Patchogue-Medford Library ptchlib@suffolk.lib.ny.us Home Page

Celia M. Hastings Local History Room -- Links

Links  (Including Some Homegrown Web Connections)

Home Grown Web Connections

* Long Island History Website

                Here you'll find websites on the history of selected L.I. counties, towns, villages, industries, maritime life, wars, aviation and aerospace pioneering, historians, libraries, literary life, moviemaking, museums, historical societies, transportation, cemeteries, and much more.   Launched in mid-Nov. 2005, with over 130 alphabetic, clickable subject headings (and subheadings), this site provides  an impressionistic, rather than comprehensive, partly-annotated look at something of the range of websites available.  I t may surprise you that only 2-3 entries are from Newsday's Long Island:  Our Story, which is an important general resource, but as you will see, far from the only one. 

*New York State History Sampler            

                http://www.pmlib.org/new_york_state_history_month.htm

                 Here you'll find sites on the history of selected canals,  cities, pivotal individuals (including U.S. Presidents and selected Vice-Presidents and First Ladies, hailing from the State), Indians, pirates, wars, and much more.   Launched in mid-Nov. 2005, with nearly 100  alphabetic, clickable subject headings (and subheadings), this site provides  an impressionistic, rather than comprehensive, partly-annotated look at the something of the range of websites available on New York State History.  

Papers of the Farragut Council , J.O.U.A.M , comp. & ed. by Elyssa Daub

                http://www.pmlib.org/farragutcouncil.htm

                This is an item-level directory of documents in the archives of a local Patchogue, N.Y. chapter of a national secret society of mechanics, pre-dating the automobile.  The association had started out as nativist, anti-foreign, anti-immigration, gradually opening its doors, and admitting a wider spectrum of membership.   It provided insurance coverage to members, a place of belonging, had its own rituals, hymns, and special room set-up arrangements for meetings.   Membership application forms, cards, brochures, correspondences and financial records are featured, among other things.

            Part of PML's Spanish-American War Websites in PML's Military History website. This site is a romp through the history of not only Patchogue, but of local, town, regional, national, & international events, concerns, and local perspectives (both serious & humorous), seasoned as well with a little "snake-oil," from advertisements of the day. All taken from the pages of the Patchogue Advance (January to December, 1898), reprinted courtesy of today's Long Island Advance. Whether it's, e.g., the U.S.S. battleship Maine's  entrance into or its sinking in Havana harbor, naval battles in the Philippines or off Cuba, the U.S. seizure of Hawaii and Puerto Rico; Teddy Roosevelt's battles at Kettle & San Juan Hills, Camp Black (on Long Island's Hempstead Plains), or an ice delivery by automobile to Montauk, N.Y.'s "accursed" Camp Wykoff, Teddy Roosevelt's whistle stop campaign speech in Patchogue (en route to victory in the N.Y.S. gubernatorial race), a moment from the annals of Patchogue's South Ocean Avenue red light district, minstrel shows; the hawking of Lily Langtree's favorite coiffures; or even an account of the address to the Patchogue Sorosis that started our local public library, it's all here to read, enjoy, and appreciate.

* That Was the Centennial That Was (1900-2000)

http://www.pmlib.org/That Was the Centennial That Was.htm (5 sites.)
If you expect dull viewing, you're in forsome surprises. For The Patchogue-Medford Library has historical links to:  Samuel F.B. Morse, Abraham Lincoln [more than one connection], William T. Sherman, Jefferson Davis, Andrew Johnson, Horace Greeley & Thaddeus Stevens; to the California Gold Rush, the Civil War Union Medical Corps; to major Civil War campaigns, battles, & sieges (e.g., Fort Wagner, Fort Fisher, Charleston, Bermuda Hundred) fought along the South's Atlantic coast; and to several significant U.S. inventions and patents. (All that is through just one of its founders.)  We are also considering digitizing the library centennial pamphlets, in which you'll find information on the "pre-historic" free association library, 1883-1900, the near-lynching & near-suicide of a an early trustee who was CEO of the sole village bank, that folded (in 1884); the library's 9 relocations about town; its ties to Brooklyn Public Library.  Fascinating local individuals abound, who served on the library board and actively supported it, like the late 19th century's: John S. Havens (general store owner, Brookhaven Town Supervisor), Jesse Mills & his business partner, Fremont Hammond (department store owners), John J. Craven, John M. Price, Judge Wilmot M. & Elizabeth Mott Smith, Wellington E. Gordon, newspaper publisher James A. Canfield, the Edwin Bailey family (famed for its lumber yards & mills). Its "Librarian" and later Directors set its course in a variety of directions, often path breaking for not only the community, but for the county as well. Alma D. Custead, 1914-1945, set it on a course of countywide leadership. There has been a host of interesting trustees, directors, and staff members, ranging from the daughter of an admiral to a sometime belly dancer and radio announcer, to a mountain climber. Generations of local (and sometimes not just local) authors have gotten their start here or have supported it, e.g., the library sponsored a decade-long writing contest, judged by popular novelist Phyllis Whitney).  Poets, literary critics, screenwriters, playwrights, producers, a U.S. rear admiral, people in all walks of life and occupations, many village presidents and mayors & Brookhaven Town supervisors have shared in and been an important part of the library's growth. The Library also has ties to the late King Hassan of Morocco, and to the Jewish heritage of a Roman Catholic Saint.  It includes a number of Suffolk County, N.Y. foundings & "firsts," as well: (a) First countywide library association (founded by a director, also its 1st president); (b) first county-wide public library catalog; (c) 1st location of the county's Suffolk Cooperative Library System; (d) First library in the county to loan salt water fishing tackle. It also led book drives for the troops in Camp Upton, L.I., and abroad ("...against the blue devils of loneliness and depression") in World Wars I & II.  Not that many years ago, on December 20, 2000, at 3:30 P.M., Patchogue-Medford Library observed the Centennial of its State Chartering by the University of the State if New York.

Leads to Other Websites

*Long Island History on the World Wide Web,by David Yehling Allen (State University of New York at Stony Brook. Melville Library. Map Collection)   http://www.sunysb.edu/libmap/liweb.htm  

            A stellar review of resources, a version of which appeared in the scholarly Long Island Historical Journal (Spring 2001), here updated by the author. The author is curator of the map library, and author of the well-researched book Long Island Maps and Their Makers.

*  Long Island: Our Story (Newsday, Inc.)   http://www.newsday.com/extras/lihistory/

            This Newsday series, performed under deadline, and editorial strictures, has some historians figuratively tearing hair over accuracy and details. But it did do much to re-popularize the study of Long Island history with the average citizen. With chronological, biographical and thematic sections, it also republishes key historical documents and includes audio and visual material. Rewards browsing. Contains many an eye-opener.

*   Long Island Maps and Their Makers,by David Yehling Allen (State University of New York at Stony Brook.  Melville Library. Map Collection)  http://www.sunysb.edu/libmap/contents.htm

            Following the title of the author's pioneering study, this website contains digitized images and descriptions of many of the maps in his book, and with them, conveys a sense of the history of the Long Island region's cartography, since colonial days. Arranged in six generally chronological chapters, with links to other websites containing L.I. maps (at the very end of Chapter 6). Also contains links to the author's Long Island Cartobibliography, and to the main site of the SUNY at Stony Brook Map Collection, the region's finest.

*Preservation & Conservation Resources for Library Local History CollectionsIncluding Disaster Preparedness & Recovery] http://www.pmlib.org/Pmlpre.htm

        In need of an update.  A classified series of links to sites on the web, some also useful for a home library.  Many took you step-by-step through the basics, some providing handy checklists, advising you on prevention techniques, or safety and when (and why) to call in an expert.

 Spanish-American War, 1898 (Some Websites of Interest)   http://www.pmlib.org/spampadv.htm

            Links, under 22 topical categories, to a variety of websites on the Spanish-American War, everything from land and naval campaigns to music to Long Island involvement (e.g., Camp Black, Camp Wykoff, return of the Rough Riders & Teddy Roosevelt, native Long Islander).

  Long Island Studies Institute (Hofstra University. West Campus Library)   http://www.hofstra.edu/Libraries/Axinn/axinn_long_island_studies.cfm

        Contains general information on the Institute (which has a fine record of original research and publication); a classified list of its Publications; a brief description of its collections; a contact person; and a link to its September 11th Project. The Institute is known for its occasional bibliographies, calendar of forthcoming local history events, exhibits, and workshops.

        Provides useful links to collection descriptions of Suffolk & Nassau County archives and historical collections, including that of the Suffolk County Clerk; and to a directory of county historical societies, many having websites (also linked).

*   Ships Constructed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (Columbia University)   http://www.columbia.edu/~jrs9/BNY-Ships.html

Patchogue-Medford Area Resources

* For Patchogue-Medford area history:  also try The Greater Patchogue Historical Society, P.O. Box 102, Patchogue, NY 11772, which publishes a Newsletter, has its own archives; and generally meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month (September-December & March-June), in the downstairs Meeting Rooms of the Patchogue-Medford Library.  Members are often familiar with specialized historical information, or can provide useful referrals or memories. Prime Contacts: Anne Swezey: (631) 474-7265 [former Patchogue Village Historian & L.I. Advance Woman of the Year, 2000] and Marjorie Roe: (631) 475-7851 [Past President of the Society].

* Patchogue Village Historian, Hans Henke, maintains a large historical photograph collection.

* Brookhaven Town, NY Resources

*Brookhaven Town Historian,Barbara Russell, at the Old Brookhaven Town Offices, Route 112 Medford, NY     http://www1.brookhaven.org/departments/parks.asp?dept_id=5&page_id=5 maintains a collection of documents, books, periodicals, vertical files, maps and other material, going back to the colonial era.  Hours: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

            Aside:  Brookhaven Town runs from the North to the South shore of Long Island. It includes numerous villages (e.g., Blue Point-famous for its oysters, Patchogue-once an industrial and summer resort town, Medford-famous for a Long Island Railroad experimental farm & pioneer color photography, Port Jefferson, main ferry to & from Bridgeport, CT). The Town contains many libraries, archives, parks, theaters, historical sites, academic institutions (e.g., SUNY at Stony Brook, Briarcliff College, St. Joseph's College, and Suffolk County Community College), religious institutions, and cemeteries (containing well known people and pets).  Also in Brookhaven Town are the headquarters of the Fire Island National Seashore, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, the home of a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, seat of a Revolutionary War spy ring and sites of a number of revolutionary war naval and amphibious engagements.  It is the most populous of the ten Towns in Suffolk County, the southeastern-most county of New York State.  Brookhaven Town celebrated its 350th Anniversary (establishment of the village of Setauket, also first name of the Town, in 1655).

                This is a good place to find a handy directory of historical organizations in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, NY (with addresses, tel. nos., websites and contact information, when and as provided)  @ http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp3.cfm?dept=33&id=1173, as well as a general description of the collections maintained by the County Clerk.  Many original documents from the colonial era forward, naturalization papers, house transfers and more are to be found in the records of the County Clerk.   Ed Romaine is County Clerk, and Sharon Pullen, County Archivist

* Suffolk County Historical Society, 300 West Main Street, Riverhead, NY, 11901, tel.: (631)727-2881, http://www.riverheadli.com/rmuseum.html, publishes a newsletter, the Register, maintains a library, archives, museum, and bookstore. Their Weathervane Bookshop http://www.schs-museum.org/giftshop.php acquires copies of newly published and re-published, short run (few copies printed) works.

*  Many of the 56 Public Libraries of Suffolk County have a designated local history contact person on staff.  Many maintain a local history collection. Scope and extent of individual collections vary widely.  Some defer to a local historical society.  Some are the prime resource for the history of the locale, and many occupy a middle ground. The East Hampton Library (Pennypacker Long Island Collection) http://www.easthamptonlibrary.org/lic.html and Smithtown Library (The Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana) http://www.smithlib.org/page_long_island_room.html are two public libraries with significant local history collections.  During the 1960's, under the short-lived (Kate) Greenaway Plan, they collected the local history of the east and west ends of Suffolk County respectively, in depth, on the premise that this would save other libraries in the county from having have to do the same.  Interest in these collections continued long after limited state funding was dropped.  

* Suffolk County Archaeological Society has steadily been revising our view of the past with new findings and cultural remains. It is esp. well-known for its fine, ongoing, multi-volume series, Readings in Long Island Archaeology and Ethnohistory, edited by Gaynell Stone.

* Suffolk County Maritime Museum, West Sayville, NY, has a specialized library, that has undergone a major reorganization, and a reference map of Long Island shipwrecks (of the north and south shores).  http://www.limaritime.org/ 

* State University of New York at Stony Brook: 

           History Department publishes the academic Long Island Historical Journal along with a website showing tables of contents @                http://www.sunysb.edu/history/lihj/lihj.html.

            Frank Melville,Jr., Memorial Library maintains a L.I. History Collection as well as a Map Library (2nd floor),Cynthia Dietz, Curator, with a collection of historical                 Long Island maps. Dr. David Allen,its former Curator, authored the ground-breaking Long Island Maps and Their Makers, and created a corresponding                 website http://www.sunysb.edu/libmap/contents.htm,of maps arranged chronologically, as well as theNew York State Historical Maps website @                 http://www.sunysb.edu/libmap/nymaps.htm.

* Along with the gift shopatOld Bethpage Village(Old Bethpage, NY), http://www.oldbethpage.org/ the Suffolk County's Weathervane is the prime place to find published new trends and topics in Long Island history, and to located in-print hard-to-find items.

*   Hofstra University's Long Island Studies Institute (LISI),Hempstead, NY, was long a driving force for new research and publication on many aspects of Island history.  It is also known for its collections, occasional bibliographies, dissertations, and conferences.  http://www.hofstra.edu/Libraries/WestCampus/SpecialCollections/SC_LISI_publistcopy.cfm

*   Some of the 55 Public Libraries of Nassau County  http://www.nassaulibrary.org/database/database.html have a designated local history contact person on staff.  Many maintain a local history collection. Scope and extent of individual collections vary widely.  As in Suffolk, some defer to a local historical society.  Others are the prime resource for the history of the locale, or one of them, and many occupy a middle ground.  The Bryant Library Local History Room @ http://www.nassaulibrary.org/bryant/Localhist/BRYANTROOM.HTM and The Port Washington Public Library, Oral History Program / Local History Collection http://www.pwpl.org/collections/special/local-history/index.html are just two of the more notably well-organized collections.  The latter is esp. noted for the quality of its oral history.

Long Island Regional Resources

* Dozens of Historical Societies Dot Long Island: The Suffolk County Clerk's website @ http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp3.cfm?dept=33&id=1173 has a handy pull-down menu that provides useful contact information for many of them and websites for those societies that have them. Some societies are geographically oriented, concerned with individual villages or groupings of villages (e.g., Three Village Historical Society http://threevillagehistoricalsociety.org/, which covers 3 incorporated & 2 unincorporated villages).  Others are thematic or regional -- such as the Long Island Railroad Historical Society http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/lirrhs.html, Suffolk County Historical Society http://www.schs-museum.org/home.php, the Long Island Studies Council, and the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA) http://www.splia.org/.  Very often these associations own material relevant to nearby and not-so-nearby villages on the Island.

*Many school libraries now collect local history materials to support mandated 4th & 7th grade local history curricula. The curriculum has been one of the driving forces for subjecting the many folkloric aspects of Long Island history to the light of professional historical scrutiny, and researching new and interesting facets of the Island's history, and local to international impact, over time.  One of the best websites derived from well-structured and guided student research is Longwood's Journey http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/history/, developed by Paul Infranco, et al., which in many ways is a model of what can be achieved locally, with dedication, creative collaborations, and due care and consideration in planning.

New York City Resources

*  Brooklyn Historical Society  http://www.brooklynhistory.org/

                This was formerly the Long Island Historical Society, and divested itself of some of its non-Brooklyn (Kings Borough / County) holdings, some years ago.  Yet, it still has much in its collections on Suffolk and Nassau County history.

* Brooklyn Public Library.  Brooklyn Collection http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/brooklyn_collection.jsp

                There is much in this collection, of considerable significance, relating not only to the histories of Brooklyn and NYC, but directly to Nassau and Suffolk Counties. 

* Municipal Archives of the City of New York  http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/about/archives.shtml

                New York City and Long Island historically are related by proximity, travel and tourism, commerce, trade (land and maritime), industry, markets, politics, military service and more.   There is much here that relates to L.I.  

* New York Biographical & Genealogical Society  http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/

               This is one of the great fulcrums for those searching out ancestors or seeking information on individuals who once lived in NYC.

* New York Public Library.  The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy  http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/lhg/genea.html

                NYPL is one of the world's greatest Libraries, with a correspondingly great collection of works in many forms and formats on, among many other things, state, NYC, and local history.  See also NYPL's Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division @ http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/map/map.html

* Queens Borough Public Library.  Long Island Division  http://www.queenslibrary.org/central/longisland/index.asp

                Collection covers the history of all 4 counties of Long Island.  An important resource.

*New York State Resources

*  Municipal Archives & Records Centers(around Long Island and New York State):

                Every incorporated village (as opposed to those unincorporated), city, and other municipality (Town, County, and often Region), in New York State is required by law to maintain an archives or records center, staffed by an archivist or trained government records keeper. There may also be a separate borough, county, town, or village clerk. http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/about/archives.shtml

*  New York State Archives and Records Administration (SARA) http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml

                Many original documents, period copies of original documents, State (as opposed to Federal) military records, and other items relating to various aspects of the history of Long Island are to be found in the collections of the State Archives.

*  New York State Library   http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/lochist.htm

                The State Library has a large collection of local histories, at various geographic levels.  Also, posted on this site is a handy link to Dewey Decimal Classification Numbers for various cities, counties, and regions of the state @ http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/lochist.htm

*New York State Museum   http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/exhibits/

                The State museum is particularly known for its exhibits on the material culture of historical New York State, with occasional exhibits including or focusing on an aspect of L.I.'s past.

Rev. & ed., November 2005, by Mark H. Rothenberg, Historian,  Celia M. Hastings Local History Room, The Patchogue-Medford Library &Reference Specialist, Suffolk Cooperative Library System,Central Reference

Revised December  2005

Mark H. Rothenberg, Historian,

Celia M. Hastings Local History Room, The Patchogue-Medford Library
Reference Specialist,Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Central Reference