About our Archives

The Montauk Library archive collection, spanning from the 1880s – present, includes photographs and slides, artifacts, film, maps, scrapbooks, albums, journals, reports, postcards, programs, guide books, yearbooks, microfilm, telegrams, certificates, minutes, East Hampton Town trustee records, out of print books, Montauk Beach Development Corporation ephemera, a collection of 1898 weeklies covering Camp Wikoff and large selection of audio and video tapes containing interviews with members of Montauk’s early families.

Historical material is available to researchers, educators, teachers and students. Anyone who is interested in the history of Montauk can visit the Archive Room at the Montauk Library and make use of the materials kept there.

The Archive Room is climate controlled with heating, air conditioning and humidifiers designed to provide optimum preservation conditions for valuable and historical records thereby safeguarding the distinctive historical traditions of our community and caring for Montauk’s unique history.

We have been collecting written material, photographs, artifacts, film, maps, scrapbooks, journals, reports, slides, postcards, programs, guide books, microfilm, telegrams, certificates, anything related to the history of Montauk, most of which is donated by members of the community. The Montauk Library’s Archive Room has the following materials available to the public: historical books on Montauk, East Hampton and Long Island, comprehensive plans, environmental impact studies, local cookbooks, East Hampton Trustee records, history and archaeology of the Montauk Indians, information on Camp Hero and Shadmoor, back issues of the Montauk Light and Long Island Forum, historical preservation reports and zoning studies. We also have been interviewing Montauk’s longtime residents and recording their memories of times past. These interviews along with other materials such as historical Montauk film from the 1920s – 1960s will be available to many generations to come.

Guide to Montauk Library Archive collection:

Photograph and slide collection

Includes photographs, film negatives and postcards of people, places and events relating to Montauk. Units of the collection include: 

Map collection

Consists largely of maps of Montauk and East Hampton town. Also includes reproduction of field map of Camp Wikoff, Hither Hills Mirror Development, Montauk Beach Development, Fort Pond Bay fishing village map, Soundview Estates and Oceanside-at-Montauk. Units of the collection include:

  • William Walsh collection
  • Linda B. Hicks collection
  • Richard T. Gilmartin collection

Vertical File

Organized by subject contains newspaper clippings, documents and other materials relating to Montauk.

Books

Various subjects include Montauk, East Hampton, Long Island, cookbooks, fishing, marine sciences, natural sciences, celebrities & biographies and a collection of out-of-print books.

Documents, Journals, Minutes

Handwritten and typewritten materials relating to Montauk’s history include civic groups, individuals and organizations.

Periodicals

  • Long Island Forum 1955-1987
  • Montauk Light 1984-1986

Oral History Collection

The Montauk Library’s Oral History Collection encompasses audio and video interviews documenting life stories, memories, genealogies, and historical events as retold by community members who have contributed to the culture and history of the Montauk Library or to the Montauk community at large. Oral histories were conducted by the Montauk Historical Society, the Montauk Library Oral History Program, and individual oral historians. The interviews in the collection date from 1978 through 2019. Click here to read more about the collection and listen to digitized interviews.

Artifacts/Realia

Objects relating to Carl Fisher and the Montauk Beach Development Corporation, Deep Hollow Ranch, and World War One Red Cross uniforms.

Non-circulating Local Interest Videos In The Archive Room

  • 1938 hurricane 50 years later
  • Montauk Library – old and new 11/24/1991
  • 1985 AARP forum on the incorporation of Montauk
  • Willie Biase home movies, 1960s
  • American Dream Show with Suzanne Gosman
  • St. Patrick’s Day parade 3/18/1990
  • Deep Hollow Ranch promo video
  • Montauk Community Church 75th anniversary
  • Osborne family home movies, Montauk 1930s
  • Rights of Man show 1930s, 40s home movies, Montauk Vorpahl/Bengston family
  • Rights of Man show Shipwrecks of Montauk
  • John Kelsey home movies 1950s, 60s navy road footage
  • Suzanne Gosman on Bill Fleming’s show talking about the new library 10/17/1986
  • Prado family home movies, 1950s
  • Montauk Library dedication
  • Young Universe show #43 “Montauk fisherman”
  • Brian Rade with cousin Richard Rade
  • Montauk Library dedication of the meeting room 6/13/1999
  • Montauk Historical Society 1920s film
  • Oral history interviews conducted with longtime Montauk residents
  • Akin family home movies, 1950s