Northern New York has a rich heritage! Use the resources listed below to learn more about what life was like for all ages of Upstate New Yorkers. As more resources are discovered, this page will grow. Stay tuned for future discoveries!
New York Heritage Digital Collections: Yearbooks
Explore the Watertown High School yearbook collection! Years digitized include 1907-2010. Be aware that some years, especially those early in the date range, were not included in the collection.
Note that the database also includes yearbooks from other local high schools too, as well as other photos and documents that are important when preserving the NNY lifestyle and history!
New York Heritage Digital Collections: Life in the North Country with the Stiles Horr Bonney Letters
“This collection of letters from 1806 to 1910 detail North Country life from the perspective of Jefferson County residents.” Visit the New York Heritage Digital Collections database to access the letters, photographs, and more.
New York Heritage Digital Collections: North Country Music Project
“The North Country Music Project (NCMP) is a volunteer group of northern New York natives who have partnered with the Flower Memorial Library to create an archive documenting the singular musical talent that came out of the North Country in the 1960s and ‘70s. It is a distinct period of northern New York history and one that has left a cultural legacy. The high musical standards set by people like Ed Wool and Bob Kissell exist to this day, making the North Country a region that consistently punches above its weight when it comes to the quality of its musicians.” Visit the New York Heritage Digital Collections database to access audio interviews, transcripts, photographs, and more.
Ellis Island Immigration
“During the largest human migration in modern history, Ellis Island processed more immigrants than all other North American ports combined. Today, tens of millions of Americans can trace at least one ancestor to Ellis.” Explore the Passenger Database by creating an account or get other research tips via the Ellis Island website.
Library of Congress: Digital Collections
The Library of Congress holds hundreds of easily accessible collections online for all to enjoy. Ranging from sheet music to maps, to photos and essays, these collections vary in theme but give us a great idea of what life was like in the past.
New York Public Library: Digital Collections
New York Public Library holds over 180,000 items in their Digital Collections database that are within the public domain, which means they are free for all to enjoy and “reuse in almost limitless ways.” You can also download these items in the highest resolution available straight from the Digital Collections website, no library card needed! Be sure to click the button indicating that you want to ‘Search only public domain’ when conducting your search.
