Merrick History Collection

Merrick Library

Post Office Merrick, N.Y. - Image Source

Collection Facts

Extent:

4554

Dates of Original:

c. 1900-2001

Historical Context

The Merrick Library began in 1891, in the hayloft of a stable on the Cammann family farm, where Edward C. Cammann and good friend Richard P. Kent had put together a collection of 50 books given to them by family and friends. A few months later, the library was moved to a shack on the William Hewlett farm on Merrick Avenue, between Merrick Road and Kirkwood Avenue. A third move brought the Library to a 15-foot room on the ground floor of the newly-built tower of the Merrick Water Company on Kirkwood Avenue, behind the Church of the Redeemer.
The library's fourth home at 2369 Merrick Avenue was constructed in 1897 at a cost of $1,150, on land donated by Edward C Cammann's aunt, Katherine L. Cammann. That same year, Miss Lina Miller became Merrick's librarian.

Scope of Collection

In 2014, the Merrick Library received the Merrick Historical Society’s collection and the photograph collection from the Merrick Life newspaper. These consist of original analog materials of photographs including panoramas, scrapbooks, maps, books, artifacts and ephemera. A wide array of topics are covered including early education, business, civic organizations, government, religion, and the performing arts.