Waterloo Library & Historical Society
Waterloo Library & Historical Society
About
The Waterloo Library and Historical Society (WLHS) is located in historic Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of Memorial Day. The library was founded in 1875 and is one of New York State’s oldest libraries operating under its original charter. The library houses a vast collection of volumes and a wide variety of programs for the entire family.
The charming Queen Anne Victorian style library building is home to Fatzinger Hall. Fatzinger Hall is a 140-seat venue that hosts many performance events and is available for booking. Featured presentations during the year include theatrical productions, concerts, readings, and lectures.
Terwilliger Hall was annexed to the original library in 1960 and traces the history of Waterloo. Named after Waterloo Resident Charles P. Terwilliger, the annex collections include authentic full-size vehicles, Native American artifacts, original maps, photographs, currency, antique guns, dolls, the first pianos manufactured in Waterloo and much more.
Waterloo Library & Historical Society is a member of the South Central Regional Library Council.
Collections
Papers and memorabilia from the Hunt family, prominent Quaker mill owners, suffragists, and abolitionists.
Letters written to Mary Hunt, mostly by her young niece working in St. Louis, Missouri.
Photographs, postcards and documents about the mills of Waterloo, NY, especially the Waterloo Wool Manufacturing Company, a prominent business first established by Quakers to boycott slave-labor cotton.
Magazines created by the students of Waterloo High School between 1908 and 1925.