Long Island Daily Press Photograph Morgue Collection

The Long Island Daily Press Photograph Morgue Collection comprises photographs, drawings, and maps created to illustrate news stories and feature articles. While most of the photographs were captured by staff photographers, others were provided by freelancers, news services like the Associated Press, or corporate public relations departments. The collection also includes architectural renderings of proposed buildings and maps produced by the newspaper’s internal illustrators.

Founded in 1821 as the Long Island Farmer, the Jamaica, Queens-based Long Island Daily Press covered national and global news while focusing primarily on Queens and suburban Long Island. Originally a weekly, it absorbed the Long Island Democrat in 1912 and transitioned to a daily format.

After several ownership changes, including a brief period under the Ridder Brothers, Samuel I. Newhouse acquired the paper in 1932. Newhouse, who also owned the Long Island Star-Journal, published the Press until March 1977. Citing rising costs, dwindling advertising revenue, and declining circulation, the paper ceased operations that year. 

3,637 photographs, 13 boxes, 9.4 cubic feet