The library houses a small but growing collection of local history materials. Maps, books, pamphlets, newspapers, and scrapbooks are safely stored in the local history room. So that the most delicate materials may be preserved the library is converting many of the resources to digital format. Check this page for additions.
The library seeks to add original photographs, postcards, school yearbooks, and ephemera that document the history of Hillsdale. Please contact the director to arrange a donation.
The local history room is locked. Patrons seeking the use of the local history collection may do so by contacting the library director or librarian in advance. Users must sign the register. Photocopies may be limited at the discretion of library staff.
Reproductions of original materials used in publication, in any media format, must include a credit line to the Hillsdale Free Public Library.
MAPS1876 A.H. Walker Atlas of Bergen County, Reading, PA. : Reading Publishing House, [1876] p. 110 - Hillsdale. (12.5" x 16" / .pdf) This plate shows Hillsdale's earlier land development. This image is reproduced on p. 73 of the Centennial Journal.
Map of Hillsdale Manor, Bonelli-Adams Co., New York (circa 1890) - undated map showing lots for sale in the "Manor" section of Hillsdale. (22"x15" encapsulated / .pdf )
PHOTOGRAPHS
- Class of 1898 4-Room Schoolhouse (.pdf) / (.jpg image)
- Meyers Farmhouse 1890s (.pdf) / (.jpg image 600dpi)
- Corner of Broadway and Washington Ave - Werkheiser Hotel Field (.pdf / .jpg image 600dpi)
- Hillsdale Manor Train Station 1913 (.pdf / .jpg image 600dpi)
- Werkheiser Garden (.pdf / .jpg image 600dpi)
Please see our Flickr site for many more!
DOCUMENTS
Tax Bills 1899 - 1915.
Hillsdale Telephone Directory (1964)
Hillsdale Newsletter October 1988
Hillsdale Newsletter March 1989
Hillsdale Newsletter Summer 1989
Hillsdale Newsletter Autumn 1989
Hillsdale Newsletter July 1990
Hillsdale Newsletter Summer 1990
Hillsdale Newsletter Autumn 1990
Hillsdale Newsletter Spring 1991
Hillsdale Newsletter July 1991
Hillsdale Newsletter Summer 1991
Hillsdale Newsletter Autumn 1991
Hillsdale Newsletter Spring 1992
Hillsdale Newsletter Summer 1992
BOOKS
The following books and publications were produced by Hillsdale, the Library, or are no longer under copyright protection as far as we can determine. Where possible the resulting Adobe PDF files were made searchable, however due to the limited ability of OCR software, not all text may be identified.
Picturesque Hillsdale: An illustrated brochure showing some of the principal residences, churches, school building, street scenes, and scenes along the Pascack River. C.H. Dunn, 1899. [unpaged].
Fifty Years of Progress. 50th Anniversary Celebration / Souvenir Book Committee, 1948. [60 pages / unpaged] (54MB)
Borough of Hillsdale: 75th Anniversary 1898-1973. / The Committee, 1973. 127 pages. (23MB)
Hillsdale Centennial Journal 1898-1998: Looking Back... Steping Forward / The Centennial Committee, 1998. 105p. [plus advertisements] (21MB)
HILLSDALE SCRAPBOOK: A selection of newspaper articles about Hillsdale History published during the 50th and 75th Anniversary Years. Compiled by the Hillsdale Public Library Reference Department, 1985. (29MB) A transcribed version with better searching capabilities is also provided.
Hillsdale Fire Association Fair - (1902)
Souvenir Programme Hillsdale Hose Co. 2 (1913, courtesy Fred Winkler)
Thirty-Fifth Anniversary of the Hillsdale Methodist-Episcopal Church (1911, courtesy Fred Winkler)
Hillsdale Fire Department 1902-1952
Historic Houses of Hillsdale (1973)
Hillsdale Historic Sites (1982)
Borough of Hillsdale Master Plan (1978)
YEARBOOKS AND SCHOOL MEMORABILIA
1939 Hillsdale School Graduation Program
The Owl (1944) - Literary magazine published by the Hillsdale Public School.
The Owl (1945) - Literary magazine published by the Hillsdale Public School.
Pascack Valley High School Football Program (1957)
George White Reminiscence 1985
VIDEOS
A selection of videos documenting the history of Hillsdale are available on a separate page. Videos are encoded for viewing in Flash Player 8 or higher.
"This is Hillsdale" - 1983 - 29 min 14 sec (115MB)
"Looking Back" - 1989 - 18 min 15 sec (70MB)
"An Evening with George Jepson" - 1998 - 29 min 35 sec (116MB). This video is also commonly referred to as "Hillsdale by George."
NEWSPAPERS - HILLSDALE HERALD
The library possesses original copies of the Hillsdale Herald. The collection is fairly complete from 1929 to 1942 and from 1951 to 1956.
A portion of the funding for the scanning project was provided by the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
