Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Digital Sanborn Maps


Just a reminder that Huntington Public Library is proud to announce the acquisition of Digital Sanborn Maps for use within the library. Over 100 years ago, the maps were created for assessing fire insurance liability in urbanized areas across the United States. Today they are a valuable source of historical information. The maps include street names, building numbers with physical descriptions, street widths and more. Their research potential is endless and for genealogists and local historians they can be used to locate ancestor's homes and neighborhoods.
HPL's collection includes many urban areas throughout New York State including maps of Huntington in the following years: 1886, 1892, 1897, 1902, 1908, 1914, 1922 and 1930. The map above displays a section of Main St., Wall St. and New York Ave in 1902.
Come visit the library and browse this wonderful new resource. It can be accessed within the library through our homepage, click on Our Databases and scroll down to the link for Sanborn Maps. If you would like instruction on how to use the digital collection, stop by the Mary Talmage Local History Room during the designated hours (listed above), call (631-427-5165 x261 or 251) or email history@thehuntingtonlibrary.org to make an appointment.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Genealogy TopicGuide

SuffolkWeb offers you online research assistance, great websites, and useful resources compiled by Suffolk County librarians. They've compiled a an in-depth site for genealogy research. It's a great place to begin searching your family roots.

Some of the topics covered are, Getting Started, Vital Records, Immigration/Naturalization, and New York Genealogy Resources. The Guide list great websites, books, agencies and more.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Huntington's Entrepreneurs Exhibit

"The Business of Doing Business in Huntington" is the theme of the the exhibit at the Huntington Historical Society's David Conklin Farmhouse Gallery.

The exhibit focuses on several businesses in Huntington from the expected to the somewhat unusual. They highlight the collections of the Society's archives, including family papers, photographs, ledgers and personal collections.

Among the featured businesses are the Funnell and Son Drug Store, the Crossman Brickyards at West Neck, Lockwood Marble Works, Paulding Cider, several diaries, Hartmann's Department Store, and Peggy's Fabric Outlet.

The David Conklin Farmhouse is located at 2 High Street Huntington, New York 11743, at the corner of New York Ave. and High St. in the Village. Call ahead to confirm exhibit hours, 631-427-7045.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

NEXTREADS- Local History and Genealogy Newsletter

The library provides a wonderful Reader's Advisory service that is emailed directly to our patrons. It's an email newsletter subscription service that provides for all ages in more than 20 reading interest categories. Title selections are made by professional librarians using the same sources libraries use for collection development, ensuring that selected titles are ones that the library owns and ones that our patrons will enjoy reading.
The staff of the Local History Room has customized a Local History and Genealogy newsletter for our patrons. Subscribe now. It's easy, convenient and free. It's delivered bimonthly right to your inbox and linked to the library's catalog. Contact the Adult Services Desk with questions at 631-427-5165 x251.