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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Oyster Bay Railway Extension Subscriptions and Celebration Committees Papers
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Oyster Bay Railway Extension Subscriptions and Celebration Committees | |
| Title | Oyster Bay Railway Extension Subscriptions and Celebration Committees Papers, | |
| Dates: | 1866-1889 (Bulk 1886-1889) | |
| Abstract: | This small collection consisting of loose papers with but one major exception, consists essentially of a few items from the Subscription committee as well as from the celebration committee, formed to celebrate the successful opening of the line to Oyster Bay, and totals in all about 40 items. | |
| Extent: | 1 box, .2 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | O-1 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
The Ouster Bay Railway Subscription Committee was formed largely through the influence of Robert Townsend of Oyster Bay, founder of the newspaper, "Oyster Bay Pilot” and member of a family tracing itself back to pre Revolutionary times. The Committee's function was to urge the extension of the Long Island Railroad from Great Neck to Oyster Bay and points east, and as far back as 1866 there had been agitation to gain this extension (see for example, a clipping in this collection from the “Glen Cove Gazette" dated Jun 16, 1866). Finally in 1889 after 3 years of effort, the committee having been formed in 1886, the railroad was extended and in order to celebrate this event, a committee was formed to prepare an appropriate program
Among other places, a very brief sketch of Mr. Townsend and other members of the family are found in the booklet, Raynham Hall published in 1961 as a reprint from the "Nassau County Historical Journal" Vol. XXI.
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Scope and Content Note
This small collection consisting of loose papers with but one major exception, consists essentially of a few items from the Subscription committee as well as from the celebration committee, formed to celebrate the successful opening of the line to Oyster Bay, and totals in all about 40 items.
The volume, though unlabelled, was apparently used by the subscription committee to keep an account of financial settlements made with a number of individuals, presumably evolving out of actions involving the giving up of land for the railroad right-of-way. At least, this is what seems to be implied. The volume, rather fragmentary, also contains the minutes of two or three meetings of the Committee, dated 1886-1888 (apparently the committee officially disbanded on Dec 7, 1888, its last meeting). The volume also contains one or two minutes of the Celebration Committee, the chairman of said committee being Mr. Robert Townsend.
The loose papers consist essentially of letters addressed to Mr. Robert Townsend. Those dated 1886 and 1888 (there are none for 1887) concern themselves with the Subscription Committee and relate primarily to the raising of funds, and total about 11 items. Those items dated 1889 also are by and large letters or telegrams addressed to Mr. Robert Townsend as Chairman of the Celebration Committee. They concern themselves with such topics as requesting tickets to attend the ceremonies (held on Monday, June 24, 1889), accepting or declining invitations, and the like and are dated principally June 1889, and number about 25 items.
There are also some 5 or 6 miscellaneous undated items (newspaper clipping dated 1866, being an exception) including a rough sketch of some land parcels.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Oyster Bay Railway Extension Subscriptions and Celebration Committees Papers, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Organizations:
- Oyster Bay Railway Extension Subscriptions and Celebration Committees
Subject Places:
- Oyster Bay (N.Y.)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
