Augustus L. Hoffman (1856-1945) was a retail jeweler and a watchmaker who owned a jewelry shop in Newark, NY for 30 years. He collected watches and clocks over a period of many years. His second wife, Jennie DeVall Hoffman, collected lusterware, glassware and porcelain. In their later years the Hoffmans made arrangements to preserve their collections and make them available to the public. The trustees of the Hoffman Foundation arranged with the Newark Library to display the clock collection as well as many of Jennie Hoffman's collectibles in a new wing that had been added to the library. The formal opening took place in December of 1954.

The Hoffman Clock Museum is part of the Hoffman Foundation. Many of the timepieces on display have come from Mr. Hoffman's personal collection. The rest have been acquired through donations, loans and purchases.

This is a picture of Mr. Hoffman winding his favorite clock, a French Provincial tall case clock with a bombe shaped case. The clock has an eight-day brass morbier type movement and is on display at the museum.