Featured image: "1980 Scenes from the South Fork of Long Island quilt postcard from Water Mill Museum" Courtesy of Water Mill Museum, accessed 08-24-2026 https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16694coll207/id/882/rec/41
Long island Archives
Transcending Barriers: Opening Archives, Opening Minds
September/October 2026 Volume 33, Number 5
ESLN Program Developers Visit the FDR Presidential Library Archives By Nicole Menchise In 1941, President Roosevelt built the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum just a short walk from his family home, Springwood, in the bucolic Hudson Valley town of Hyde Park. The library housed his extensive Presidential Papers, but Eleanor was allowed to keep all of her personal archives there as well. Eleanor's secretaries kept detailed records of her correspondence, and typed the sender's name and date of the correspondence on catalog cards. Tens of thousands are still located in their original card catalogs and are used frequently by the current librarians and archivists. Our group was privileged to be escorted through the maze of stacks which included all of the books that FDR and Eleanor personally owned. You can learn more about the archives at www.fdrlibrary.org/archives. Here are just a few images of our afternoon. Thanks to our knowledgeable guides and my colleagues Carolyn Bennett Glauda, Southeastern NY Library Resources Council; Caitlin Kenney, Western NY Library Resources Council; Susan D'Entremont, Capital District Library Council; Amy Dickinson, Northern NY Library Network; and Rebecca Kluberdanz Honsinger, Central NY Library Resources Council.
September is National Preparedness Month Check out these programs offered online for free from regional and national organizations! Inclusive Emergency Preparedness - Presented by the New York State Library Date: Friday, September 18 Time: 11:00 AM ET - 12:00 PM ET Register: https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/17033549 Emergency Preparedness Saves Lives. There are many things people can do to prepare for a natural or manmade emergency, There are however, many people who are unable to prepare in manageable and effective ways. Older adults, people with disabilities, people with low literacy skills, people with low income and people who speak English as a second language, are those most likely to perish in a disaster. Join us to be part of the discussion of how libraries can help all members of the community be prepared for an emergency. Stories from the Field: Digital Preservation, Web and Community Archiving - Presented by DHPSNY Date: Friday, September 18 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Register: https://dhpsny.org/events/stories-field-digital-preservation-web-and-community-archiving Join us to hear from members of the Community Webs NY Cohort on how they’ve successfully launched digital initiatives for their organizations. Community Webs is a collaborative program of the Internet Archive that supports libraries, archives, and other cultural heritage organizations in preserving digital collections and web content while building community around digital stewardship. Presenter: Jessica Murray, College of Staten Island; Corey O'Hara and Krystal Valentin, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center; Mary Robison, Yonkers Public Library; Matthew Thorenz, Newburgh Free Library. Representatives from the Internet Archives’ Community Webs team will also be present to answer questions about the program and tools that helped to support these projects. Introduction to dPlan|ArtsRead - Presented by the Northeast Document Conservation Center Date: September 29 Time: 12:30PM to 1:30PM ET Register: https://registration.nedcc.org/register?sgid=ccaf0dcb5bff452796a13751ec6eca9b An overview of the tools and tips and tricks for using dPlan/ArtsReady. Red Flag! Identifying Preservation Needs While Working with Collections - Presented by DHPSNY - In Person! Date and location: Wednesday, October 28 at Old Westbury Gardens Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Instructor: Kate Jacus, Preservation Education Specialist, DHPSNY Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/uanfxpj This hands-on workshop helps participants recognize common preservation issues or “red flags,” in paper, book, and photographic materials. Participants will learn how to identify signs of physical damage, environmental concerns, and handling risks, and how to determine when action is needed. Through guided examples and discussion, the workshop focuses on practical decision-making and understanding when to rehouse materials, improve storage conditions, or seek conservation treatment. By the end of the session, participants will feel more confident identifying issues and setting informed, manageable next steps for collections care. Salvage Priorities: What's Next? - Presented by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts Date: Wednesday, October 28th Time: 12PM to 1PM ET Register: https://ccaha.org/events/salvage-priorities-whats-next Continued on next page So, you’ve determined the parts of your collection that get prioritized in an emergency situation, but how do you communicate these priorities beyond your own institution? With the help of case studies from the field, Preventative Conservator Maddie Cooper presents on the latest thinking on this topic. In particular, she will focus on documenting priorities, working with first responders, the use of “Knox Boxes” for securing keys and institutional records, and the unique challenges a fire emergency brings to your salvage efforts. While Maddie will touch briefly on why to develop salvage priorities and how to establish a “significance assessment” for your collection, a deeper dive on that topic can be found in her previous webinar: Picking Favorites: Strategies for Determining Salvage Priorities. Viewing this recording is not required to fully participate in this webinar. Wet Salvage for Home and Community Collections - Presented by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts Date: Monday, November 2nd Time:12PM to 1PM ET Register: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/RTtBdAzFgZdjR5aMDmvayA In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the 1966 flood of the Arno River in Florence that was a catalyst for professionalizing the conservation field, we’re partnering with the University of Delaware on this webinar as part of a week-long series of programs. Join Associate Photograph Conservator, Ivey Barker, Senior Book Conservator, Eliza Gillian, and Preservation Specialist, Katie Lowe for a how-to on salvaging collections items that are typically found in home and community collections. Through a combination of presentation, video demonstrations, and discussion, we’ll tackle how to salvage objects like books, coated paper (such as magazines and other glossy media), and 20th century photographic materials in the event of a water emergency. Other Programs of Note The Rowing History Project: A Case Study in Digitizing Collections - Presented by CCAHA Date: Thursday, September 24 - Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET Register: https://ccaha.org/events/rowing-history-project-case-study-digitizing-collections As museums dedicated to the history of rowing face closures around the country, members of Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row—which consists of fifteen historic boathouses housing rowing clubs and their racing shells—came together to create a new digital platform which would share the stories of their collections in the absence of a physical museum. CCAHA Digital Archives Specialist, Kaitlyn Pettengill, in conversation with members of the Rowing History Project Hannah Cerino, Christopher Doyle, and Rick Stehlik discusses how these non-traditional collecting institutions successfully worked together on this complex, interoperable project, which was only possible through the use of digital tools. This webinar is presented as part of the official launch of The Rowing History Project’s online platform. An Introduction to NYS Historic Newspapers - Presented by the Northern New York Library Network Date: Wednesday, September 30 - Time: 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM ET Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/cd3xwe1nQMKAGSxDf3FbMQ#/registration The New York State Historic Newspapers project provides free online access to a wide range of newspapers chosen to reflect New York’s unique history, features over 15 million pages, and includes content covering 300 years. It’s a vital tool to support research on genealogy, local history, and more. Join Chuck Henry, manager of the NYS Historic Newspapers project, for an overview of this robust resource. Grant Writing for Collection Preservation - Presented by NEDCC Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 - Time: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM ET Register: https://registration.nedcc.org/register?sgid=f882d0119cb944bfbdfce22246d6c1de Covers the issues that should be considered when preparing local, state, federal, and foundation grant applications.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS of Special Interest
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Robert with Lorraine Gilligan, Executive Director (left) and Vanessa Nastro, Archivist (right).
LATEST FROM THE ACCESSING ARCHIVES PROGRAM By Robert Anen
Hello everyone, I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and looking forward to the fall. A few weeks ago, I wrapped up a project with Old Westbury Gardens (OWG). This was our second time working at OWG since the Accessing Archives Program began in 2022. In 2023, we focused on photographs, correspondence, home movies, and scrapbooks of the Phipps family. This time around we focused on OWG’s institutional records and general history of the Old Westbury area. OWG recently received a donation from the estate of a former trustee which contained original documents and images from significant Old Westbury and Westbury families whose names you may be familiar with. In that donation was a collection of glass plate negatives that contained images that mostly date from 1910 to 1920 and capture Westbury, Old Westbury, Hicks Nurseries, its workers, and the trees planted by the nursery on the estates of wealthy Gold Coast residents. The estates include Edwin Denison Morgan, William Collins Whitney, George Whitney, Robert Bacon, William Payne Thompson, Middleton Schoolbred Burrill, Stanley Mortimer, William Russell Grace, John D. Hicks, and then some. The collection also captures the surrounding areas of Westbury that include East Williston, Jericho, Locust Valley, East Norwich, Roslyn Harbor, Bayport, Glen Cove, and Bayville as well as New York City. Those images can be found here: Westbury Photographs. That same donation also included a collection of images of Old Westbury and Jericho properties being demolished in preparation for the construction of the Long Island Expressway as well as images of other historic properties being moved or demolished in the surrounding areas. Those can be found here: Old Westbury and Jericho Demolition Photographs. The rest of the project with OWG focused on institutional records such as Old Westbury Gardens News. This collection features word-searchable seasonal newsletters published by OWG, beginning with its inaugural issue in the spring of 1977. These archives chronicle the history and evolution of the estate over the decades, capturing major organizational milestones, seasonal programming, public events, staff and volunteer profiles and community gatherings. The newsletters can be found here: Old Westbury Gardens News. Time remained during the project for me to digitize OWG’s collection of audio and video tapes. This has been something that I’ve wanted to do for years since I knew that it contained some real gems. This collection contains oral histories of individuals connected to Old Westbury Gardens that include both staff and members of the Phipps family, long-time residents of Old Westbury, and various symposiums and lectures hosted at Old Westbury Gardens that span from 1970 to 1998. It also contains films that both feature and highlight Old Westbury Gardens in the form of a short film titled "The Seasons of Old Westbury Gardens" that was filmed on the grounds in May of 1966, hours of unused outtake footage of the film that capture much of the grounds through close-up shots and aerial footage as well as advertisement from a newsreel in 1962. All of these films were digitized in 2025 by Historic Films, based in Greenport, New York, through a digitization grant awarded by the Long Island Library Resources Council (LILRC). Finally, the collection also contains videotaped recordings from 1984 to 2000 that feature interviews and television programs of Old Westbury Gardens and Peggie Phipps Boegner as well as school programs and events that took place on the grounds. All of this glorious material can be found here: Old Westbury Gardens Audiovisual Collection. One of the video tapes that I digitized contained more Phipps home movies that can be found here: Phipps Home Movies. Before the project ended, I also had time to upload some of the content that got away from me due to the time constraints of the project. Those collections include a scrapbook and photo album from John S. Phipps’ time as a student at Yale University in the 1890s, Phipps Family Scrapbooks and Photo Albums, as well as a collection of race track photographs and photo finishes mostly captured by prominent thoroughbred racing photographer Bert Morgan between 1943 to 1957. I hope you all enjoy these collections. I am currently working with the Valley Stream Historical Society so stay tuned for a fun newsletter in a couple months.
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The Discovery of David Maltbie: A Successful Spy in the Revolution Friday, September 25, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (zoom) Register: https://lilrc.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2082830&group= Join historian and author Claire Bellerjeau as she shares her exciting new research about David Maltbie, a Patriot spy from Connecticut who gathered intelligence in New York during the Revolutionary War. His journey began very much like the famous spy Nathan Hale, with one important difference; Maltbie survived. Discover how the young spy was captured early in the war by the British on Long Island, then took part in daring whaleboat raids against Loyalist mid-war, only to be arrested again in Manhattan at the end of the war, evading death a second time. Once forgotten, except in the recollections of a young girl, David Maltbie’s daring tale of espionage reminds us that more founding figures are waiting to be uncovered and remembered. Claire Bellerjeau is a historian and the co-author of “Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth”, published in May 2021. In 2022, she co-founded a nonprofit organization called Remember Liss, with the mission of educating the community about an enslaved Black woman named Liss and her extraordinary life and times. Through the nonprofit, she co-wrote and published a student version of Liss’ story, titled Remember Liss, in March 2023. In 2026 she co-authored an article titled “This Connecticut Teenager Spied on the British During the American Revolution, Succeeding Where Nathan Hale Failed” in Smithsonian Magazine, based on her original research.
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The Drafting of a Radical Idea: The Declaration of Independence Free and open to the public When the first shots of the American Revolution were fired in April 1775, independence was still considered a radical idea. So how did a movement for reconciliation become a declaration that changed the world? Join the Three Village Historical Society & Museum for an engaging evening with Dr. Tara Rider of Stony Brook University, as she explores the remarkable journey behind one of history's most influential documents. Together, we'll examine how the events of 1775, the powerful words of Common Sense by Thomas Paine, and the determination of ordinary people transformed the call for liberty into a declaration that would inspire democratic movements around the globe for the next 250 years. When: Monday, September 14 What time: 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:45 PM) Where: Setauket Neighborhood House - 95 Main St, Setauket / East Setauket NY 11733 Whether you're a lifelong history enthusiast or simply curious about the ideas that shaped our nation, this thought-provoking lecture offers a fresh perspective on a document whose influence continues to resonate today. Dr Tara Rider is a senior lecturer at Stony Brook University. Her research builds upon the debates in environmental studies regarding the relationship between nature and society and explores how questions of identity, power and culture are linked with landscape. Her research has included studies of sixteenth century Ireland as well as looking at America’s relationship with whales. Long Island 250 programming at TVHS is generously sponsored by Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Jane & Rob Taylor, and Catherine J Minuse
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MARAC Statement on the Proposed Closures of NARA Regional Archives Centers The Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference stands in solidarity with our colleagues at the Chicago Area Archivists, Midwest Archives Conference, Society of California Archivists, Society of American Archivists, and NAGARA, as well as Densho in voicing our opposition to the proposed closures of National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) regional facilities in Chicago, IL; San Bruno, CA; and Seattle WA. We stand in solidarity with the archival staff, the value of whose years of knowledge and experience of the regional records held in these facilities and their connections with materials in other local archives cannot be overstated. The missing transparency in communications about these moves or the plans to make the largely analog materials accessible to the public is disturbing given the importance of the information preserved in these locations. Local residents, researchers, documentarians, genealogists, students, teachers, and Indigenous and other historically excluded communities depend on the not-yet-digitized documents and other materials held at these archives. The collections held at these regional archives include unique and irreplaceable materials including collections that document Indigenous residential schools; case files and materials related to the immigration, exclusion, naturalization, and wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans; Coast Guard records; and Veteran’s records, just to name a few. These planned closures will move records away from their principal users: local citizens seeking their own naturalization records to prove citizenship status, those who need records of court cases in which they were involved, descendants of Indigenous people who attended government boarding schools, and veterans seeking information about vessels on which they served. By creating barriers to information, both geographic and financial, NARA is acting against its own mission: “We preserve, protect, and share the historical records of the United States to promote public inquiry and strengthen democratic participation.” MARAC urges its members, other cultural heritage professionals, and the general public to take action about this issue. To that end, we recommend the suggested ways our colleagues at the Chicago Area Archivists have listed on their web site here: https://www.chicagoarchivists.org/news/13653697. Deb Schiff, Chair, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference About the Federal Records Centers Reprinted from https://www.archives.gov/frc/about (accessed 8/15/26) Nobody knows Federal records better than NARA's Federal Records Centers Program. Since 1950, we have safeguarded the nation's records, including citizen tax returns, Official Military Personnel Folders, passport applications, and Top Secret military records. Every day, NARA's Federal Records Centers deliver on the agency's mission to provide ready access to essential evidence. Key statistics about the Federal Records Centers: 17 facilities in 9 regions throughout the United States Total holdings of 29 million cubic feet of records 13 million reference requests serviced annually Professional staff of approximately 1,100 Federal employees
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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America at 250: Black Perspectives of the Founding Era Toolkit - PDF download FREE: https://www.bcala.org/america-at-250-black-perspecitves-of-the-founding-era About the America at 250 Toolkit The goal of the America at 250 Black Perspectives of the Founding Era Toolkit is to elevate and amplify the voices, contributions, and agency of Black Americans during the Revolutionary period. This initiative seeks to broaden public understanding of the Founding era through a more inclusive historical lens. One of the primary goals was to create a comprehensive, user-friendly educational Toolkit that supports libraries, educators, and community organizations in facilitating conversations about the Black experience in early America. What You’ll Discover Inside the Toolkit The project intends to promote civic engagement and historical reflection by providing content that is interactive, accessible, and adaptable across a range of communities and settings. A core element of this goal is ensuring that the materials support deeper engagement through community forums, supplemental resources, and inclusive programming ideas. Ultimately, the Toolkit is designed to contribute to the national “America at 250” conversation by showcasing Black historical perspectives as essential to the founding narrative of the United States. Honoring 250 Years of American History Through a New Lens To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the 2025 American Library Association Emerging Leaders Team D, Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), and the Program for Research on Black Americans (PRBA) at the University of Michigan have worked together to create a toolkit that can be used by any library to promote, understand, and commemorate a complex time in the history of the United States. Established in 1970, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), was formed to serve as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the nation’s African American community; and to provide leadership for the recruitment and professional development of African American librarians. The Program for Research on Black Americans (PRBA) at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research was established in 1976 to generate groundbreaking empirical data and scholarship on the lives of African Americans and people of African descent.
Bank of America Art Conservation Project https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/art-conservation-project Bank of America’s Art Conservation Project supports the conservation of culturally significant artworks in nonprofit museums and cultural institutions around the world. Eligible works may include paintings, works on paper, photographs, books and manuscripts, decorative or applied art, and more. Projects must involve objects that are currently on public view or will be following treatment. While there is no minimum or maximum request amount, projects must be completed within one year of receiving funding. Application deadline: September 30, 2026 Wendy Shadwell Conservation Grant https://ahpcs.org/wendy-shadwell-conservation-grant/ The American Historical Print Collectors Society is accepting proposals to the Wendy Shadwell Print Conservation Grant. Eligible material are American prints over 100 years old, and the applicant must be a member institution of AHPCS. A condition report and treatment proposal prepared by a conservator is required as part of the application. Deadline: September 30, 2026 Digitizing Hidden Collections: Amplifying Unheard Voices Grants https://grants.clir.org/digitizing-hidden-collections/ The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) is accepting grant applications for Digitizing Hidden Collections: Amplifying Unheard Voices. This program supports US organizations in digitizing rare and unique materials that document the histories and perspectives of communities that have been insufficiently recognized or attended to, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, disabled, and other historically underrepresented communities. Deadline: October 20, 2026
GRANTS
Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM) Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ - October 6-8, 2026 Register: https://maom.wildapricot.org/event-6740849 Mid-Atlantic Region Archives Conference (MARAC) Fall 2026 Virtual Conference - Archives Adapting to a Changing World Where??? - October 28-30, 2026 Register: https://marac.memberclicks.net/fall-2026-virtual-conference The New York State Digital Equity Network Revisiting NY’s Digital Divide: Solutions for Reaching the Disconnected ETEC Building, Albany, NY - September 29, 2026 Register: https://nysden.org/conference26/#register SAVE THE DATE Long Island Museum Association w/ Long Island Historical Societies December 7 @ LI Children's Museum LILRC 31st Annual Long Island Archives Conference March 15 @ Farmingdale State University
Conferences & Meetings
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Long Island Archives - September/October 2026 Editor: Nicole Menchise, Digitization and Archives Coordinator LILRC - 627 N. Sunrise Service Rd., Bellport, NY 11713, www.lilrc.org.