Freeport Memorial Library & Freeport Historical Society
COLLECTIONS & ARCHIVES
In the fall of 2004, the Freeport Memorial Library was invited to join the Long Island Memories’ digitization initiative sponsored by the Long Island Libraries Resources Council. The goal of this project is to create a database of items pertaining to Long Island history and make these items accessible through the internet. The Library began by scanning the Freeport Historical Society extensive post card collection. Other collections soon followed including: the 1908 book Freeport Long Island Illustrated; a three-volume set of photographs compiled by John DeLorme; photographs of vaudevillians who lived in Freeport; and photographs from the opening of Jones Beach.
In 2005, the Long Island Libraries Resources Council received a grant to begin digitizing local newspapers. Due to Freeport’s commitment to the digitization project we were asked to be the first Library to participate in this phase of the digitization project. Nineteen rolls of microfilm representing Freeport newspapers from 1895 to 1921 are now available, fully searchable on the digitization site. The Freeport Leader from 1940 to current was also added to project.
In addition to photographs, postcards, and newspapers, the digital project now includes meeting minutes from the William Clinton Story American Legion Post 342 for the years 1919 to 1927; Village of Freeport newsletters for the years 1952 to 2009, and music scores, playbills, Freeport Memorial Library board minutes, and programs from the Freeport Historical Society’s extensive vaudeville collection.
In 2015, Long Island Memories became part of state-wide digitization initiative New York Heritage. That same year, Freeport's newspaper collection was moved to the New York State Historic Newspapers' database.
The collaboration between Library and the Historical Society has made authoritative information and historical images of Freeport more accessible to all generations of Freeporters. Today, Freeport’s digital collection includes over 6,000 images and seven newspapers.
Freeport Historical Society and Museum Online Book Catalog & Resources
The historical society maintains a vast wealth of digital and physical resources. We are currently developing our online book catalog and continuing to add to the photograph collection. If you have questions or comments about any of these resources or if you have a suggestion, please feel free to email us at FHS@Freeporthistorymuseum.org
Freeport Memorial Library & Freeport Historical Society
Historical Context
Freeport is a village in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. A settlement since the 1640s, it was once an oystering community and later a resort popular with the New York City theater community. It is now primarily a bedroom suburb but retains a modest commercial waterfront and some light industry.
Scope of Collection
The collection consists of over 4000 historic photographs, newspaper clippings and postcards of Freeport, NY. The collection spans from the turn of the century up to Hurricane Irene in 2011. The collection is a microcosm of life in Freeport and depicts buildings, civic events, roads, businesses, maritime activity, severe weather events, portraits of individuals and families, etc. The majority of the collection is black and white photographs.
Historical Context
The collection is comprised of films and home movies recorded in Freeport, New York, that were donated to the Freeport Historical Society and Freeport Memorial Library.
Scope of Collection
The collection contains 16mm films, some in color and some in black and white, created in the early to mid-20th century. The contents of the films vary but includes community gatherings, social events, and leisure activities in and around the Village of Freeport, New York.
Historical Context
Clinton Metz (1905-1990) a journalist by training, was a prolific chronicler of Freeport history. He served as Freeport's Village historian from 1963 until his death in 1990.
Scope of Collection
This collection includes Metz's articles and research notes housed in the archives of the Freeport Memorial Library and the Freeport Historical Society & Museum.
Freeport High School Yearbooks and Commencement Programs
Yearbooks are available from 1927 to 2005. Later yearbooks, are available for viewing at the Freeport Memorial Library and the Freeport Historical Society. Commencement programs date back to the 1890s.
Freeport High School Athletic Wall of Fame
Historical Context
The Freeport High School Wall of Fame was started in 1972 by Freeport High School athletic director George Emma (1938-1983). Emma created the Wall of Fame to boost school spirit by highlighting the accomplishments of Red Devil athletes. It honors both individual athletes who were all-scholastic, three-sport varsity athletes, most valuable/improved players and sports teams that won a division conference or county championship. Photographs of the athletes are prominently displayed at Freeport High School. In 2024, the earliest honorees were digitized for virtual display.
Scope of Collection
This collection, beginning in 1972, includes images and accomplishments of notable Freeport High School athletes.
Historical Context
Fishing Long Island Waters was first published by Russell Gardner Crandall (1908-1999) in Roosevelt, NY in 1950. This semimonthly journal, dedicated to fishing, boating, and recreation throughout the waters of Long Island, was the official publication of the Sportsmen’s Council Marine District of New York State. By 1953, this journal had a circulation of 15,000. Later, the publication moved to Plainview, NY and became Sportsmen’s Life.
Scope of Collection
This collection includes 28 issues of Fishing Long Island Waters from 1953 to 1955.
Historical Context
Marty Himes, born August 29th, 1939 in Oceanside, Long Island, moved to the Freeport area in 1952. In 1962 Himes became the Novice track champion. Marty Himes has dedicated much of his time and money into gathering and preserving this huge collection of racing memorabilia. He hopes that his collection will remain preserved for many generations to come. When he opened his home display in 1975, his entire life and finances have been dedicated to keeping the memory of racing alive. He currently runs the the Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalgia in Bayport, NY.
Scope of Collection
The newsletters of the Village of Freeport were originally sent to residents in their monthly electric bills. These newsletters chronicled events in the Village of Freeport and highlighted past historical events and noteworthy individuals.
Scope of Collection
The collection contains digitized versions of historic books, almanacs, atlases, directories, and other printed material related to the history of the Village of Freeport and Long Island from the collections of the Freeport Memorial Library and the Freeport Historical Society. Many of the items in this collection were scanned using a planetary scanner paid for by a generous donation from Senator John Brooks.
Historical Context
The American Legion, William Clinton Story Post No. 342, was organized in 1919 soon after the end of World War I. It was named for William Clinton Story who was one of the first Freeporters to die during the war. Story (1892-1918) was a 1908 graduate of Freeport High School, where he was salutatorian. He graduated from Princeton University in 1913, with honors. When the United States entered World War I, he enlisted with the hopes of becoming an aviator. He died near Memphis, TN, during a training flight. The Legion’s first clubhouse was opened in 1924. As the organization grew, a larger clubhouse, known as the Dugout, was dedicated on Sunrise Highway in 1928. Today, the Legion is working to establish a new clubhouse near the Nautical Mile. In addition to the Memorial Day Parade, the American Legion sponsors the Veterans Day Service in November.
Scope of Collection
The oral history collection includes the recollections of Freeporters from the 20th and 21st centuries as well a speech given by Robert Moses at the Freeport Memorial Library. Selections are from the collections of the Freeport Historical Society and the Freeport Memorial Library.
Historical Context
By the end of the 19th century, as theater, vaudeville, and the music circuit centralized, the stage was set for 20th-century show business to become a big commercial enterprise. Publishing songs was a part of that business. A lot of America’s popular-music publishing industry was centered in New York City, on Tin Pan Alley. One 1890s Tin Pan Alley song, "After the Ball," sold millions of copies. Others sold more modestly, but sheet music was widely available. Although performers used professional sheet music, scores sold to the public had lively and colorful covers. Sometimes they featured a performer’s photo, as well as an illustration. The covers can be used as historical evidence of what ideas and images were circulating in popular culture in the early 20th century
Scope of Collection
The collection consists of sheet music, playbills, theater programs, and advertisements from the late 19th to mid-20th Centuries. This collection can be accessed at the Freeport Historical Society and Museum.
Historical Context
Freeport, along with other communities in the Town of Hempstead, began preparing for the celebration of the United States' 200th anniversary by forming committees. This collection includes many documents associated with the preparations, both in Freeport and throughout the Town of Hempstead.
Scope of Collection
The digital collection includes photographs, newsletters, images, home movies, and other ephemera dating from 1974 through 1976.
Historical Context
Don Schultz (1933-2013) was born during the Great Depression. Raised in Freeport, Long Island, Don was eight years old when the United States entered the war. Like many of his peers who were too young to serve, his life would be forever shaped by his experiences living on the home front. Don’s collection includes newspaper clippings, hand-drawn charts and maps, artifacts from his family (i.e. letters and ration books), European and Japanese money, and postage stamps from the Third Reich. The collection begins with the history of World War I and includes post-World War II retrospectives. There are also a number of articles that relate directly to Long Island.
Scope of Collection
This collection contains five scrapbooks, each over 1000 pages, and were assembled throughout Don Schultz’s life (1933-2013).
Scope of Collection
From the private collection of Marty Himes, this collection of over 2,000 negatives were produced by Drennan Photos, Inc. in the 1950s-1970s. Established by John P. Drennan (1906-1986), Drennan Photos, Inc. included a team of photographers who documented automobile accidents throughout Nassau County. These images were sold to lawyers and insurance companies who would use them to help negotiate claims. In addition to accident photographs, images include business insurance and publicity photographs.
Scope of Collection
The Freeport Memorial Library has a collection of about 600 lantern slides stored in the Library’s archives located in the Long Island Room. Lantern slides are transparent drawings or photographic images that are projected onto a flat screen using a device known as a magic lantern. The slides are positive transparencies that are sandwiched between two thin glass plates. The height of lantern slide use occurred between the late 1880s and early 1900s. Like the majority of lantern slides produced in the United States, most of the slides in this collection have a uniform size of 3 ¼ by 4 inches. The library’s collection of lantern slides includes the following topics: geography and travelogues; temperance; history; song slides; religion; and education.
Scope of Collection
Matchbooks were used advertise businesses since the 1890s. The Freeport collection includes matchbooks from restaurants, bars, and other retail establishments as far back as the 1930s. Many of the items in this collection were donated by Al Velocci.