Local History Collection

Overview

The Local History Collection at the Mount Pleasant Public Library is housed at the Main Library in Pleasantville, New York. The collection of historical and genealogical resources includes books (reference works, histories, and genealogies), obituary indexes, newspapers, periodicals, subject files, photographs, postcards, and historic maps.

The collection is accessible to the public during regular library hours. The collection is housed in two locations at the Library.

1. In the southwest corner of the Adult Reading Room, you will find unique, rare, and older items in the closed-shelf reference case, periodicals and obituary indexes in open-shelf reference, and a circulating collection of books on open shelves.
2. Maps, photographs, and newspapers, are stored in our Local History Room and require special assistance. Please make an appointment to view these materials by calling the Reference Desk at 914-769-0548, or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research Assistance

We are happy to answer questions about how our collection can meet your research needs. We handle inquiries during regular business hours and will answer questions in person, on the phone, and through email. We are also happy to meet with you by appointment for a more in-depth interview. For those who are traveling from out of town, we encourage that you call ahead for more details on the collection.
  •  Call us at: (914) 769-0548, select option 2 for the Reference Desk
  •  Email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Description of Holdings

• MPPL Digital Archive: Click here for access 
• BOOKS - Reference and circulating collection includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, gazetteers, histories, biographies, genealogies, nonfiction, and some fiction titles.
• HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS - With the exception of the Patent Trader our newspapers are available online through the MPPL Digital Archive here
  •  Patent Trader - 1962-1967 (bound); Jul 1967 - Sep 1991 (microfilm)
  •  Pleasantville Chronicle - Nov 21 1988 - May 1995 (incomplete)
  •  Saw Mill River Record - 27 Mar 1975 - 4 Aug 1976
  • The Townsman - 6 Jun 1935 - 12 Jun 1947
  • Valhalla Voice - 1958-1980, single issues from 1940, 1942, 1945-1956
  • Single issues of Mount Pleasant Compass, Pleasantville Gazette, Pleasantville Herald, and Pleasantville Talk
• MAPS - Historical maps of Pleasantville, Mount Pleasant, Westchester and New York State. These include topographical, planning, zoning, real estate, and school districts. In addition we have two complete atlases of Westchester County from 1867 and 1901.
• OBITUARY INDEX - 1995-, compiled from Reporter Dispatch (1995-1998) and The Journal News (1998-July 2017).

Geographic Areas Covered

• Town of Mount Pleasant, New York
  • Village of Pleasantville, NY
  • Village of Sleepy Hollow, NY
  • Hawthorne, NY (hamlet)
  • Pocantico Hills, NY (hamlet)
  • Thornwood, NY (hamlet)
  • Valhalla, NY (hamlet)
  • Village of Briarcliff Manor, NY (partly in Mount Pleasant)
• Neighboring villages and townships in Westchester County - works pertaining to the general history and people of the county.
  • Village of Briarcliff Manor, NY
  • Village of Ossining, NY
  • Town of Ossining, NY
  • Village of Tarrytown, NY
  • Town of Greenburgh, NY
  • Chappaqua, NY (hamlet)
  • Town of New Castle, NY 
• New York State - general histories with an emphasis on the Hudson River Valley.

Subject Areas Covered

• History of the Town of Mount Pleasant - the founding and development of the Mount Pleasant from the 17^th century to the present.
• Mount Pleasant Families and Notable Individuals - founding families and those who have been here for several generations, including biographies, histories, and genealogical data.
• Mount Pleasant Notable Individuals - information on individuals who have made significant contributions to the political, economic, cultural, and daily history of Mount Pleasant, including biographies, histories, diaries, oral histories, and news clippings.
• Civic and Cultural Organizations - historical monographs, manuscripts, and oral histories, but not including organizational records, of the area's businesses, churches, cemeteries, schools, and civic organizations.
• Architecture - works related to the architecture of the Mount Pleasant region as well as historical images and documents detailing specific buildings and homes in the proposed historic district of Pleasantville, NY.
• History of the American Revolution - works that focus on the conflict in the greater New York area, and specifically in the Hudson River Valley.