Long Island History... Just a Click Away!
In accordance with the mission, purpose, and goals set forth by the LILRC Regional Digitization Program, “Long Island Memories” was initiated in 2002. In June 2015, “Long Island Memories” joined the Empire State Library Network as part of a digitization cooperative program. The materials from participating libraries and cultural heritage institutions were added to the New York Heritage website. Newspapers can now be found at New York Historic Newspapers. Through this collaboration, we share the history of the people, places and events that make Long Island exceptional. For further information about participating, please contact the LILRC Regional Digitization Project Liaison, Nicole Menchise, at (631) 675-1570 x204 or email nmenchise@lilrc.org.
For bettering your archival holdings! November 30th - How to Manage a Successful Volunteer/Docent program December 14th - How to Develop a Digital Project Coming in 2018: New York Heritage: What You Need to Know to Join the LILRC Digital Project (parts I & II) Archives on a Shoestring III Sound Advice: Affordable, Responsible Practices for Producing and Managing Audio ...and so much more!
November/December 2017 Volume 24 Issue 5
Tis' the Season...
Long Island Archives
Thanks to our sponsors!
Long Island Archives - November/December 2017 - p. 2
22nd Annual Archives Month Conference at the Mill Neck Manor House This year's Archives Month Conference, 1917: Long Island in Transition, was a great success. As one of the most attended conferences, there were faces from all across the Island. After breakfast in the dining room, the program began with Antonia Mattheou, Local History Committee Chair, welcoming everyone to the Mill Neck Manor House. The first presenter was Antonia Petrash who spoke passionately about women suffragists in New York. She was followed by Cyril Smith, whose thorough research on the creation and operation of the WWI training facility Camp Mills in Garden City, was evidenced by his exhibition-style boards placed in the main hall. During the afternoon break, recently retired LILRC Regional Archivist, Virginia Antonucci-Gibbons, was honored by the Local History Committee and Huntington Town Clerk, the Honorable Jo-Ann Raia. The last program came from the National Archives Public Programs Director, Dorothy Dougherty. Her remarks on early Twentieth Century immigration policies were fascinating in light of the current political climate. The day's events wrapped up with a self-guided tour through the manor assisted by docent Luci Murphy. Per the evaluation forms left behind, this year's Archives Month Conference was "one of the best ever."
Thoughts on research from Henry Osmers, author of A Legacy of Valor: A History of Lifesaving and Shipwrecks at Montauk
Long Island Archives - November/December 2017 - p. 3
I think when someone plans to purchase a book they want to know that the subject of that book will be presented in an entertaining and informative manner. Doing research is something I enjoy. People have asked me how I do it and how I feel about doing it. I tell them that the joy isn't always finding what you're seeking, but in the hunt itself. Many times the research opens doors to other sources you hadn't thought of before. Sometimes a photo is discovered of someone or something I didn’t know existed. And, during the course of research (particularly on the internet), it frequently happens that from the source I am using to find the material I want, other sources appear that reveal additional information that proves useful. Having previously written four books about the Montauk Lighthouse and other aspects of Montauk history, the subjects of lifesaving and shipwrecks would frequently surface. Given the geography of Montauk and its location, the two subjects seemed fitting. The lives of the lifesavers and the performance of their duties in rescuing people from stranded and shipwrecked vessels proved to be very exciting. Sources for all of my books about Montauk and the Lighthouse include the National Archives, the Internet (Thank God for the internet!), several library local history collections, and personal accounts, which were far and away the most interesting. I also went to the East Hampton Library to research microfilm of the East Hampton Star newspaper. The Long Island Collection at the library provided letters and documents relevant to the Lifesaving Service. Some photos were obtained from that library, the Montauk Library, and from the archives of the Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum. Going on location in Montauk to the historical sites that I write about is also thrilling; to get a sense of the past with the present.
Save the date for these upcoming meetings and conferences: New England Archivists Spring Meeting, March 22-24, New Haven, CT Council of State Archivists, National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators & Society of American Archivists Joint Annual Meeting, August 12-18, Washington D.C. Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference Spring, April 12-14 – Hershey, PA Fall, October 11-13 – Wilmington, DE American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting & Museum Expo, May 6-9, Phoenix, AZ
The Long Ago Literary Corner Recently released and upcoming books about Long Island history
SAA Council Approves Statements, Section Name Changes, and More The SAA Council accomplished the following on the October 6, 2017, conference call: Approved a Statement on the Value and Importance of the U.S. Census, in which “SAA notes with concern two factors that may compromise the capacity of the U.S. Census Bureau to perform its long-standing and critically important work of documenting the nation’s population: current vacancies in the positions of Bureau Director and Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer, which create a leadership vacuum, and the Trump Administration’s proposal to make significant cuts in non-defense-related federal funding.” Approved a Statement on the Value and Importance of Transparency in Government (forthcoming), which states clearly and simply a concept that is embedded throughout SAA’s Public Policy Agenda. Approved the following section name changes, as put forward by the respective sections: the Architectural Records Section will now be the Design Records Section; the Lesbian and Gay Archives Section will now be the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Section; and the Recorded Sound Section will now be the Audio and Moving Image Section. Approved the standing rules for SAA’s newest section, the Independent Archivists Section. Meeting minutes for the Council conference call will be made available on the SAA website as soon as possible, pending Council review and adoption. Reprinted from the press release issued by the Society of American Archivists and accessed on 11/2/17 https://www2.archivists.org/news
Thank you to the library & archive professionals who volunteer their time as committee members!
Conservation & Preservation Regina Feeney, Chair Carol Clarke Kelly Filippone Claudia McGivney Vanessa Nastro F. Jason Torre
Local History Antonia Mattheou, Chair Melanie Cardone-Leathers Mamie Eng Lauren Heller Gregory Hunter Kristen Nyitray
Sharon Pullen David Ranzan
Long Island Archives - November/December 2017 Editor: Nicole Menchise, Regional Archivist, Long Island Library Resources Council 627 N. Sunrise Service Rd., Bellport, NY 11713-1540, Email: nmenchise@lilrc.org, Phone: 631-675-1570 x 204
If you are interested in joining these or one of the other LILRC Committees, please take a look online at www.lilrc.org/about/committees/ for more information and call 631-675-1570 x208 or email Erin Hunter at ehunter@lilrc.org for an application.