The Historical Society of the New York Courts

What it reported doing in 2025

Podcasts & videocastsin 2025, the society continued its two series chatting with the authors of judicial notice and wrecking ball: tales of preservation, the law, and the places that new yorkers love.- podcast episode #26: samuel jones tilden: lawyer, statesman, and victim of fate (chatting with the authors). Editor-in-chief of judicial notice hon. Helen e. Freedman discusses tilden's career, contributions to New York's legal community, and presidential bid in the 1876 election. - podcast episode #27: a conversation with andrew berman: the "cher" of preservation (wrecking ball). This podcast provides a far-ranging discussion on preservation in New York, past, present, and future, including the case studies of st. Vincent's hospital, the "weatherman house, and university expansions. - podcast episode #28: buffalo v. Rochester: the judge and the anarchist at the dawn of the 20th century (chatting with the authors). This episode explores two prominent, though ideologically opposed figures: john r. Hazel, a powerful gop machine boss from buffalo who became a federal judge, and emma goldman, a russian immigrant from rochester sometimes referred to as the "high priestess of anarchy." - podcast episode #29: the 1876 election samuel jones tilden v. Rutherford b. Hayes. This podcast builds upon episode 26 with a discussion about one of the most controversial elections in u.s. History in which tilden won the popular vote for president, but hayes was declared the winner after months of dispute. - special audiostory episode: how emeline got free: the story of the woman at the center of the landmark lemmon slave trial of 1852. This special episode of the society's podcast was released in 2025. It is a retelling of the lemmon slave case from the perspective of the oldest of the eight enslaved young women and children: emeline. Relying on newspaper accounts, case documents, and surviving narratives of enslaved people, emeline's world comes alive with voice actors and a soundscape that transports the listener to her time. Oral history projectin 2025, the society continued its oral history project, releasing an interview with robert s. Dean, esq., and lynn w.l. Fahey, esq. That was recorded the prior year after the completion of the editing process. The two attorneys discussed their pre-law careers, their formative years at the legal aid society, the pivotal decisions that led them to establish their own organizations, and the challenges and rewards of a lifetime dedicated to appellate defense for those unable to afford counsel.communications strategy fellowin 2025, the society continued its part-time communications fellowship that has expanded the society's digital communications on social media and the website as well as develop new networks to expand the society's reach and develop podcasts. A stipend of $20,000 was granted for a year-long fellowship, with $5,000 paid in 2025 and $15,000 to be paid in 2026. Historian-in-residence fellowin 2025, the society also started a new fellowship to update legal history by era, a section of the society's website that traces the development of New York law and courts through figures, cases, constitutions, and other relevant materials. This is a vital resource for students and researchers. The fellow largely completed the gilded age and industrial revolution era this year. A stipend of $30,000 was granted for a year-long fellowship, with $22,500 paid in 2025 and $7,500 to be paid in 2026.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 59.2%; rating input score 59
• Program expense ratio: 62.1%; rating input score 62
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.57 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 7.3%; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.64; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 24.6%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.6% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings