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Special Treasures

Fliers pose in front of a Curtiss Fledgling airplane owned by the Safeair Flying Service at Roosevelt Field around 1936. This Photo is among thousands held by the Long Island Studies Institute, at Hofstra University. (Nassau County Museum, Long Island Studies Institute)

Nassau | Suffolk | Queens

Researching a historical novel? Writing a term paper and looking for something more than your basic volume of local history? Or maybe you're digging up the family tree. We scoured Long Island for special library collections of material on local history. Here's what we found:

Nassau

Bryant Library (Roslyn) -- Photos (1890s-1930s), Hicks Mills ledgers (mid-1850s to mid-1960s), first-edition books by Christopher Morley and poetry by William Cullen Bryant, Long Island and Queens County history books from early 1900s. For access, call 516-621-2240.

Delancey Floyd-Jones Library (Massapequa) -- Documents include letter from Helen Keller, Army muster rolls (1814), first editions and 19th-Century books; Floyd-Jones genealogy chart. Call for appointment, 516-541-5337.

Freeport Memorial Library, old maps of Freeport. Call for access, 516-379-3274.

Garden City Public Library, local history books with maps (early 1900s) and photos from 1869 to present, oral history videos, Garden City News from 1923. Call ahead, 516-742-8405.

City of Glen Cove Public Library, original documents include 1660s founders daybook, 1668 land patent, 1830 school meeting minutes, 1685 Matinecock Indian Deed, signed indenture of 12-year-old, diaries and family papers (1600s-1800s), 1831 handwritten schoolmaster's diary; local newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1752; 1667 map of Matinecock lands; photos include Teddy Roosevelt dedicating a monument; 1879 handwritten petition protesting against Starchworks factory for water pollution, and genealogical records dating back to the Revolution. Some items by appointment only, 516-676-2130.

Great Neck Public Library -- More than 800 photos, 18th-Century ledger of gristmill, oral histories. Access during library hours, 516-466-8055.

Hempstead Public Library, maps, deeds, genealogical materials, some material on Nassau and Queens, business records. Queens County Sentinel, 1858-1896; Hempstead Sentinel, 1899-1949; Long Island Democrat, 1835-1912, on microfilm. Call for appointment, 516-481-6990.

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library -- Photo collection of area from 1915 to 1967, New York World's Fair photos (1939 and 1964), Girl Scout scrapbook-photo album (1931-1947). Call for access, 516-374-1967.

Hicksville Public Library -- Large local history collection. Photos, documents, newspapers, oral histories. Access Monday-Thursday, 2-5 p.m., 516-931-1417.

Jericho Library - Rare books (1800s), photos of original village, oral histories, Jericho monthly meeting marriage book (1790-1972). Call for access times, 516-935-6790.

Levittown Public Library - Photos, floor plans and landscape brochures of Levitt homes, video interviews of residents, original maps. Access during library hours, 516-731-5728.

Long Island Studies Institute, at Hofstra University, West Campus -- Houses two research collections, Nassau County Museum reference collection and Hofstra's James N. MacLean American Legion Memorial Collection. Both contain books, photographs, newspapers, maps, census records, genealogies, government documents, manuscripts and audiovisual materials. Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 516-463-6411.

Manhasset Public Library - Frances Hodgson Burnett photo collection includes son, Vivian, (1855) as ``Lord Fauntleroy,'' first editions of Burnett's books, ``Fauntleroy'' lace collar; 1797 town map; boarding school copybook (1850); World War II air warden books; Strathmore Village (Levitt and Sons Inc.) work map; oral histories on 1888 blizzard; L'Hommedieu Lumber Mill; development of Miracle Mile. Access to some items by appointment only, call 516-627-2300.

Merrick Public Library -- Oral history (1938) and thesis (1993) on Merrick Campgrounds, the Methodist Camp revivals; oral history of Merrick in 1891 (1950); local historical development, 1643-1960. Access during library hours, 516-379-3476.

Cradle of Aviation Museum (Mitchel Field) -- Collection includes books, vertical files on LI aerospace companies, airfields, individuals, 20,000 photos, blueprints of planes and plane manuals. Access by appointment only, call Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 516-572-0411.

Nassau County Museum (Sands Point Preserve) -- Has research library and archives. Long Island focus on geology and American Indian archaeology; ethnography of coastal New York; Nassau County government historical archives. Access by appointment, call Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 516-571-7901.

Oyster Bay Historical Society -- More than 1,000 items plus photos focusing on Oyster Bay. Family Bibles, maps (1790s-1950s), books on Theodore Roosevelt, family genealogies, original documents (1680s-1950s), atlases. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 516-922-5032.