How to Research the History of Whitestone, New York
Dutch settlers got the bargain of a lifetime when they traded with the Matinecock Indians in 1684. According to Queenslibrary.org, the settlers gave the Indians one ax for every 50 acres of land until they bought up what is now Whitestone, New York. Situated on the East River, in the north part of New York City's borough of Queens, the neighborhood bears little resemblance to the heavily wooded area it once was. Through the years, dedicated residents have documented and preserved much of Whitestone's history, and it's now available to all.
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Instructions
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Obtain the book "Whitestone (NY) (Images of America)" by Jason D. Antos. Purchase it through one of the well-known Internet booksellers, where it's available. Read parts of the book online, for free, at Google books. The author is a member of the Queens Historical Society in New York. His paperback book is a 128-page collection of historic photos and facts about Whitestone.
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Read the online homepage of the Queens Library Whitestone Branch. The page contains a condensed history of Whitestone, New York. It includes information about three prominent residents from the community's past: former New York Governor Dewitt Clinton; Whitestone's prominent industrialist Samuel Leggett; and Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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Visit the Queens Library Central Branch in Jamaica, New York, in person or online. The branch contains the Archives at Queens Library. It's a treasure trove of resources documenting the history of Long Island, New York, including the Whitestone neighborhood. Queenslibrary.org states that the archives collection contains approximately 36,000 books and volumes of serials, 4,500 maps, 105,000 photographs and 9,000 reels of microfilm. Some of the manuscripts date back to the 17th century.
Check the archive's website before visiting in person. It provides guidelines and general information about visitor registration, admittance and rules regarding the use of the archives. Review some of the archives' research information about Whitestone's history online, if you cannot visit in person. Online data includes the titles of Whitestone newspapers on microfilm dating from 1871 to 1992.
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References
- "Whitestone (NY) (Images of America)"; Jason D. Antos; 2006
- Queens Library: Community and Library History
- Google books: Whitestone (NY) (Images of America)
- Queens Library, Central Branch: Archives at Queens Library Introduction
- Queens Library: Archives at Queens Library General Information
- Queens Library: Newspapers on Microfilm
