Newburgh Free Library Local History Room

Huzzay to our friends at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site! Be sure to stop by during their operating hours to view this historic Newburgh landmark!

Since September is Library Card Signup Month, we thought it appropriate to share this bookmark highlighting 50 ways to use the Newburgh Free Library from the early 2000s! Which one(s) do you remember using the most? If you're not sure if your Newburgh Library Card is still active, or wish to get one, check out our handy guide to getting a library card on our library's website here: https://newburghlibrary.org/library-cards/

For more information on local history and genealogy resources, contact the Local History Department by calling us at (845) 563-3616, or by e-mail at [email protected]!

On Wednesday, September 30th! Join Town of Plattekill Historian Libbie Werlau as she tells the story of the Jova Brickworks during this special Hispanic Heritage Month program! Click here to register today! https://newburghlibrary.libcal.com/event/17267852

It's a new school year for Newburgh's students, teachers, and parents, so what better time to highlight our collection of materials related to St. Patrick's High School! Although the Christian Brothers first opened a grammar school in 1886, it was not until 1944 that the St. Patrick's High School would open its doors at 49 grand street, formerly the clubhouse of the Newburgh Wheelmen's Club, in 1944. From then until 1969, St. Patrick's would educate hundreds of students before it officially closed in June 1969. Our library is fortunate enough to have a collection of material related to St. Patrick's High School contributed by former faculty, alumni, and their families. You can view digital copies of the school paper "The Blarney Stone" as well as yearbook "The Shamrock" via our digital collections page on: https://nyheritage.org/collections/st-patricks-high-school We also have a circulating copy of Dennis Sullivan's history of St. Patrick's "The Little Engine That Could, and Did" available for checkout at Newburgh Free Library!

For more information on this and other materials in our collection, contact the Local History Department at (845) 563-3616 via phone, or e-mail us at [email protected]!

This might come as a surprise to some, but before the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Barnes in 1977, which provided anonymity for those serving on juries, the names of jurors were often published in newspapers, along with their occupation, residence, and occasionally photographs and/or biographies! To the genealogist or researcher, historical records like these are helpful in confirming the identity and location of an ancestor, as well as information on occupations that would have been performed at that time. These resources are readily available both online and physically within our collection!

The Jury list on the left comes from the Port Jervis "Tri-States Union" from September 2, 1897, which can be found via the free database "New York State Historic Newspapers": https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/
The one on the right comes from "Orange County Jury Lists: Volume 1: 1798-1825" compiled by Kenneth A. Dunning for the Orange County Genealogical Society.

To learn more about these and other helpful historic resources in our collection, contact the Newburgh Free Library Local History Department at (845) 563-3616, or e-mail us at [email protected]!

We can't think of a better way to engage with classical literature than to read and discuss it in a place where history happened! Check out Newburgh Free Library's newest book discussion group, which will be meeting at the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands 1830/31 David Crawford House! Check the post below for more information!

New to our collection! "Suffering for the Crown" by Kieran J. O'Keefe, Assistant Professor of History at Lyon College, analyzes the formation of Loyalist communities in the Hudson River Valley. In many respects, the American Revolution was a civil war, which pitted family members and neighbors against each other. In his work, Dr. O'Keefe presents the stories of the diverse communities who fought for, or were sympathetic towards the British government, and what happened to them during and after America won its independence. Of interest to genealogists and local researchers is Mr. O'Keefe's focus on loyalists from the Newburgh area.

A copy of this book is available for checkout in Newburgh Free Library's "Local Authors" section, as well as a permanent copy in our Local History Room for any who wish to use it to spark their own research!

To learn more about this and other items in our collection, contact the Local History Department at (845) 563-3616, or [email protected] !

Check out this upcoming program being hosted by our friends at New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site! Click the link below for additional details!

Join us on September 12th for special programing!

Behind the scenes in our archives, Local History Librarian Ashley has been busy indexing and re-housing our historic map collection! This collection contains over 600 individual maps related to Newburgh, the Hudson River Valley, and New York State; showing how our area was charted as far back as the 17th century! This work requires maps to be re-housed in special acid-free folders and accurately labeled before being placed back in their drawers. Once complete, researchers will be able to use the finding aid we have created to find the map related to their research, whether it's the flow of water along the Quassaick Creek, or the location of their ancestor's home in our city!

To learn more about these and other items in our collection, contact us by phone at (845) 563-3616, or e-mail us at [email protected]!

Our Local History staff agree that this room is definitely fit for a librarian, and it was! This image comes from "Sketches", an architectural and interior design book of work by Newburgh architect Frank E. Estabrook (1860-1918). This interior shows a library and sitting room in the home of Lillie O. Estabrook at 204 Montgomery Street. Lillie, Frank's sister, worked as a librarian at our original library at 100 Grand Street for many years! This image comes from the Frank E. Estabrook Collection, which is available to view via our online collections page at New York Heritage here: https://nyheritage.org/collections/frank-estabrook-collection

For more information on this and other items in our Local History Collection, contact the Local History Department at (845) 563-3616, or e-mail us at [email protected]!