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Photo of the Week

FROM THE SCHS LIBRARY ARCHIVES

"How shall we know it is us without our past?"
- John Steinbeck

by Wendy Polhemus-Annibell, Head Librarian

Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, First Session of the First U.S. Congress, Signed by William Floyd, 1789. (From the Collection of the Suffolk County Historical Society Library Archives. Image © copyright Suffolk County Historical Society. All rights reserved.)

The First United States Congress, consisting of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, met from 1789 to 1791, during the first two years of George Washington's presidency, first at Federal Hall in New York City and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. With the initial meeting of the first session of the First U.S. Congress on March 4, 1789, the U.S. government officially began operations under the frame of governance established by the 1787 Constitution.

The original 1789 Journal of the House of Representatives in our research library bears the signature of William Floyd of Suffolk County, who was elected to the First U.S. Congress in 1789. Floyd was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence and had served as general in the Suffolk County Militia during the American Revolution. He spent many years in public service, including as a delegate to the Continental Congress (1774-1776), as a presidential elector for George Washington, and as a New York State Senator. Born in Mastic in 1734, to Nicoll Floyd and Tabitha Smith Floyd, William became a major land proprietor at age twenty when he inherited the family's 4,400-acre estate in Mastic. Today the property is known as the William Floyd Estate.

To view this 164-page Journal, a treasure from our national and local past, visit our research library during operating hours, Wednesday through Saturday, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm. No appointment is necessary, and a librarian is always available to assist you with your local history and family research. For more information, visit our website or call us at 631-727-2881 x103.

ABOUT Our PHOTO OF THE WEEK Series

The Suffolk County Historical Society’s PHOTO OF THE WEEK Series is created by head research librarian Wendy Polhemus-Annibell using historic primary source materials from our local history library’s extensive archives. To subscribe, visit our website or send an email request to Wendy at librarian@schs-museum.org 

Interested in seeing more historical documents from the Collection of the Suffolk County Historical Society? Spend an afternoon at our Local History Research Library perusing our extensive collections. We're open Weds. - Sat., 12:30 - 4:30 PM.

To view our Photo of the Week archives, visit our website at www.SuffolkCountyHistoricalSociety.org.

SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 A singles’ mixer soirée night at the museum! Enjoy our exhibits while meeting other people with similar interests. Wine + cheese will be served. $10 per person.  RSVP required by 9/9/17 to 631-727-2881 x100

Suffolk County Pine Barrens Exhibit Tours

The Suffolk County Water Authority Education Center will hold special tours of the Suffolk County Pine Barrens Exhibit, on loan from the Suffolk County Historical Society. The educational exhibit provides an overview of the Pine Barrens and the critical role this region plays in the protection of our county's precious groundwater. The next exhibit tour will be held on August 17 at the SCWA Education Center located at 260 Motor Pkwy in Hauppauge. Call 631-292-6565 or email EdCenterTours@SCWA.com to reserve. 

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
If you've been enjoying our Photo of the Week, please consider becoming a member of SCHS.

From the Civil War to civil rights, revolutions to restorations, spies to suffragists, boatbuilders to bootleggers, and whalers to wineries, Long Island's history comes alive at the Suffolk County Historical Society!

The Suffolk County Historical Society, founded in 1886, collects and preserves the rich history of Suffolk County and beyond. We offer a history museum, art galleries, a research library and archives, and a multitude of exhibits, programs, and educational lectures and workshops year-round. Our unique collections reflect more than three centuries of Long Island history. Click here to learn about Member Benefits!

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Copyright © 2017 Suffolk County Historical Society. All rights reserved. No part of this electronic document may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the Suffolk County Historical Society.