Featured image: "Wintertime, Main Street, Northport, 1970", courtesy of the Northport-East Northport Public Library. This image can be found in the Northport-East Northport Photograph Collection on the New York Heritage Digital Collections website. Accessed 12-17-25: https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15281coll76/id/2738/rec/3
Long island Archives
Transcending Barriers: Opening Archives, Opening Minds
Darren St. George at SHM - Facebook video post from 8-27-2025 promoting the Friday-Night Barn Dance series.
January/February 2026 Volume 33 Issue 1
Inspiring Words for 2026 from Darren St. George, Executive Director of the Southold Historical Museum This [past] year, the Southold Historical Museum ran a new series of Friday-Night Barn Dances, and I’d like to share why this simple idea has reshaped how we think about programming, audience building, and relevance. The line dancing began in admiration for our 18th-century Reichert Family Barn. While preparing for a different community event, an organizer named Dave explained this would be a beautiful space for line dancing. Before long, our barn was filled with people who, in many cases, had never visited our campus before. Long-time residents danced beside newcomers. Families joined in. Retirees, teens, and visitors from across the island showed up to see what all the excitement was about. It wasn’t just an event; it was an introduction. An entry point. A bridge. This is the lesson I try to remember; if we don’t show people why local history enriches their everyday lives, we shouldn’t expect them to understand its value. If we want visitors to engage with our mission, we need to reveal how our work connects with their experiences today. Our line-dancing series illustrated this in real time. Over 300 people visited our campus because it felt fun, local, communal. Once they arrived, they learned about the barn’s history, the families who built our town, and the Museum’s mission. They asked questions. They browsed exhibits. They brought friends. They discovered that our Museum isn’t frozen in the past; it’s part of the living history of Southold. We need to remove barriers to entry. Open our doors. And make spaces for people who may not identify as “museum people” but still seek connection, place, and meaning in their lives. For us, the line dancing wasn’t a gimmick; it was a gateway. A way to invite new faces into the story we tell. I’m sure many of you have discovered the same truth: relevance grows when we celebrate culture as a living, breathing part of our communities. So the idea I’d like to leave you with is simple: if we want diversified audiences, let’s diversify our invitations. Let’s give people an honest, joyful reason to walk through our doors, and I guarantee they’ll discover twenty more reasons to stay.
February is Black History Month Celebrate the richness of the African American experience through these digital collections! Click on the image or title to link to the following: Nyack Record Shop Project: a 2018 collaboration between the Historical Society of the Nyacks and the Edward Hopper House to gather the stories of Nyack's African-American residents. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection: photographs, letters, documents, and a recording of the speech he gave at the Keuka College Baccalaureate Ceremony in 1963. African American Community of Broome County: photographs of everyday places, events and gatherings of families and friends, as well as notable events like protests arranged by the local Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). To Find more collections, go to the homepage at NYHERITAGE.org and search for "Black History" under Browse All Topics. You can find the direct link here: https://nyheritage.org/taxonomy/term/13198
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The 30th Annual Long Island Archives Conference Monday, March 16, 2026 at Farmingdale State College, SUNY EMBRACING CHANGE Meet our presenters... What does it mean to embrace change? Do we actively embrace it? Is it scary, met with resistance, or flat-out rejected by ourselves, our colleagues or the organizations we work for? Perhaps it is an overload of change; too much too fast, that has us concerned. Perhaps you are ready for change and eager to see what’s ahead. Join us at the 30th Annual Long Island Archives Conference where we will hear from the following speakers: Marie Penny, Archivist, Planting Fields Foundation Robert Anen, Project Archivist, Long Island Library Resources Council Amy Folk, Manager of Collections, Oysterponds Historical Society & Southold Historical Museum, Town of Southold Historian Dee Bowers, Archives Manager, Center for Brooklyn History Natiba Guy-Clement, Director of Special Collections, Center for Brooklyn History We hope to see you there. One ticket price for all - open to non-members! Students receive special pricing with proof of current enrollment. 3.5 CEUs will be offered. Register at LILRC.org/events or go directly to: https://lilrc.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2009677&group=
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Happy New Year everyone, I hope everyone has had a great holiday season. Welcome to 2026. I have a feeling we are in store for another year of great projects for LILRC and the Accessing Archives Program. In my last newsletter, I wrote that I was rounding out 2025 by working with the Seaford Public Library. For the library, I digitized twenty-three photo albums, three slide shows, an audio cassette tape, and a booklet that celebrates the history of Seaford, New York. The albums, slide shows and booklet can be found in the Seaford Public Library Photo Albums and the tape can be found here. The photo albums span from 1956 to 2010 with the exception of 1970 to 1981. Some albums also contain (word searchable) newspaper clippings related to events and the staff of the library. I also had time to upload forty-four previously digitized Seaford High School yearbooks that date from 1958 to 2001 which can be found here. I am pictured above with Jillian Pelliccia, Teen Librarian of the Seaford Public Library, on one of the last days of the project with the newly rehoused albums and slides. During the holiday break, I uploaded a film collection to New York Heritage for the Shelter Island History Museum (SIHM). I first worked on this film collection in 2021 while I was working for NYU’s Regional Media Legacies Project. The photo below was taken in May 2021 when I returned the films to the museum. I'm there with former SIHM Archivist Rachel C. Lucas-Beruan and current Executive Director Nanette Lawrenson (left to right). I’m so pleased that these films get to see the light of day now. The films capture Shelter Island, Montauk, and Greenport from 1925 to 1952. They can be found here. As for the new year, the Accessing Archives Program is fully booked and ready to go. When this newsletter hits your inbox, I’ll be working on a large film collection at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum that recently arrived at the museum. I’ll have more on this in the next newsletter and look forward to sharing any and all archival discoveries with you along the way.
LATEST FROM THE ACCESSING ARCHIVES PROGRAM By Robert Anen
Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation - 250th Commemoration Grant for 2026 The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has designated $250,000.00 toward funding for educational events commemorating the Semiquincentennial. This offering is open to Nassau and Suffolk County 501 (c) (3) historical societies. The maximum award of $5,000.00 is limited to one per organization. An application for less than the $5,000.00 is welcome. This award is restricted to one per site. Organizations applying for multiple awards will not be reviewed. Early submissions for consideration are suggested as there is a cap on the funding to be distributed. Applications open January 1, 2026 and will be available until the funding has been depleted. Notice of acceptance or denial will be sent upon review. The Robert David Lion Gardiner is to be acknowledged by physical signage and media outreach (news, social media, etc.) as funders for the event. Application process: A hard copy letter sent to: Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation - Attention: RDLGF 250th 30 West Main Street, Suite 309, Riverhead, New York 11901 Page One: A brief cover letter from the historical society which includes: The Mission Statement, a brief history of the organization and the yearly institutional budget. Page Two: A brief narrative Event description Historic educational focus Timeline and deliverables for the project Marketing strategy for promotion Budget to include contracted vender fees, if applicable (written estimates to be submitted with budget) Upon approval of the funding request, a date will be assigned for a Final Report. The Final Report requires a letter from the awardee with an accounting, including documentation of expenses (cancelled checks) and outcome (attendance, media coverage). The Final Report is to be set to: Terry Tirado, Executive Assistant Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation - Attention: RDLGF 250th 30 West Main Street, Suite 309, Riverhead, New York 11901 Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Grant Workshop January 15, 9:00 A.M. (In person at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium) Register: Mandatory RSVP to gardiner@rdlgfoundation.org The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is offering a comprehensive grant workshop at the Vanderbilt Museum. The workshop is to inform the Long Island and metropolitan area historic 501 (c) (3) organizations on funding support that is currently available.
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America at 250! The celebration of our nation's 250th birthday is being covered by national, state and local resources. Here are some websites that will keep you in the latest news of exhibits, lectures, reenactments and house tours all celebrating this milestone, or special announcements. As new information comes in, this newsletter will post it!
The Long Ago Literary Corner Recently released and upcoming books about Long Island history
Start the New Year With Some Recent Publications on Long Island History Descriptions taken from the publisher in quotations. 21st Century Long Island: A History of the First 25 Years by Richard Panchyk "So often, we get caught up in the idea of history being measured in centuries when so much has already happened in this century. 21st Century Long Island will appeal to any Long Islander who wants to know more about events and milestones they lived through in the last twenty-five years. The book offers a fresh take on local history, looking at some of the big moments, places, and people of Long Island since the year 2000. Featuring some of the changes that have come to Nassau and Suffolk Counties in the last quarter century, each chapter puts events into historical context, with stories and photos that look back at how our lives have been shaped and defined by recent history." Remembering the Long Island Arena: A Hockey Story and More by Joseph Rossi "There is a certain group of people of a certain age where memories hold strong of a legendary arena. The Long Island Arena’s official address was 88 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, New York. It is a place where the stories seem so unreal it is hard to believe they are true. Many events were held there. The best-known tenant to the arena was the Long Island Ducks, a member of the Eastern Hockey League during the NHL’s original six era. The Long Island Ducks’ owner Al Baron once said of the Arena, 'It’s the only place where the hockey players stop to watch the fights in the stands.'" Historic Schoolhouses of Long Island by Zachary Studenroth and Kurt Kahofer "Celebrated for their simple form and association with early American values, no other historic building type evokes such strong emotions as the schoolhouse. Hundreds were built across Long Island and many survive, either adapted to new uses or restored and open for public access. From the simplest, pre–Revolutionary War period “Town House” in East Hampton to the trendy, octagonal schoolhouses constructed in Brentwood and Yaphank in the 1850s, Long Island saw the greatest variety of these distinctive structures built anywhere. Responding to an 1812 New York State law requiring towns to lay out school districts within walking distance of its younger residents, many early population centers received schoolhouses by the 1820s. Even a handful of Long Island’s schoolhouses are associated with the great American poet Walt Whitman, who taught school as a young man in the 1830s and later shared his concerns about the teaching methods then in vogue. But by the end of the 1800s, one-room schoolhouses became outdated and no longer accommodated the growing population. Many were saved, however, and repurposed as sheds, workshops, and even seasonal dwellings." These titles are available now through either Arcadia Publishing (The History Press), Amazon Books, or ask for it wherever you purchase your books on local history.
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Welcome to the LILRC's GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE page. Sharing online portals and forums for government agency and publication information; whether the resource is local, state-wide or national. These government resources are worth checking out!
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Want to join? Go to LILRC.org/government-information-committee
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National Weather service - An agency under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration https://www.weather.gov/ NWS Mission: Provide weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy. NWS Vision: A Weather-Ready Nation: Society is prepared for and responds to weather, water, and climate-dependent events. What you can find on this website is truly amazing. There are national forecast charts, maps and information detailing everything from wind speeds, sky cover, surface analysis, and of course temperature and precipitation. This information is of particular interest to our region being that we live on the largest island in the contiguous United States, but you can get lost in the multitudes of data that are compiled, sorted, and displayed in colorful maps and charts. This website doesn't just inform the viewer of current conditions across the globe, but offers climate prediction (long range forecasts across the U.S.) and climate variability (topics important to climate assessment and prediction). There are links to other regional, national and international climate resources like the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Probably something we should all take some time to look at is the tab devoted to "Weather Safety for All Hazards." All manner of weather threats are explored through forecast information, safety information and materials for use: comprehensive resources that "provide easy-to-understand infographics, educational materials, and social media content to help the public better prepare for and understand the impacts of extreme [weather]. Resources are available in multiple languages, ensuring that vital information is accessible to a range of communities, promoting safer environments for all." If you aren't a weather enthusiast, this website just might turn you into one.
Upcoming Programs of Special Interest
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Occupied Long Island: Voices from the American Revolution January 15, 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. (Zoom) Register: https://lilrc.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2000607&group= A panel discussion about Long Island during the Revolutionary War, including life under British occupation (1776 -1783) and the Culper Spy Ring organized by George Washington. This program is presented pursuant to a grant from PBS WETA. Panel includes: Chris Kretz, producer and host of The Long Island History Project podcast; Claire Bellerjeau, author of Remember Liss and of Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution; Dr. Joanne Grasso, NYIT Adjunct Associate Professor of History and Political Science; and Natalie Naylor, former director of Hofstra University's Long Island Studies Institute and past president of the Nassau County Historical Society. Preservation Interest Group: Working with Volunteers January 20, 9:30 - 11:00 A.M. (Zoom) Register: https://cdlc.libcal.com/event/15666928 Capital District Library Council Preservation Interest Group is hosting a presentation and discussion on practical strategies for training and supervising volunteers to ensure safe handling of material and long-term preservation goals with presenter Marietta Carr, Librarian & Archivist at the Schenectady County Historical Society. This will be an informal presentation with time for questions and discussion. Succession Planning for Cultural Institutions: What’s Next? January 28, 12:00 - 1:00 P.M. (Zoom) Register: https://ccaha.org/events/succession-planning-cultural-institutions-whats-next In this webinar, we’ll both look back and think about the future of our Collections Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative, a joint effort by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts and Lyrasis, in which we developed tools and resources now gathered in our legacy binder to support better succession planning for collections care and management roles at cultural institutions. A Review of CONTENTdm Fundamentals for NYHDC Contributors January 29, 1:00 - 2:15 P.M. (Zoom) Register: https://lilrc.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2025679&group= A demonstration of how to create a new collection, add items and make updates or corrections to metadata using CONTENTdm Project Client and CONTENTdm Administration. If you haven't worked in the Project Client in a while, need to make changes to existing metadata, or are curious about how LILRC uses CONTENTdm to upload images to the New York Heritage Digital Collections website, this program will provide guidance for these fundamental tasks. Managing Expectations: Space Planning and Programming for Archives, Libraries and Museums February 11, 11:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. (Zoom) Register: https://lilrc.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2014372&group= This talk will address challenges in new construction and major renovations for archives, libraries, and museums. It will cover collaborating with architects and engineers, specifying collection storage needs such as object housing, storage furniture, and space arrangement, and will highlight the importance of clear communication. Tim White retired from the Yale Peabody Museum in 2023 after serving 20 years as Director of Collections & Research. As a Collections Consultant, he advises libraries, historical societies, and museums on capital improvements and planning collection moves.
NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grants Announced: $236,963 Awarded Across NYS The Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are awarding $236,963 in conservation treatment grants to 35 organizations in 25 New York State counties. Conservation Treatment Grants fund professional conservation to stabilize and preserve objects and works of art in New York museums, history centers, and cultural organizations. Generous support has also been provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for conservation treatment projects in Nassau & Suffolk counties and New York City; and the Coby Foundation for textile conservation treatment projects. NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “These compelling projects offer us a window into our rich creative heritage. NYSCA is proud that this funding is more accessible to organizations that reflect the diverse cultural traditions of New York State and we congratulate all the grantees on this vital work. Thank you for your dedication to preserving and celebrating New York’s art and culture.” Congratulations to the 2025 Conservation Treatment Grant Recipients (Long Island): Lindenhurst Historical Society $7,500.00 for the conservation of two cloth and ceramic dolls: “Miss Calico”, a French doll c. 1900 and “Miss Little Red Cape”, a German doll c.1905. Conservator: A.M. Art Conservation, LLC Oysterponds Historical Society $7,500.00 for the conservation of the textile “Orient Wide Awakes Banner” from the Civil War era. Conservator: Textile Conservation Workshop The Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages $7,500.00 for the conservation of the textile, leather, bone, bead, and feather Setalcott indigenous regalia (headdress, breastplate, necklace, shirt, pants, fan, and choker), c. mid-20th century. Conservator: A.M. Art Conservation, LLC The Whaling Museum and Education Center $7,500.00 for the conservation of a cotton day dress, circa 1840, attributed to the Gardiner Family of Long Island. Conservator: Textile Conservation Workshop Read the full press release and see the full list of recipients HERE.
Long Island Archives - January/February 2026 Editor: Nicole Menchise, Digitization and Archives Coordinator LILRC - 627 N. Sunrise Service Rd., Bellport, NY 11713, www.lilrc.org.