ON SITE COLLECTIONS

Housed in a sunny, climate-controlled space on the site of Henry Draper’s observatory in Draper Park, the Hastings Historical Society archive is a virtual treasure trove of Hastings’ past.

Our archive is home to over 12,000 photographs and hundreds of oral histories, maps, newspapers, and family papers, as well as information on houses and residents and the history of the village. In addition, we have a small library, numerous works of art and artifacts ranging from Native American projectile points to 19th century scientific instruments and 100-year-old toys. The digitization of the archive is an ongoing project supported by grants and donations.

The archive is open to the public whenever the Historical Society is open and by appointment.

THE ARCHIVE INCLUDES:

  • Over 12,000 Photographs
  • Over 500 Vintage Postcards
  • Dozens of Oral Histories
  • More than 400 Maps
  • Hastings High School Yearbooks
  • Hundreds of Artifacts
  • Over 300 Works of Art
  • A Reading Library
  • Collections and Ephemera

Over 12,000 photographs including rare and unique collections

Policeman giving a woman a ticket on Broadway at Five Corners looking northwest, with the Chrystie House in the background, 1949.
Informal baseball game on the Aqueduct, c. 1936.
Revolutionary-era Forge Cottage at 383 South Broadway, c. 1900.
“The American Tea House, Hudson Heights, Opposite Mt. Hope Station, N. Y.,” Putnam Division railroad, c. 1915.
“Lovat," the Fraser family home at 10 Amherst Drive. The house still stands. Postcard. 1934
World record-holding firefighters from the Uniontown Hose Company, posed around various fire-fighting materials. Postcard. 1910

Dozens of oral histories ranging from Patricia Adams, who grew up in the Pinecrest neighborhood in the 1940s, to John Zinsser, Jr., grandson of chemist and local industrialist Colonel Frederick Zinsser.

More than 400 maps ranging from a copy of one from 1785 showing our earliest landowners, to maps of our changing downtown and our neighborhoods over the years, as well as the 2003 Hastings trailways map.

Hastings High School yearbooks intermittently from 1918 and continuously from 1943 to the present (except 1989). We welcome the donations of Hastings High School, Farragut Middle School, and Hillside Elementary School yearbooks we don’t currently have. Please see our Wish List.

The Yearbook Collection, 2019.
Dedication page in yearbook of Miss Smith, who was beloved by her students, remembered for her patience and kindness, 1962.
Page from yearbook showing a number of student activities from the year, 1946.

Hundreds of artifacts ranging from 10,000-year-old Native American projectile points found in Hastings, to spectroscopes, telescope parts and weather instruments used by the Draper family in the 1800s. We also have the wooden whistle of Hastings’ first policeman, Stephen Maher, as well as Billie Burke’s tea set, and old Hastings High School varsity letters.

Breakfast set used by actress Billie Burke (Glinda the Good Witch from “The Wizard of Oz” and long-time resident of Hastings).
White leather child’s shoes with mother of pearl buttons, c. 1900.

Over 300 works of art, many by local artists including “Hudson River Valley” by Rosetta Bohnert and “The Clearing” by Helen Patterson Williams.

“Copper Ingots Incoming” by Anthony Russak, date unknown.
“The Red Chair” by Tony Palazzo (1905-1970)

A library of over 130 books by authors who lived in Hastings including:

The Bottom of the Well by Frederick Upham Adams
The Chemistry of Plants by Dr. John William Draper
The Park Book by Charlotte Zolotow

as well as numerous books of local historical interest

Our library is housed in the transit room of the Draper Observatory, the home of the Hastings Historical Society, 2019.
Page from "The Park Book" by Charlotte Zolotow (1915–2013), a long-time Hastings resident; published in 1944.

Collections of family papers, from actor Alan Brock, who lived in Hastings for over 80 years, to the Lefurgy family, whose lineage here goes back to Colonial times.

Twenty file drawers of biographical and historical material covering subjects from “Actors, Billie Burke” to “Youth Organizations, Hastings Youth Council.” These files also contain information on neighborhoods, streets and some individual houses.

A portion of the large collection of Draper Family Papers housed in the archive.