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Local History Collection

Find out more about Oceanside's local history.

Oceanside Library’s Local History Collection

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Collections:

Oceanside Library History

Historical Context

In 2011, the Oceanside Historical Society disbanded. Most of their collection was donated to the Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University. Materials pertaining to the history of the Oceanside Library were given to the library. The Oceanside Library Historical Collection consists primarily of scrapbooks created by Marion Sager, who was Oceanside Library’s first librarian. The collection also contains photographs, correspondence, news clippings, brochures and ephemera, all related to the library’s board, staff, patrons and events dating from 1937 to the present day.

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Oceanside’s Bicentennial Celebration

Historical Context

In the summer of 1976, Oceanside celebrated the United States’ 200th anniversary alongside the rest of the country. Local festivities included a parade, re-enactments, musical performances, dances, and the creation of a community quilt.

Scope of Collection

Digital collection includes photographs from 1976-1977.

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Oceanside Community History

Historical Context

The land that is now Oceanside was originally inhabited by the Rockaway Native Americans, followed by the Dutch, and then the English. Around 1682, the area became known as Christian Hook. Later, it was renamed Oceanville in 1864, Ocean Side 1890, and finally Oceanside 1918.

Most of this collection comes from the Oceanside Historical Society which disbanded in 2011.

Scope of Collection

This collection is made up of 20th century photographs and postcards of Oceanside community life, landscapes, roads, businesses, houses of worship, homes, and residents.

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Oceanside High School Yearbooks

Historical Context

In 1833, Oceanside, then called Christian Hook, became School District #11 in the Town of Hempstead, N.Y. In 1889, it became a Union Free School District. In June 1903, the first High School Commencement was held. Oceanside’s Senior High School class of 1931 was the first class to produce a yearbook.

Scope of Collection

This digital collection includes yearbooks published by the students of the Oceanside High School, Oceanside N.Y. The following yearbooks are missing from the digital collection: 1934-1940. Additionally, the most recent yearbooks are not uploaded to the digital collection.

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Oceanside Legal Documents

Historical Context

Since its early days in Oyster sales, through the turn of the 20th century, to the present, Oceanside’s business district has been a vital part of the community.

Scope of Collection

This collection consists of legal documents such as Partnership Certificates, Certificates of Dissolution of Partnerships, Cancellation of Certificates, Certificates of Conducting and Transacting Businesses in Oceanside from the early 1900s to late 1940s.

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Oceanside Matchbooks

Scope of Collection

This collection includes matchbook covers from Oceanside restaurants and businesses dating back to the 1940s

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Superstorm Sandy Collection

Historical Context

Superstorm Sandy, also known as Hurricane Sandy, was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. It was one of the ten worst hurricanes in U.S. history.

Scope of Collection

This collection consists of color photographs and audio interviews documenting the devastation of Superstorm Sandy on Oceanside, N.Y. in 2012.

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If you have some Oceanside history you’d like to discuss or share, please reach out to Erin McCauley, Local History Librarian.
Phone: (516) 766-2360 x337
Email: