Local History and Archives: Local History Books

The following titles provides a wealth of local history information. Some of these are free online books, some require a JCC staff or student login, and  those with a call number listed are in our book collections. Some titles in the print collection are too rare and/or in poor condition and are not loaned. 

Jefferson County

• Hough, Franklin Benjamin.  A History of Jefferson County in the State of New York, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.
  (Published in 1854, Call number: Arch. Ref. F127 .J4 H7)  This is considered to be the most authoritive work on early Jefferson County history. Hough interviewed many original settlers in the region making this an invaluable source. 

• Emerson, Edgar C. Our County and Its People.
  (Published in 1898, Call number: Arch. Ref. F127 .J4 E5) An excellent and very reliable source on early Jefferson County history.

• Child, Hamilton. Geographical Gazetteer of Jefferson County, N.Y. 1864-1890.
  (Published in 1890, Call number: Arch. Ref. F127 .J4 C4 1890) Somewhat derivative of Hough's work.

• Oakes, Rensselaer Allston. Genealogical and Family History of the County of Jefferson Vol 1. & Vol. 2.
  (Published in 1905 in two volumes, Call number Arch. Ref. F127 .J4 O2) Excellent information on the families of Jefferson County.
   

• Petersen, Keitha Kellogg. Drummed Out: A History of Sterlingville and Environs This well-illustrated book primarily provides the history of the Jefferson County village of Sterlingville, a small community that ceased to exist upon the government's expansion of Pine Camp (now Fort Drum), just prior to the United States' entry into World War II.

• Shampine, David. The North Country Murder of Irene Izak.
  (Call number: HV6533.N5 S53 2010)
   
• Shampine, David and Daniel Boyer. The Jefferson County Egan Murders.
  (Call number: HV6533 .N5 S528 2014)

Northern New York

• Shampine, David. Colorful Characters of Northern New York. 
  (Call number:  CT251 .S53 2010)
   
• Shampine, David. New York's North Country and the Civil War.
  (Call number: E523 .S53 2012)
   
• Shampine, David. Remembering New York's North Country.
  (Call number:  F129.W3 S53 2009)

   

New York State

• Lossing, Benson John. The Empire State: A Compendious History of the Commonwealth of New York.
  (Published in 1888, Call number: Arch. Ref. F119 .L6) A very important work on the early history of New York State.

   

The Adirondack Region

• Hammond, Samuel H. Hills, Lakes, and Forest Streams: OR, A Tramp in the Chateaugay Woods
  (Published in 1854)

• Hammond, Samuel H. Wild Northern Scenes; or, Sporting Adventures with the Rifle and the Rod
  (Published in 1857)

• Headley, Joel T. The Adirondack; Or, Life in the Woods

  (First published in 1849, Call number:  Arch. Ref. F127 .A2 H6) Perhaps the best example of early Adirondack writing, this work provides the author's accounts of his travels throughout the Adirondacks. Note:  The link above provides the text of an expanded edition published in 1869.

• Hoffman, Charles Fenno. Wild Scenes of the Forest and Prairie, Vol 1 and Vol 2.

  (Published in 1839)

• Murray, Willian H.H. Adventures in the Wilderness; Or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks.

  (Published in 1869, Call number: Arch. F127 .A2 M9 1970) This bestseller inspired many readers to explore the Adirondacks.

• Street, Alfred B. Woods and Waters; or the Saranac and Racket
  (Published in 1860)