Nassau County Photo Archives Center

Digital Library Project: Sample Collection 

 

The south shore communities of Long Island have reputations for luxury, elegance and a higher class of living.  In particular, the Hamptons are synonymous with prestige, multimillion-dollar estates and extravagance.  This reputation of a lavish lifestyle is a long-standing tradition that began over 100 years ago when wealthy New York City businessmen began building sprawling summer estates.  Although the roots of Long Island history, little information currently exists in regards to the Hampton homes constructed prior to the famed 1938 hurricane. 

 

 

Between the years 1910 and 1915 Long Island tourism flourished as New York City residents left their busy city lives to escape to summer shore homes.  At the same time, the field of postcard photography in America took off.  As a result, a number of American photographers flocked to the Long Island shore to photograph summer scenes for tourists to send back to their families and take home as souvenirs after the summer season.  These postcards and original photographs are part of the remaining evidence to Long Island luxury at the beginning of the 20th century.

 

 

The photographs are not only records of Hampton history, but also the building and landscape architecture popular during this time period.  They reflect the taste of prominent New York businessmen that would mold the south shore culture known today.  The digital library will include the original prints from the photographer, of which some were manufactured as post cards.