Monday, August 31, 2009

Huntington's Collective Memory


In recognition of American Archives Month in October, Huntington Public Library welcomes the community to join us in two projects that celebrate our town’s past and present, and document it for future generations.

Oral Histories of Life in Huntington
Do you or members of your family have stories to share about life in Huntington that encapsulate a period of time or a way of life here? If so, the library would like to preserve them as part of the collective memory of our town. The newly-formed Local History Round table met for the first time in May 2009. With much interest and enthusiasm, they agreed to pursue recording oral histories of Huntington residents.


Documenting Contemporary Huntington: Got A Favorite Spot?
Huntington Public Library is making a digital archive of images,video, and word that represents Huntington today.As community members, you are invited to use your creativity and a method of your own choice to document something you value in present day Huntington.Capture it in a photo, a painting, a drawing, a video,an essay, a recording of your thoughts, etc.Include a brief commentary of your work.We will create the archive and make it available to the public on the Internet.


For further information or questions, please contact Lori King or Teresa Schwind at (631) 427-5165 or email history@thehuntingtonlibrary.org.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

City Directories at Patchogue-Medford Library

We are happy to announce that the Patchogue-Medford Library has expanded their collection of city directories. They are wonderful research tools for genealogists. Although they are similar to telephone directories in providing the viewer with surnames and addresses, they often provide more information. They list names and addresses of hospitals, asylums, cemeteries, churches, newspapers and schools. Females who are widowed are listed with a (W). They show whether a person owns or rents their home. City directories also list a person's occupation, expanding the social history of a family.

The collection includes:
  • Brooklyn, from 1822 through 1913, and 1933-34
  • Manhattan, from 1665-1934
  • Queens, from 1902-1912, and 1933-34

The format is either microfilm or microfiche, and are available for use in their Periodicals Room whenever the library is open. All are welcome. Visit their website: http://www.pmlib.org/ or call the Reference Desk with any questions: 631) 654-4700.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Where Family Memories Live On


arcalife.com website is designed to help you search for ancestors, record family history share and preserve this record for your family and future generations. It is a user friendly environment for social networking, scrapbooking, and organization. The site is free of charge, but you must register and become a member to search and create. Visit arcalife.com and begin your family tree today.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

MANNAHATTA

(photo: Markley Boyer/Mannahatta Project, Wildlife Conservation Society)

Ever wondered what New York like before it was a city? Welcome to Mannahatta, 1609: http://www.themannahattaproject.org/

The Wildlife Conservation Society embarked on a decade of research to uncover the original ecology of Manhattan and constructed an interactive website Stated on the site: "the center of one of the world’s largest and most built-up cities was once a natural landscape of hills, valleys, forests, fields, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, beaches, springs, ponds and streams, supporting a rich and abundant community of wildlife and sustaining people for perhaps 5000 years before Europeans arrived on the scene in 1609."
Visit the site and you can explore Mannahatta through a virtual map, and learn what natural resources and wildlife existed on the island, block by block. Included in the site are wonderful resources for educators, students and researchers.