Monthly Archives October 2016

Local History: Ghost Stories

Local History: Ghost Stories

The Hudson Valley seems to have been created with autumn in mind. During October and November, the area's increasingly hostile weather and abundant cultural history blend, creating a potent sense experience. The skittering of dead leaves behind you too easily becomes the footfalls of a disgruntled spirit and the bare tree branches resemble skeletal fingers grasping for diminishing portions of daylight. Even with these natural advantages, our imaginations need fuel, and that is where ghost stories come in. Westchester's most famous ghost story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is known around the world. Less well-known, but no less spooky, is
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October 28, 2016 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Local History.
Tags: charles pryer, dutch history, ghost stories, halloween, Halloween Books, hudson valley history, huguenots, local-history, new rochelle, October, Spooktober, the legend of sleepy hollow, washington irving, and white plains history.

Local History: The Racial Balance Plan

Local History: The Racial Balance Plan

In the 1960s, northern as well as southern communities were forced to desegregate their schools to achieve educational equity between races. The White Plains Collection contains a number of sources for learning more about the desegregation that took place here under the Racial Balance Plan. Multiple reports issued by the Board of Education as well as a report from a committee of citizens provide statistical and administrative assessments of the plan. For a more sociological view, the slim volume Children In The Balance does a remarkable job of revealing what classrooms were like in the years after the plan was
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October 21, 2016 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Local History.
Tags: carroll f johnson, education, elementary education, local-history, race relations, racial balance plan, schools, and white plains history.

Pace University Women’s Justice Center Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

Pace University Women’s Justice Center Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

Domestic violence toward a spouse, parent or child is probably the most unreported crime in the United States. “Victims transcend all socioeconomic levels, and there are many reasons why they may not feel comfortable or able to report the abuse, including fear of retaliation, concerns regarding children and their custody and safety, cultural concerns, financial concerns, and immigration and deportation concerns among others,” says attorney and Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) director of training, outreach and education Susan Carroll.  “That’s why the Women’s Justice Center was formed in 1991 as the first of its kind in the nation.”   Originally
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October 17, 2016 5:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events.

Local History: Biography Scrapbooks

Local History: Biography Scrapbooks

The White Plains Collection is home to one of the few remaining card catalogs that is made up of actual cards. Yes, the very same typewritten index cards so many people ask about when they enter the library. Librarians at White Plains Public Library started maintaining a card index for materials of local interest as early as 1926. In addition to organizing newspaper articles by subject, they also created an index for nearly one hundred biography scrapbooks. I've never come across material explaining whose idea the scrapbooks were, nor who is responsible for all the cutting-and-pasting required to construct them.
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October 14, 2016 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Local History.
Tags: biography, bootlegger, historical research, local-history, louie pope, mamie haynes, margaret sanger, planned parenthood, prohibition, scrapbooks, white plains collection, and white plains history.

Visiting the Library: What to Expect

Visiting the Library: What to Expect

The renovation of the first floor is nearly done. All of our collections have moved back to the first floor. Only the computers remain on the second floor, and they’ll be moving downstairs in the next week or so. Next we need to finish the Community Room and the Café—and have a party to celebrate! Check back in January for the opening date for the Café. Questions? Call 914-422-1480 before you visit.
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October 12, 2016 10:58 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Renovations.

Board Meeting Documents for October 13th, 2016

Board Meeting Documents for October 13th, 2016

Approved Library Board Meeting Minutes 10-13-16 10-13-16 Combined Agenda Documents 10-13-16 Library Board Agenda Agenda Item #1 – 09-14-16 Regular Library Board Minutes Agenda Item #2 – Budget Report – September 2016 Agenda Item #3 – Claim List 4 Agenda Item #3 – Claim List 5 Agenda Item #4 – Adult Services Report – September 2016 Agenda Item #4 – Assistant Directors Report September 2016 Agenda Item #4 – Children's Monthly Report – September 2016 Agenda Item #4 – Collection Management Report – September 2016 Agenda Item #4 – Community Outreach Report – September 2016 Agenda Item #4 – Library
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October 7, 2016 1:52 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Trustee Documents.

Local History: Religious History

Local History: Religious History

Some of White Plains' longest standing buildings are religious institutions of one kind or another. The Presbyterian Church on North Broadway was built in 1824, but the congregation was established in the early 18th century. Our Lady of Mt Carmel on Lexington Avenue is a reminder of pre-urban renewal White Plains. The Silver Lake Preserve contains ruins of the ancestor of today's Mount Hope AME Zion Church. The quiet history of these architectural sites is complemented by pictures and documents from the White Plains Collection. Below are a few representative items pulled from the collection. Current members of congregations are
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October 7, 2016 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Local History.
Tags: catholics, christianity, church history, Jewish History, local-history, religion, religious history, synagogues, white plains collection, and white plains history.