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Preserving the Past for the Future

DLHS is telling the stories of Long Islanders

Long Island University, “Digitizing Local History Sources”

A generous five-year grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is enabling the Palmer School of Library and Information Science at Long Island University to digitize local history materials in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The $1.5 million grant provides fellowships for master’s and doctoral students to assist with the project.

We are pleased to provide public access to materials we have digitized to date:

  • 43 historical organizations
  • 60,000 images
  • 3,700 gigabytes of data

We will continue to add new historical materials, highlight particular collections, and enhance the search functionality of the site.  Please visit often to explore primary sources documenting the people of Long Island!

For additional information, please contact the Project Director, Dr. Gregory S. Hunter, at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science:  greg.hunter@liu.edu.

Participating Historical Societies

Cherry Grove Archives Collection

The Cherry Grove Archives Collection is dedicated to the preservation of the social, political and cultural history of the LGBTQ(S) community of Cherry Grove, Fire Island, NY. The CGAC collects scans and shares this history through the protection and storage of its historic artifacts, including documents, photographs and film. Our purpose is to promote global appreciation of the rich and creative history of Cherry Grove as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community and their allies. http://cherrygrovearchivescollection.com/

3/21/20, 9:41 PM

Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association

The Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association is a unique combination of local living, lore and history and is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Lake Ronkonkoma and beyond. Our mission shall be achieved through the thoughtful communication, interpretation and enhancement to all who feel the desire to add to the heritage of Lake Ronkonkoma to their life. We shall enhance the interest of the residents through active demonstration of the past, develop the necessity of the information for daily life, and offer the community celebration while establishing a lasting explanation of our heritage. http://www.thelakeheritage.org/Home.html

7/10/20, 12:42 AM

Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association

The Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association was formed in 1983 and is dedicated to the preservation of the history of these two towns. The association has an extensive collection of archival photographs, vintage clothing, artifacts and books. Through the years, the group has been particularly active in the restoration of Meadow Croft, a John Ellis Roosevelt summer home and now a historical museum on the border of Bayport and Sayville. The association provides lectures and resources- educational, historical, environmental and social programs and services for the community and interested public.

9/30/21, 3:25 PM

Oyster Bay Historical Society

The Oyster Bay Historical Society held its first meeting on March 17, 1960, in the Oyster Bay Public Library. Founding trustee Dr. Howard Imhof served as chair for the session, during which Mrs. Miner Carolyn Hill was elected president. Mrs. Hill, on her election, indicated that, “while there are other historical societies, notably Sagamore Hill and Raynham Hall already established in Oyster Bay, we believe that a society devoted to the collection and preservation of material and lore pertaining to Oyster Bay itself, will perform a greatly needed function.” https://www.oysterbayhistorical.org/

8/2/18, 6:12 PM

Ocean Beach Historical Society

OBHS preserves Ocean Beach’s history through the Sea Scrolls, archives, programs and public events. The OBHS Archive volunteers research, collect, preserve, and make available to the public information, artifacts, art and memorabilia related to the history of Ocean Beach. https://obhistory.org/

9/24/19, 2:25 PM

Long Beach Historical and Preservation Society

The Long Beach Historical and Preservation Society was founded in 1980 with a mission to educate the public about Long Beach and to preserve and enhance the city’s architectural and historical heritage. In pursuit of its mission, the Society serves as the guardian of thousands of pieces of Long Beach history for which it maintains an archive and repository. The archived documents, pictures, artifacts and memorabilia are made available to the public through themed exhibitions, as well as for research purposes. http://longbeachhistoricalsociety.org/

9/24/19, 2:24 PM

Westhampton Beach Historical Society

The Westhampton Beach Historical Society serves the communities of Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Westhampton Dunes, Quiogue, Remsenburg, Speonk, and Eastport. Our mission is to preserve and promote the history of these communities and to serve as a community resource for historical information. https://www.whbhistorical.org/

6/15/19, 6:04 PM

Bohemia Historical Society

The Bohemia Historical Society is a non-profit organization, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents dedicated to preserving the rich heritage found in Bohemia. The Society pursues this goal through its educational programs, involvement in community activities, the BHS Newsletter and tours of the museum, located at 1519 Locust Avenue, Bohemia. http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/index.html

4/27/19, 6:04 PM

Friends of Cedarmere

THE FRIENDS OF CEDARMERE, Inc. Dedicated to preserving the legacy of William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) and his beloved estate, Cedarmere. We are a volunteer, non-profit organization which aims to promote, encourage and actively assist in the preservation, restoration and maintenance of CEDARMERE's historic gardens, the main house, and outbuildings. The estate is on the National Register of Historic Places and the New York State Underground Heritage Trail. https://www.friendsofcedarmere.org/index.html

6/15/19, 5:50 PM

Memorial Cemetery of St. John’s Church

Memorial Cemetery was founded by John Divine Jones in 1862. This cemetery replaced the original cemetery located above the church. In the early 1900s, William and Henry DeForest purchased 10 acres for their own cemetery on the west end. The DeForest family then sold 7 acres back to the church and retained 3 acres for their personal use. The DeForest family had brought in the Olmsted Brothers landscape firm who had designed their estates in Oyster Bay Cove and Lloyd Harbor then retained the firm to design their 3 acre plot. The Memorial Cemetery then retained the Olmsted Brother’s firm to design the other 7 acres of this parcel. The Olmsted Brother’s firm continued to work on designing new section of the cemetery up until the 1950s. These new layouts were much smaller and less park like when compared to the original designs from 1918. Some of the more prominent plot owners did contract separately with the Olmsted Brothers to design their plots. https://www.stjcsh.org/the-memorial-cemetery-of-st-johns-church/

6/15/19, 5:59 PM

Museum of the Village of Rockville Centre

The Phillips House Museum is located in a restored Victorian-era home at 28 Hempstead Avenue. Considered one of the finest small museums in New York State, the Phillips House is furnished in period furniture and is dedicated to depicting life in Rockville Centre during the 19th and 20th centuries. http://www.rvcny.us/PhillipsHouse.html

1/18/18, 3:34 PM

Historic St. George’s Episcopal Church (Hempstead)

Our Parish is among Long Island’s earliest Episcopal (originally Anglican) congregations. We consider our founding date 1702, when England’s Society for the Propagation of the Gospel responded to Hempstead inhabitants who were seeking the services of the established Church of England by designating Hempstead a mission site for an Anglican parish. Reverend William Vesey and Reverend George Keith preached at St. George’s whenever possible until the first permanent rector, Reverend John Thomas, arrived in 1704. Since then, the succession of St. George’s has been unbroken. Reverend Thomas was responsible for the beginning of public education in Hempstead because he convinced the Hempstead citizens to create and maintain a fund for hiring a regular schoolteacher. In 1706, Queen Anne of England provided the new congregation with a silver plate and a Book of Common Prayer. In 1734 the rector and congregation members were granted a charter of incorporation by the Province of New York, transferring what had been the property of the town to this corporation “absolutely and forever.” In 1735, King George II granted a Royal Charter to the parish. The bylaws of the Royal Charter govern the congregation’s corporate life to this day. The 1648 meeting house was replaced in 1683, and again in 1735, at which time St. George’s famous rooster-shaped weather vane was mounted on its steeple. Fire destroyed the 1735 building in 1820, but the weather vane survived, and was affixed to the present church building, completed in 1822. The interior columns that still support the lofty sanctuary ceiling were hewn from oak trees dragged across the Hempstead Plains by teams of horses. The 1822 structure was extended in 1856 and remodeled in 1893 and 1906. Several of its many stained-glass windows were designed by Tiffany & Co. In 1854 the tower clock was purchased from Sherry and Brypan of Sag Harbor (four years before London installed Big Ben on the Palace of Westminster). St. George’s is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with its rectory, which has stood since 1793. During the American Revolution, Hempstead inhabitants remained loyal to King George III. St. George’s became a headquarters as well as a place to worship for British soldiers, who occupied Hempstead for most of the Revolutionary War. Local folklore has it that the rooster weather vane was used for target practice by Hessian mercenaries, leaving it with sixteen bullet marks. Our historic church represents stability, continuity, and insights conferred by our rich past. May we together share the blessings of life and love that God continues to reveal among us.

11/20/21, 2:42 PM

Garden City Historical Society

Founded in 1975, The Garden City Historical Society is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, chartered by the New York State Education Department. It is dedicated to preserving the historic character and ambiance of the Village of Garden City, and educating its members and the public in preservation and history related matters. The Society owns and operates The Garden City Historical Society Museum, an original 1872 A.T. Stewart-era Victorian structure. https://www.facebook.com/gardencityhistoricalsociety

6/15/19, 5:51 PM

Friends of Connetquot

The Friends of Connetquot is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, conservation and history of the 3,473-acre Connetquot River State Park Preserve. We work to help management protect a pristine environment and historic buildings and artifacts. We also support educational programs, fishing facilities and hiking and equestrian trails. https://www.friendsofconnetquot.org/

6/15/19, 5:51 PM

Madoo Conservancy

The Madoo Conservancy is dedicated to the study, preservation, and enhancement of Madoo, the ever-changing, horticulturally diverse garden with historic structures established in 1967 by artist, gardener, and writer Robert Dash in the village of Sagaponack, New York. At Madoo, a unique living tribute to the artistic imagination of its founder, we seek to continually engage, educate, and inspire our visitors within this ever-changing, entirely organic environment. https://www.madoo.org/

9/24/19, 2:24 PM

Nassau County Historical Society

The Nassau County Historical Society seeks to enlarge public understanding of the history of Nassau County and to encourage the study of its history and of Long Island generally. It regularly sponsors historical programs presenting speakers who are authorities on various aspects of Long Island life and history, it publishes a journal containing articles of historical interest, and it tries to increase awareness of the county's historical sites. It has collected artifacts, documents, books, and other writings related to the county's history. Originally organized in 1915, the Society was incorporated in 1920 and received a permanent charter from the State Education Department in 1958. https://www.nassaucountyhistoricalsociety.org/index.html

8/29/18, 10:11 PM

Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

The mission of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society is to engage people of all ages in programs that highlight the lifestyles of the people and families that lived and worked on the peninsula throughout the years. Central to this mission is the preservation of the Sands Willets House (circa 1735) and the Thomas Dodge Homestead (circa 1721), which the Society operates as house-museums, serving as resources for the community. https://www.cowneck.org/

9/24/19, 2:23 PM

Davis Town Meeting House Society

The Davis Town Meeting House Society, Inc. was formed exclusively for the charitable purpose of restoring and championing the conservancy efforts for the historic Lester H. Davis House by working directly with the Town of Brookhaven Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the Town Historian on the historical design (circa 1850's), and fundraising for the restoration and conservancy of this wonderful bastion of antiquity that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Brookhaven Town Landmark. By doing so, the Corporation will lessen the financial burden on the Town as well as bring benefit to the residents of not only the Town of Brookhaven, but also Suffolk County and New York State. http://davistownmeetinghouse.org/index.html

11/26/19, 3:15 PM

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