New York State Historical Assocation (NYSHA), 1934-1997

This series contains correspondence, writings, notes, research, clippings, publications, daily logs, reports, pamphlets, and ephemera relating to Rath's employment, from 1956 to 1972, as vice director of the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA). The NYSHA is a state historical organization that sponsors programs in historic preservation, folk art and culture, local history, and museum studies.

Following Rath's index and summary, daily logs, and datebooks, this series is divided into eight sections by type of material, arranged alphabetically: Chronological Files, Clippings, Cooperstown Graduate Program Files, Graphics, Publications, Research, Subjects, and Writings. Chronological Files contain correspondence, notes, writings, transcripts of talks, and other material documenting the work of the NYSHA, its various folk museums and collections, and its educational programs. Also included in the Chronological Files are reports on other preservation projects in Cooperstown and around the country for which Rath provided consultation and correspondence relating to Rath's presidency of the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) from 1960 to 1962. The Clippings Files contain articles on various subjects including the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP) and Cooperstown Graduate Association files contain teaching materials and notes for a course entitled "Administration of Historical Museums," as well as newsletters, correspondence, pamphlets, clippings, and ephemera related to the program.

The Publications section contains serial publications produced by the NYSHA, to which Rath was a frequent contributor, as well as pamphlets about the historic sites and collections of the NYSHA and bulletins documenting the activities of the staff in detail. The Research section consists of notes, drafts, transcripts of talks given, and research materials collected by Rath on the topics named in the folder headings. The Subjects section contains articles about NYSHA and other topics. The Writings folder includes published writings of Rath from this period. Arrangement of items within each folder is chronological.