Scarsdale Historical Society to Preserve Memories for Archives

Nineteenth-century Scarsdale resident Valeria Dean Burgess with child, a photo that has been donated to the Scarsdale Public Library archives. Historic photos from all eras are welcome at the scanning event.

The Scarsdale Historical Society is pleased to announce “Scarsdale’s History for the Future,” an upcoming community scanning event on Saturday, October 1st from 1:00-3:00 PM at the Scarsdale Public Library. The community is asked to bring in their Scarsdale-related historic photos and documents that can be digitized, at no charge, and any media will become part of the Village’s archives.

The project is part of the Scarsdale Historical Society’s mission to preserve and share Scarsdale’s unique and continuing history. The organization is seeking old photographs, fliers, diaries or documents – anything that tells the story of Scarsdale and its residents. Paper documents and photographs no larger than 11 inches by 17 inches will be digitized during the scanning event. If items brought cannot be scanned at that time for any reason, other arrangements can be made.

During the scanning event, visitors will also enjoy a small exhibition featuring items from Scarsdale’s history, and also a selection of rare artifacts that have national importance. TheScarsdale Public Library will be showing a book of town minutes starting in the 18th century; Scarsdale High School yearbooks from the 1930s; and maps of the village from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Seth Kaller, a leading American history dealer and collection-builder and a Scarsdale Historical Society trustee, will display valuable original documents and artifacts, including: the only copy in private hands of New York’s first printing of the Declaration of Independence (July 11, 1776; not Scarsdale, but close – the state’s assembly met in White Plains to vote in favor of independence, and the document was printed in New York City near Wall Street); one of Alexander Hamilton’s most revealing love letters to Eliza, written from Dobbs Ferry in 1780; Jesse Owens Congressional Gold medal; Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s law books; and a NY Votes for Women suffrage broadside.

“We encourage everyone to dust off Scarsdale-related photos and documents from their attics and basements so they can be properly preserved and enjoyed for years to come,” stated Randy Guggenheimer, President of the Scarsdale Historical Society. “We are grateful to the staff at the Scarsdale Public Library for making this effort possible.”