The State Reservation at Niagara (1885), designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is the oldest state park in the United States. New York State Assemblyman Thomas V. Welch (1850-1903) worked tirelessly with the “Free Niagara” movement to make Niagara Falls a place where the natural landscape would be preserved and that the public could visit free of charge. The Thomas V. Welch Collection includes telegrams, signed petitions and correspondence.
Orrin E. Dunlap (1861-1953) was a news photographer based in Niagara Falls who took some incomparable images of the State Reservation. The Orrin E. Dunlap Collection includes both his own and other photographer’s images. Dunlap documented the Reservation’s beauty in all seasons, President McKinley’s last visit to Niagara Falls, structures, lighting and visitors.
Early advertisements and maps that predate the Reservation show the commercial aspects of both the sides of Niagara Falls (US and Canada). Maps and blueprints show the land that is now the State Reservation at various time periods as well as later extensions: Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool State Park. Also included are later plans by the Olmsted Brothers to create a park system in the City of Niagara Falls and invitations to commemorative events.
The State Reservation at Niagara: Images and Documents is a sampling of collections at The Niagara Falls Public Library that help to illustrate how Niagara was made free.

The Christian Brothers first came to Newburgh in 1886 to staff the boys division of St. Patrick’s Parish grammar school. The school was located at 152-164 Liberty St., the girls section on the top floor of 164 Liberty. A coeducational school was opened in 1958 with the Dominican Sisters taking charge of all eight grades. In 1944 St. Patrick's High School had been established at 49 Grand Street for boys only and was administered by the Christian Brothers until its closure in June 1969. The high school building had previously been the clubhouse of the Newburgh Wheelmen's (Bicycle) club designed by Newburgh architect Frank E. Estabrook in 1896.

The St. Lawrence-Lewis School Library System collection consists of high school yearbooks from area high schools. The Marian is the annual yearbook of St. Mary's Academy.

The St. Lawrence-Lewis School Library System collection consists of high school yearbooks from area high schools. The Centralian is the annual yearbook of the St. Lawrence Central School.

St. Joseph's University is a liberal arts college founded in 1916 in New York State, with campuses located in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn and in Patchogue, Long Island.

The St. Lawrence-Lewis School Library System collection consists of high school yearbooks from area high schools. The Beacon/Libernoster is the annual yearbook of St. Joseph's Academy.

Athletics thrived at St. Stephen’s beginning in the 1920s with many teams achieving national rankings in their respective sports. Under the energetic leadership of Bernard Iddings Bell, construction on the Memorial Gymnasium was completed in 1921, a new athletic director was hired, and by 1925 a proper athletic field was completed next to the Hoffman Library. Sports teams, or ‘squads’ were often generically referred to as the ‘Saints,’ but individual teams were affectionately referred to as the ‘Scarlet Harriers’ (cross country); the ‘Scarlet Bootmen’ (soccer); the ‘Scarlet Stickmen’ (lacross); the ‘Scarlet Icemen,’ or ‘Scarlet Rinkmen’ (hockey); the ‘Red and White’ (basketball); and the ‘Crimson and White’(football). Tennis, Rugby and Bowling were also popular. While the drama of those games has evaporated, these team images retain and reflect the spark and prowess of the athletes of the day.