Local History

History in the Making: Pandemic Experiences in Fayetteville

Help us capture the impacts of this historic time for the benefit of future generations by filling out this brief webform!

The form is brief–you’ll also have the option to indicate if you would like to be involved in a more extensive oral history project in the near future.

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

Visit Local History

Visit our Local History Collection online to learn about the village of Fayetteville, NY and the people who have lived in it and left their mark on the community.

To make a request for research or an obituary, email Maija at mmclaughlin@fflib.org.

  • Photographs, Documents and other Primary Resources featuring local individuals, clubs, organizations, businesses, schools, churches, parks, government and local agencies.
  • Published books categorized by Local Authors, Local Interest and Central New York History
  • Local weekly newspapers (1840 – ) on microfilm, including National Citizen & Ballot Box
  • Fayetteville Schools Collection including “Oakleaves” yearbooks dating back to the 19th century
  • Archives of local organizations including Fayetteville Scout Troops, Garden Clubs and Womenís Study Groups (Coterie and Philomath)
  • Scrapbooks and Assorted Family Archives
  • Area Historical Maps
  • Rotating Displays

Fayetteville Digital Newspaper Archives
Includes digital copies of the following newspapers, ranging from 1840-1941: Weekly Recorder, Fayetteville Bulletin, Eagle Bulletin, Fayetteville Recorder, Onondaga Independent, Fayetteville Luminary, Methodist Reformer, and the Manlius Eagle.

Fayetteville Registry- 1940s
Research project conducted by Edward Hutchison who obtained a copy of the 1942 Fayetteville Directory and tracked down all those listed in the book.  “What follows is the information that has been obtained in the course of this project.  It has been gathered from old newspaper accounts, directories, census records, other governmental records, alumni lists, and, in rare cases, from personal recollections.”

Manlius Historical Society
The Manlius Historical Society was founded in 1976.   Although located in the village of Manlius, the society is dedicated to serving the whole town of Manlius. The Manlius Historical Society runs two buildings, the Cheney House Research Center and the Manlius Historical Museum.  The library has over 500 volumes and more than 8,000 documents and photographs related to local history.

Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation
The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation is dedicated to educating current and future generations about Gageís work and its power to drive contemporary social change.

Matilda Joslyn Gage’s Civil War Scrapbook
This digitized scrapbook consists of mid to late 1800s newspaper clippings regarding the Civil War, and includes confederate currency, correspondence, flyers, and more. The creator, Gage, was a well known suffragist, abolitionist, and Native American activist who for many years resided in Fayetteville, NY.

New York Heritage Digital Collections
New York Heritage is a research portal for students, educators, historians, genealogists, and anyone else who is interested in learning more about the people, places and institutions of New York State. The site provides free access to more than 170 distinct digital collections, totaling hundreds of thousands of items.

New York History Net
For historians and students of New York history and culture.  Includes links for online resources (i.e. archival repositories, Encyclopedia of New York State, Civil War, Erie Canal.)  See lists of historical organizations and historians of New York State.

Onondaga County Public Library (OCPL) Local History/Genealogy
Genealogy/Family History related links for Onondaga County and New York State. 

Onondaga Historical Association
The purpose of OHA is to educate and encourage the exploration, appreciation, and utilization of the past in order to bring the great stories of Onondaga County’s history to a worldwide audience. To do so, we offer engaging exhibits, publications, products, and programs; and we develop and care for definitive collections related to local history.

Town of Manlius Historical Records
Rootsweb site for historical records of the Town of Manlius, NY. This includes records related to businesses, cemeteries, churches, directories, maps, property sales, schools and more

Ancestry-Library Edition
Provides access to a wide range of resources for genealogical and historical research. It includes all available records from the United States Census (1790-1940); military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; passenger lists and more.

Ellis Island Foundation
Perform a free passenger search; use their featured genealogy resources.

FamilySearch.org
Records spanning billions of names across hundreds of collections including birth, marriage, death, probate, land, military, IGI extracted, and more.

New York State Archives: Genealogy Resources
Site for researching New York state ancestors. Contains helpful tips on how to conduct genealogy research & where to go to find records and information.

New York Vital Records
Birth, marriage, death records and more, for New York City and New York State.

NY Gen Web
Site for researching New York State ancestors. Perform research by county.

Onondaga County: Office of Vital Statistics
Order copies of birth & death certificates; make requests for genealogical research.

Roots Web
Search family trees, message boards, and more.

About the Collection:

The Arts & Crafts Memorial Collection is a research collection dedicated to the late 19th and early 20th century philosophy that informed design in architecture, furniture, textiles, metalwork, pottery and ceramics.

The foundation of the memorial collection is the professional library of Mary Ann Smith, a long-time Fayetteville resident, Professor in the School of Architecture at Syracuse University and founding board member of the Arts & Crafts Society of Central New York (ACSCNY). The library accepted the donation of her collected works in 2008.

A collaboration with ACSCNY has facilitated growth of the collection, honoring the memory of another founding member, Bruce Manwaring, and recognizing contributions of current members.

The society contributed a Harvey Ellis-style bookcase to house the Smith material. The library’s Stickley cabinet, located in the fireplace alcove of the Reading Room, holds additional titles. All material is available for on-site use by the general public.

Click here for a complete list of titles.

1874 Map of Fayetteville