York Hospital are made out to John McComb, John McComb Jr., and James W. Beekman.

This series is comprised of certificates from clubs and organizations honoring deceased members. These include certificates in memory of William de Groot from the Empire State Society, James C. Russell from the Coffee Exchange of the City of New York, and Edward L. Phalon from the John Bruning Bowling Club.

Two certificates were printed to honor fallen Civil War soldiers, including one printed by Currier and Ives. Also included are certificates in memory of James P. Harper and John McEntee Bowman.

Of special note is a memorial for Horace Greeley from the American Institute. This certificate is elaborately hand-lettered and includes an albumen portrait.

This series includes certificates given to commemorate appointments and changes in rank, citations and discharges from service, as well as membership to various clubs and organizations. It also includes certificates of recognition for donation of time or funds to various military causes. Some are printed on parchment with original seals.

Certificates of appointment include several from both John Stoneacre Ellis and Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright. One certificate from Hempstead, Long Island dated 1819, acknowledges a soldiers enrollment in "a troop of horse artillery…comprising part of a brigade in the second regiment of the state of New York."

A War Department certificate confirms pension payments owed to Revolutionary War widow Esther Hammond.

Certificates of discharge include one for Fred W. Mather, member of the 24th Regiment, United Stated Colored Troops.

Also included are several Civil War Soldiers Memorial certificates, which list names and ranks of regiment soldiers as well as their battle history.

This series is comprised of certificates from various government and political organizations.

Two certificates of appointment to federal positions have President Warren Harding's signature.

Tammany Society (also known as the Columbian Order) certificates contain one printed by Samuel Maverick and two that are illustrated and hand-lettered. Certificates of membership to the Tippecanoe Club are printed with images of William Henry Harrison.

One certificate of note was issued to Elisha Harris in recognition of his efforts to conduct the first sanitary survey of the city to try to combat cholera.

This series contains certificates of membership to societies with regional and/or ethnic interests. Certificates include the Caledonian Society of the City of New York, the Society of St. George and the South Carolina Society. The German Society certificate is written in German and has its original wax seal.

Certificates of membership in the Cape Cod Association lithographs by Sarony, Major and Knapp and are heavily illustrated with maritime images as well as views of Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Also of note is John Stoneacre Ellis' certificate of membership to the Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California.

This series includes certificates of baptism, communion and confirmation, as well as membership to various religious societies. Sunday school attendance and merit certificates are also part of this series.

One certificate from the American Bible Union records contributions made to the group to distribute bibles to "the Freedmen of America." A group of ephemera related to the Domestic Missionary Army of the Young Soldiers of Christ of the Protestant Episcopal Church includes a ribbon printed with the portrait of Jackson Kemper. Temperance certificates include membership to the Boston Temperance Society, the Washington Temperance Society, and several Juvenile Temperance Societies. One particularly interesting certificate is a certificate of membership for the Connecticut Cold Water Army, which includes songs of the Cold Water Army. Early membership certificates for the American Bible Society include those for Mrs. John McComb, Jr. and Gerard Beekman.

This series contains certificates of membership to societies such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Geographic Society, the New York Academy of Science, and the New York Zoological Society.

Award certificates from various environmental, agricultural, and horticultural societies include an award for "a superior market wagon" from the Queens County Agricultural Society, and "best 12 ears of sweet corn" from the Horticultural Society of Morrisania.

A certificate of membership in the Audubon Society is embellished with an engraved portrait of Audubon as well as a small image of Cedar Birds.

A hand-lettered certificate by Tiffany and Co. from the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society commemorates the retirement of Daniel Parish, Jr. Tiffany and Co. also designed the membership certificates for the American Museum of Natural History.

Also of note are certificates from The Literary and Philosophical Society, a scientific society founded by DeWitt Clinton and Samuel Latham Mitchell in New York in 1814, and dissolved 1834.

This series includes certificates of membership to the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States and the New York Sadlers' Society. Also included is a certificate qualifying Louis Senar as an instructor in the art of fencing from the Amateur Fencers League of America.

This series includes certificates of membership to professional societies, as well as one certificate of recognition from the Building Trades Employers' Association.

Three early certificates are found in this series. One, a membership certificate for the New York Coopers Society dated 1827, is illustrated with an engraving of men working along a harbor. Another, from the Society of Master Sail Makers of the City of New York dated 1795, is illustrated with several vignettes showing sail making, ship building and harbor scenes and has its original wax seal. The third, dated 1825 and printed by Peter Maverick, was given to Sarah Daniels for her "meritorious services" by the Society for the Encouragement of Fathful Domestic Servants.

A certificate awarded to John Rogers for his statuary groups from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association is included. Certificates of membership in the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, printed by Maverick, include those of John McComb and John Snook. Also included is a lithograph for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers printed by the Strobridge Lithographing Company.

This series contains certificates of membership and commemoration; licenses; and invitations related to ship, steamboat, and railroad transport.

One certificate of membership records dues paid to the New York Cheap Transportation Association. Two licenses are included; one to operate motor boats carrying passengers for hire, the other to operate ocean or coastwise steam and motor vessels.

Two certificates commemorate the opening of the New York and Erie Rail Road. An invitation to attend the ceremony of opening the Holland Tunnel is also included in this series.

Another certificate is a resolution passed by the Central Park, North and East River Railroad Company thanking police officials for their assistance during a strike.

Also of interest are two certificates of inspection for the steamers New York and Daniel Drew.