Shelter Island Historical Society
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      • May 27-Sept 2 : Havens Market
      • June 10: Shelter Island House Tour
      • July 20-23: "The Lords of Menantic" Musical
      • July 24-Aug 4: Brooklyn Acting Lab
      • July 29: 1970's Dance Party
      • Aug 8-22 Adult Ceramic Program
      • August Children's Ceramic Program
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Image of the Absolute Charter issued to the Shelter Island Historical Society recognizing it as an educational organization.

Mission

The mission of the Shelter Island Historical Society is to collect, research, preserve, and share local history. The Society interprets Shelter Island’s past through historical material and through its people; from the first Native American inhabitants, settlers, and town fathers, to those who have made it a caring and unique community through the years.  The Society strives to preserve the Island’s heritage for future generations.

Society History

 November 18, 1922: The first “Shelter Island Historical Society” is Formed
The organizing members were Miss Cornelia Horsford, Mr. Elias Havens Payne, Mr. & Mrs. A.A. Cartwright, Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Cartwright, Mrs. Stirling Wallace, Mrs. Moses Griffing, Mrs. Charles Bateman, Mr. C.H. Smith, Mrs. Russell Conklin, Mrs. Charles Thorne, Mrs. George Cook and Miss Lillian Loper.  Mr. E.H. Payne was elected President, Mrs. Griffing was Vice-President, Miss Loper was Secretary and Miss Payne was Librarian.

By the second meeting of the Society on March 28, 1923, more members had joined and Mrs. Ralph H. Duvall was elected Treasurer.

Mr. Ralph Duvall succeeded Mr. E.H. Payne as President upon Mr. Payne’s death in 1928. Mr. Duvall was the second and last President of the Society.
​
In all, the Society met only 50 times between November 1922 and August 1933. They collected important documents such as a Nut Bread recipe, Presbyterian Confessions of Faith and C.E. Record Book, notes from Lodowick Havens’ diary, five copies of the SI Tribune 1892-1893 and three copies of the Suffolk Times 1897-1927, among other items.


March 12, 1966: The Historical Society is Formed...Again!
Mr. Andrew Fiske phoned a few people who might be interested in forming a Historical Society on the island.  Nineteen people met in the Library, elected officers, defined the purpose and appointed a committee to frame a constitution.
On April 25, 1969, the University of the State of New York granted the Society an Absolute Charter, recognizing it as a non-profit organization.


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  • Home
  • Virtual Content
    • A Day in the Life
    • Digital Tapestry
    • "The Prospect of Summer" Companion Exhibit
    • See Their Names Exhibit
    • Society Timeline 1922-2022
    • This Land is YOUR Land
    • The DNA of Shelter Island
    • Voices from the Vault
    • Then & Now
    • Witness the Manhansett
    • Walter Cole Brigham
    • Alan Shields
    • Helena Hernmarck
    • British Woolworks
    • "Connecting from a Quarantine Kitchen"
  • Havens Store
  • Education
    • The Shelter Island History Project
    • Race, Ethnicity & Class on SI, 1652-2013
  • Living History Project
  • The History Center
    • 2022 Exhibit: Once on this Island
    • Construction
  • The Collections
    • Digital Collections >
      • New York Heritage Digital Collections
    • Donate to the Collections
    • Finding Aids
    • Film Collection
    • House/Building Registry Project
  • The Havens House
    • Renovation
    • Havens DIMONscape
    • History of Shelter Island
  • The Society
    • Leadership
    • Partners
  • Support
    • Donate Now
    • Elizabeth Pedersen Educational Fund
    • Volunteer
  • Calendar
    • 2023 Events & Programs >
      • May 27-Sept 2 : Havens Market
      • June 10: Shelter Island House Tour
      • July 20-23: "The Lords of Menantic" Musical
      • July 24-Aug 4: Brooklyn Acting Lab
      • July 29: 1970's Dance Party
      • Aug 8-22 Adult Ceramic Program
      • August Children's Ceramic Program
  • Contact
  • Directors' Log In