Research Your House’s History
Looking for information on the history of your Port Washington home? Here are some suggestions for where to begin your research.
Connections
This photographic exhibition looks at personal connections to original works of art. Each historical painting, etching, photograph, map and graphic has played a role in the lives of the men, women and children who are portrayed here. Look at your neighbors
Guidelines for Research
Researchers interested in consulting archives, or contacting an archivist regarding remote assistance, should register via the access form.
Advanced appointments to access archival collections are to be set up via the access form. Additional requests may be placed by phone (516) 883-4400, X168.
Division staff will determine which materials can be made available for use and when surrogates must be used in lieu of originals.
Mason-Malone Collection
The Mason-Malone Collection consists of images from the Mason Studio archive of prints and negatives dating from approximately 1881 to 1971.
Ernie Simon Collection
Ernest P. Simon was a former senior editor of the Port Washington News for over 30 years until his death in 1976.
Virginia Marshall Martus Papers
Virginia “Ginger” Marshall Martus was born and raised in Port Washington, New York.
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 Hempsted Bays.
Maritime Collection
The Port Washington Maritime Collection features materials from the Local History Center that relate to the regions rich maritime history and traditions.
Robert Lee Aitken
When this picture was taken, I felt that I was holding Port Washington history in my hands. For all its wonderful diversity, Port Washington has a long and storied past and that is something in which I take a great
Amy Bass
I grew up in Port Washington in a house full of books, where they were treasured and actually took over some rooms. My family were readers and active library users. When I joined the Friends of the Library in 1986,
Myron Blumenfeld
Trees are the most important element in the Port Washington streetscape. They make all the difference in the world and I’m a great advocate of planting trees. It was a great project of the Residents for a More Beautiful Port
Connections: Portraits exploring relationships between Port residents and unique art from our collections.
This photographic exhibition looks at personal connections to original works of art. Each historical painting, etching, photograph, map and graphic has played a role in the lives of the men, women and children who are portrayed here. Look at your
Cross Currents: Life on the Water in Port Washington, NY
This short documentary film was produced by the Local History Center to give an overview of the rich history of nautical life in Port Washington. From clamming to yacht clubs, let this video introduce you to the ways in which
The Port Washington Public Library Local History Center
The Port Washington Public Library Local History Center collects and preserves our town’s heritage and makes it available to the public at the library and online. We house photographs, manuscript collections, oral histories, maps, and folk arts projects. Please visit
Crash Course: Mason Collection
As the archives consultant at the PWPL Local History Center, I have been digitally scanning photographs from one of our collections, the Mason Collection, which consists of nearly 20,000 images about Port Washington. Of all the images I have seen so far
Introducing: Captain Jack
John J. Floherty (known as "Captain Jack") was a prolific author and Port Washington mainstay in the first half of the 20th century. He wrote more than 40 career-oriented books for young people, including such titles as Sons of the
The Help
In the 1910s and 1920s, 325 country houses of over 25 rooms were built on Long Island, which became home to some of the wealthiest families in America. Among them were the Guggenheims, Belmonts, Astors, Mackays, Vanderbilts, Goulds, Hearsts, Pratts, Coes,
The Booze Cruise
On January 16th, 1920, the 18th Amendment made drinking alcohol illegal. "It was an era," wrote Port Washington News editor Ernie Simon, "when the most popular guy in town was the one who knew where the best 'speakeasy' was." Police
Life On the Line
Fontaine Fox (1884-1964), the celebrated "Toonerville Trolley" cartoonist, lived in Port Washington from 1914 to the 1930's. His "Terrible Tempered" Mr. Bangs, the "Powerful Katrinka," Banker Grey, and Old Man Flint were small-town characters who earned Fox a syndication in over