19th Century

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Setting a Precedent for American Aid; The Freedmen’s Bureau

Authored by Marion Ward

Registers and Letters Received by the Commissioner, Indexes and Registers, Register 14, Jan. 1–July 31, 1869.

On March 3, 1865, the War Department of the United States established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands; it has since come to be known as the Freedmen’s Bureau (National Archives 2021). Facing the aftermath of the Civil War and the havoc it wreaked on the American economic system, President Andrew Johnson worked alongside Congress to create the Freedmen’s Bureau, which was a federal agency that was established for the purpose of promoting the social welfare of the recently freed population of enslaved African Americans (Hatfield 2020).

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The Northport March

Authored by Julia Sukhu

Illustration of a Grand March

The “Pleading and Practice Grand March” sheet music cover image from the Stony Brook University Archives.

The oddest things can bring a community together. In the case of Northport, a Long Island community, a piece of music made to advertise law books has a special place in the community’s history and brought them together in 2015. This bright and well-maintained illustration is the cover page for the “Pleading and Practice Grand March” sheet music created by George H. Bishop to sell law textbooks in the 1800’s.  Continue reading →

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Matilda Joslyn Gage: A Woman of Dedication, Motivation, and Opportunity

Authored by: Andrea Gatins

Featured is women's rights activist Matilda Joslyn Gage

Matilda Joslyn Gage. This image has not been watermarked due to copyright restrictions. This image should not be altered in any way, and utilized for educational purposes only.

Matilda Joslyn Gage can simply be described as a women’s rights activist, and a significant figure in the women’s rights movement. Born in 1826, this woman dedicated her life to fighting for women’s freedom whether it was the right to vote, or general women’s equality. To jump-start her fight for women’s freedom, while Gage wasn’t able to attend the notable Women’s Right’s Convention in Seneca Falls, NY, she attended and addressed the third national convention in Syracuse in 1852 (Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation 2009, par. 3). To further her fierce dedication, Gage is credited as one of the founding members and leaders of the National Woman Suffrage Association, and the Women’s National Liberal League (Hall 2002, 161). Continue reading →

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A Glimpse Into The Past Of An Underrated Borough

Authored by Annelisa J. Purdie

This map, from the NYPL Firyal & Pincus Map Division, is the fourth in a series of forty plates. The atlas was first published in 1886.

This map, from the NYPL Firyal & Pincus Map Division, is the fourth in a series of forty plates. The atlas was first published in 1886.

As a third-generation Brooklynite, I knew that I wanted to find something that represented my borough as a part of my AS-L project. Brooklyn occupies a unique place in the cultural memory of New York City. It is a rich cultural hub with a long history, and a “flavor” that is instantly recognizable to those who visit the borough. Even with current concerns over gentrification, Brooklyn has still managed to hold on to the things that make it an attractive spot for residents and visitors alike. Continue reading →

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Handdrawn Map of Patchogue, 1869 [-1881]

Authored by Colleen Hutchens

Map

Hand drawn map of Patchogue showing its three creeks (Little Patchogue, Patchogue and Swan), the bases of the damed lakes, Great South Bay, extant and proposed roads, the South Side Rail Road line and its proposed continuation, railroad buildings, bridges, breakwaters, public buildings and private houses (many named), religious institutions, cemeteries, hotels, mills, livery stables, shipyards, and shops.

Introduction

The village of Patchogue is located on the South Shore of Long Island, New York. The town got its original name from a Native American tribe in the area, Pochaug. With Long Island surrounded by water, Patchogue has direct access to the Great South Bay, which has contributed to the growth and expansion within the town. In 1750, three families moved and settled Patchogue as the first people to live in the area. Since then the town has grown into a popular area for many to live and work. Continue reading →