Welcome to Volume 26-1, the eleventh issue of the online Long Island History Journal, featuring three articles and two book reviews.
Two of our articles examine changes in American society stemming from the “Progressive era” of the early twentieth century: the success of the prohibition movement and the women’s suffrage movement, both reflected in the United States Constitution with the 18th Amendment (1919) and the 19th Amendment (1920), respectively.
Jonathan Olly, Assistant Curator at The Long Island Museum, oversaw a much-heralded exhibition at LIM this past summer, “Midnight Rum: Long Island and Prohibition.” His research for this exhibition resulted in the article, “Long Island during Prohibition, 1920-1933” as the waterways surrounding Long Island served as an ideal setting for challenges to the “noble experiment.”
Catherine Tinker, Visiting Associate Professor at Seton Hall University, offers a biography of Annie Rensselaer Tinker (no relation), who came from a background of affluence to become active in the suffragette movement while also maintaining a Long Island connection as she spent her summers in Setauket.
Neil J. Buffett, of the Suffolk County Community College History faculty, returns to the LIHJ with an article shedding light on the first successful application of a New York State law outlawing blockbusting, emanating from a 1962 decision that found a realtor guilty of this practice in his activities in North Bellport.
Suzanne Johnson, former Director of the Longwood Public Library, and co-author of a just-published book on Camp Upton, reviews Kevin Fitzpatrick’s new guide to World War I monuments in the five boroughs. LIHJ Associate Editor Tara Rider examines a new study by two Stony Brook University faculty members–R. Lawrence Swanson and Malcolm J. Bowman–detailing the history and ecological significance of Stony Brook Harbor.
Those seeking to submit an article are asked to click on the “Authors” tab on the homepage and view the drop-down “Guidelines for Authors.” LIHJ readers are encouraged to visit the “subscribe” link on our home page to enter a free subscription to our publication. And as always, we welcome your feedback.
Charles Backfish
Editor in Chief