B. Thomas Golisano collection
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: RITSpec-0008
Scope and Contents
The B. Thomas Golisano collection of correspondence, photographs, clippings, and ephemera spans the years of roughly 1965 to 2014. The Paychex correspondence, clippings, and ephemera spans his tenure at the company, from 1971 up to his retirement as CEO in 2004. His philanthropic correspondence spans from 1985 to roughly 2008. There is little correspondence from Golisano himself, rather letters addressed to Golisano. There are articles about Golisano, written by Golisano, as well as articles that may have been collected by Golisano but do not cite him directly. Most of the photographs are snapshots; there are professional portraits and photographs as well. There are publications and promotional materials from institutions that Golisano either donated to or was involved with, including newsletters, DVDs, and pamphlets. The majority of the personal correspondence is comprised of greeting cards, with some correspondence from family members and close friends and colleagues. There are also video tapes from his campaigns, as well as promotional campaign items.
The collection is divided into 6 series. Series I: Business contains correspondence, articles, and ephemera related to Paychex, as well as Golisano’s awards for entrepreneurship. Paychex correspondence includes internal memos, letters from employees, and correspondence with clients and shareholders. Paychex articles pertain to the major landmarks in the company’s history, including consolidation of franchises in 1979, going public in 1983, and its subsequent stock values. Paychex business documents such as annual reports and tax documents are also included. Business awards and accolades include the RIT Van den Brul, Rochester Business Journal Hall of Fame, and Forbes rankings.
Series II: Community contains correspondence and articles relating to civic involvement, including Italian-American societies, social reform, and his ownership of the Buffalo Sabres. Correspondence is both professional, involving Sabres co-owner Larry Quinn, and also from the general public.
Series III: Personal contains correspondence from Golisano’s immediate and extended family, as well as close friends including Gary Muxworthy, Bob Sebo, and Gene Polisseni. The series also includes photographs of Golisano and his family, as well as some of Golisano’s personal ephemera.
Series IV: Philanthropy contains correspondence and printed materials from educational institutions including Rochester Institute of Technology, and medical institutions such as Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse. It also contains materials related to the Clinton Global Initiative and the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, as well as the organizations those programs served.
Series V: Politics is comprised mainly of clippings chronicling the 1994 and 1998 New York gubernatorial elections, as well as information on the Independence Fusion Party that Golisano pioneered.
Series VI contains records from Paychex that pertain to Tom Golisano. The records consist mainly of clippings and photographs, with some correspondence.
The collection is divided into 6 series. Series I: Business contains correspondence, articles, and ephemera related to Paychex, as well as Golisano’s awards for entrepreneurship. Paychex correspondence includes internal memos, letters from employees, and correspondence with clients and shareholders. Paychex articles pertain to the major landmarks in the company’s history, including consolidation of franchises in 1979, going public in 1983, and its subsequent stock values. Paychex business documents such as annual reports and tax documents are also included. Business awards and accolades include the RIT Van den Brul, Rochester Business Journal Hall of Fame, and Forbes rankings.
Series II: Community contains correspondence and articles relating to civic involvement, including Italian-American societies, social reform, and his ownership of the Buffalo Sabres. Correspondence is both professional, involving Sabres co-owner Larry Quinn, and also from the general public.
Series III: Personal contains correspondence from Golisano’s immediate and extended family, as well as close friends including Gary Muxworthy, Bob Sebo, and Gene Polisseni. The series also includes photographs of Golisano and his family, as well as some of Golisano’s personal ephemera.
Series IV: Philanthropy contains correspondence and printed materials from educational institutions including Rochester Institute of Technology, and medical institutions such as Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse. It also contains materials related to the Clinton Global Initiative and the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, as well as the organizations those programs served.
Series V: Politics is comprised mainly of clippings chronicling the 1994 and 1998 New York gubernatorial elections, as well as information on the Independence Fusion Party that Golisano pioneered.
Series VI contains records from Paychex that pertain to Tom Golisano. The records consist mainly of clippings and photographs, with some correspondence.
Dates
- 1965-2014
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to researchers.
Biographical / Historical
Blase Thomas “Tom” Golisano is the founder of the payroll processing company, Paychex, and previous co-owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team. He has an associate’s degree from Alfred State College. In 1985, Golisano founded the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, an organization which funds charities for those with disabilities. He has funded many medical and educational institutions in both upstate New York and Florida, including the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Golisano is also a founding member of the Independence Party of New York, and ran for governor of New York in 1994, 1998, and 2002, though he was never elected. In 2009, Golisano moved from New York to Florida. Golisano is the recipient of many awards for philanthropy, business, and civic involvement.
Extent
21.5 Linear Feet (27 document boxes, 2 lid boxes, 4 file boxes)
Language
English
Overview
The B. Thomas Golisano collection contains correspondence, photographs, clippings, and ephemera related to Mr. Golisano's business, Paychex, his family and personal life, and his philanthropy and community service. In addition to materials generated by Golisano, the collection also contains newspaper clippings and printed materials from institutions he interacted with both personally and through his B. Thomas Golisano Foundation.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in series, and then by topic. Oversize items are housed separately.
Physical Location
C.S. Mid-Range, Shelves 653-657
C.S. North, Shelves 376-377, 382
C.S. North, Shelves 376-377, 382
Other Finding Aids
In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.
B. Thomas Golisano collection
B. Thomas Golisano collection
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number(s):
Separated Materials
A number of digital materials have been added to this collection, and can be accessed by contacting the RIT Archives. These materials include:
Digital Materials
- Videos related to the inaugural Global Health Leadership Award (2017)
- 2017:011, 2017:017
- "Imagine the Possiblities" (video created for the 30th anniversary of the Golisano Foundation)
- 2016:049
- Video tribute to Golisano played at a Paychex meeting Oct. 15, 2016
- 2016:047
- Gubenatorial campaign materials (2002)
- 2017:006
Processing Information
Finding aid created by Lauren Alberque in April 2016.
- Biography files
- Black-and-white prints (photographs)
- Business enterprises -- New York (State) -- Rochester
- Businessmen -- New York (State) -- Rochester
- Children -- Hospitals
- Color photographs
- Correspondence
- Elections -- New York (State)
- Entrepreneurship -- New York (State) -- Rochester
- Golisano, B. Thomas
- Governors -- New York (State)
- Greeting cards
- Hockey team owners -- New York (State)
- Paychex, Inc.
- Philanthropists -- New York (State) -- Rochester
- Political campaigns -- New York (State)
- Programs (documents)
- Scrapbooks
- Video recordings
- Title
- B. Thomas Golisano collection
- Subtitle
- RIT Special Collections
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Lauren Alberque
- Date
- 18 April 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the RIT Archives Repository
