Closter Road circa 1900
Welcome!
Local History research can seem a bit daunting at first, so the Palisades Free Library has put today this website to help guide you, the researcher, through the process by leading you to the correct resources. The trick to Local History research is starting with the well-known resources and then following the ropes of established works to the threads of your own research goals; whether it’s just general information about the place you live, or looking for the roots of your own family history. This website will guide you to those established resources, so you can start off your research on the correct path and fulfill your research needs. Please do not hesitate to ask the library staff for any additional help you need.
Photograph Collection
To view the nearly complete collection of photographs owned by the Palisades Free Library visit the New York Heritage website. For permission to reproduce any photographs owned by the Palisades Free Library, please download, complete, and return the to library the following form: The Palisades Free Library Image Reproduction Request Form. The form can be emailed info@palisadesfreelibrary.org or fill out the form below.
The Palisades Free Library Image Reproduction Request Form
Recommended Books
These books are excellent starting point resources for researchers that are new to researching the local history of the Palisades region. They give a good overview of the history of Palisades, NY and it’s people. The materials listed on this page are available at the Palisades Free Library and can be checked out with an RCLS Library Card.Doughty, Ralph. The Palisades Cemetery. Rockland City, NY. 1901. Print. “A list of all the decipherable inscriptions, and of the 52 graves not marked by monuments. Nov. 5, 1901.”
-Ralph Doughty. [974.728 Dou]Haagensen, Alice Munro. Palisades and Snedens Landing: From the Beginning of History to the Turn of the Twentieth Century. Tarrytown, NY: Pilgrimage Publishing, 1986. Print.
Haagensen’s work is meticulously researched and contains a wealth of first-hand accounts, historical documents, photographs, and maps. This resource gives a quick overview of the Palisades at the time the book was published and then delves into the rich history of the hamlet. [974.728 Haa]
Genealogy Sources
Researching local history often leads to genealogical questions. Below you will find links to some reliable resources to research immigration records, census records, birth and death records, etc.
Genealogical Society of Rockland County- www.rocklandgenealogy.org/
The goal of the site is, “to discover, collect, preserve, record, and catalog Rockland County genealogical and historical data and to make these records available for study.” It includes links to online and/or physical location of hard copy resources such as: Cemeteries, Rockland County Census, the Rockland Images Project, Houses of Worship, and more.
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.- www.ellisisland.org/
The foundation website offers a free search of Ellis Island/Port of New York Records. The website also offers information about the history of Ellis Island and has a section about genealogy, which offers search tips, charts and forms, etc.
CastleGarden.org – http://www.castlegarden.org/
The database contains an easy search to search for passenger information on 11 million immigrants that came to the Unites States before the opening of Ellis Island. The time-frame of the records is from the years 1820 until 1892 and includes information such as name, age, sex, relatives, place of last residence, city or village of destination, etc.
New York State Department of Health Genealogy Records & Resources- NY Vital Records
According to the website, “Vital records registration started in New York State outside of New York City in 1881. Generally, the New York State Department of Health provides uncertified copies of the following types of records for genealogy research purposes: Birth certificates – if on file for at least 75 years and the person whose name is on the birth certificate is known to be deceased. Death certificates – if on file for at least 50 years. Marriage certificates – if on file for at least 50 years and both spouses are known to be deceased.”
Gerard, Alice. Palisades and Snedens Landing: The Twentieth Century. Palisades, NY: Alice Gerard, 2007. Print.
Alice Gerard is the daughter of Alice Munro Haagensen and she used much of her mother’s research combined with her own to publish this book after the death of her mother. This resource covers the history of the Palisades and Snedens Landing during the Twentieth century. [974.728 Ger]
Gilman, Winthrop Sargent. Local History. Palisades, NY: The Historical Committee of the Palisades Free Library, 1978. Print.
This book contains all of Gilman’s notes on the town and its people during the 1800s. It contains personal and business correspondence between Gilman and other Palisadians. This resource proves invaluable for first-hand accounts of historic happenings in the hamlet. [974.728 Gil 1997]
Uris, Bette, and Susan Capobianco. A Short History of Rockland County, NY. New City, NY. Greentree Publishing Co. 1976. Print.Published on the occasion of the Bicentennial. [974.728 Uri]
Zimmermann, Linda. Rockland County: Century of History. Rockland County, NY.
Historical Society of Rockland County. 2002.
From the back of the book, “From quiet farming communities to a bustling suburb, Rockland County: Century of History traces the paths of the people and events that shaped our country in the twentieth century.” [974.7 Roc]
Some resources are too rare for the library to allow to circulate. The resources below require a trip to the Palisades Free Library’s Reference Department. These materials CANNOT be removed from the library and the electronic resources MUST be accessed using a library computer or a Palisades Library Card depending on the resource. Please call ahead to make an appointment.
Gilman, Winthrop Sargent. Palisades Notes: “Private Memoranda of Winthrop Sargent Gilman Made from 1876 to the Present Time (1899) for His Personal Amusement.” Nyack, NY: The Historical Committee of the Palisades Free Library, 1979. Print.
This book contains more notes, letters, and general information on the lives of Palisadians by Gilman. Entries of note include: Arrangement and accounts of Centennial Celebrations, 1876, Names of Indian Tribes, Revolutionary Landmarks-The Big House, historical information, personal profiles on local figures, and more. [R 974.728 Gil]
Gesner, Nicholas. Gesner Diaries. Palisades, NY. 1929. Print.Nicholas Gesner wrote the diaries between 1829-1850 describing life in the hamlet. The entries have been transcribed and published and are available for checkout. [R B Gesner v.1-v.4]
Local History Vertical Files
The files contain newspaper clippings, articles, notes, correspondence and other material of an archival nature concerning the people and places of the Palisades and its surrounding area. Photographs, maps, and pamphlets are not stored in the vertical files, but are stored elsewhere in the library. Dates of materials located in the files are difficult to establish. Access to the vertical files is accessible only by the librarian on duty because the files are kept locked. These resources cannot be removed from the library, but can be photocopied.
Map Case
This case contains historical maps of the local area from the 1700s to the 1900s. There are survey maps, maps of roads, maps of various lots of land, geological survey maps of the area and of New York City, and maps of various properties. The maps are only accessible during library hours and can only be accessed through the librarian on duty because the map case is kept locked.
Web Sources
Here is a list of reliable internet resources that provide accurate historical information about the Palisades, NY region, New York State, and the nation.
10964: The Palisades Newsletter- http://palisadesny.com/
The 10964 is meant to give current news to the residents and to educate on the history of the area. This resource is very useful because it contains detailed historical essays and pictures of the Palisades, dating back to the 1980s, as well as, recent information concerning the town and its residents. These essays are written and published by volunteer members of the community, who perform their own research and /or write from their own personal experience.
Hudson River Valley Heritage- http://www.hrvh.org/ The HRVH provides access to historical sources from the New York State’s Hudson River Valley. The site is easily searched using two different search boxes: one search box for the entire website and one for specifically searching historical newspapers. The site can also be browsed by collection, exhibit, and topic or index. The digitization of these historical photographs was made possible through the work of The Library Association of Rockland County and funding from the Rockland County Government.
National Archives- www.archives.gov/
A researcher can easily search most up-to-date information in the National Archives, veterans’ service records, census information, and more. The website offers resources specifically tailored to genealogists such as how-to guides for searching the National Archives, maintaining your family records, which databases are free and which are fee-based, and more. The information is up-to-date and the site is easy to search.
The Historical Society of Rockland County- www.rocklandhistory.org/
From the website, “The Historical Society of Rockland County acquires, preserves, and exhibits objects, buildings and sites which reflect primarily the history of Rockland County and the Lower Hudson Valley, and researches, documents, promotes and publicizes the rich historical heritage of the county for the people of Rockland.”
Contact Information:
Any questions, please contact:
Palisades Free Library
19 Closter Rd.
Palisades, NY 10964
(845) 359-0136
info@palisadesfreelibrary.org
Or, please contact local historian Alice Gerard at gerard55@verizon.net for information or questions about Palisades History.
Information compiled by:
Shana M. Loven
December 14, 2012 and updated on March 18, 2025