Port Washington Public Library

Department: History Center
One Library Drive
Port Washington, New York 11050-2471
Phone: 516-883-4400
Fax: 516-883-7927
Contact:
Vanessa Nastro - (516) 883-4400 - localhistory@pwpl.org
Geolocation:

Port Washington Public Library

About

The Port Washington Public Library’s Local History Center collects and preserves archival materials relating to the history of our area. The Archive serves as the collective memory of the community, and as such, it contains historical records of enduring value, and includes photographs, manuscripts, maps, rare books, lantern slides, negatives and other ephemera. Many of these collections highlight Port Washington’s heritage and contributions to maritime, aviation and sand mining culture on Long Island.

Located on Long Island’s North Shore, “Port”, as its familiarly known, includes the incorporated villages of Sands Point, Manorhaven, Baxter Estates, and Port Washington North, a portion of the village of Flower Hill as well as an unincorporated area of the town of North Hempstead. One of Long Island’s oldest settlements, this picturesque community boasts rolling hills and a winding coastline cradled along Long Island’s scenic Manhasset Bay. Its connectivity to New York City, both by its proximity and direct water routes, made this harbor community a favorite among some of the wealthiest families of early 20th century America. This idyllic landscape, forever immortalized as “East Egg” in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece The Great Gatsby, brought Port both national and international fame. The Archive honors Port Washington’s cultural and historic significance through its various publications and ongoing digital projects. The Local History Center also presents exhibitions featuring items from its collection.

Port Washington Public Library is a member of the Long Island Library Resources Council.

Collections

Edwin A. and Mary Hopper Hopkins Family Papers

The collection contains correspondence, recipes, diaries, business records and manumissions.

Ernie Simon Collection

The Ernie Simon Collection includes his personal collection of “Port Remembered” photographs.

Long Island Sandmining Collection

Photographs, documents, and artifacts relating to the sandmining industry on Long Island.

Mason-Malone Collection

The Mason-Malone Collection consists of images from the Mason Studio archive of prints and negatives.

Plain Talk Magazine

Issues of the Plain Talk publication created for Port Washington, NY residents.

Port Washington Library History Collection

The Port Washington Library History Collection contains images from the planning and construction of the library in the mid-1960s to life and library activities that have taken place since that time.

Port Washington Main Street Collection

The Port Washington Main Street Collection brings together photographs, postcards, and other historic materials that reflect the rich past of this community nestled between Manhasset and Hempstead Bays.

Port Washington Maritime Collection;

The Port Washington Maritime Collection features materials from the Local History Center that relate to the region’s rich maritime history and traditions.

Port Washington Public Library Oral History Collection

Oral histories about Port Washington, NY and its citizens

Virginia Marshall Martus Collection

This collection contains photographs and documents surrounding the A & R Marshall, Inc.