At the Brewster Memorial Library, we are committed to making the Library accessible to the public, while adhering to the highest standards of current special collections and archival practices for our materials. We hope to create an enjoyable and useful resource for research on Essex County history.

The research library is named for the Honorable Osceola Byron Brewster. Dedicated in 1959 by James Rosenburg, ECHS board member and artist, the library is located on the top level of the Adirondack History Center Museum. Judge Brewster was a well known and respected Essex County citizen and according to legend, a fantastic story teller. 

Our library is open to anyone looking for historic information concerning Essex County. Throughout the years, numerous volunteer librarians dedicated their time and effort to making the Brewster Library a vital resource. Often, the research requests we receive are from people who can not come to the library to do research themselves.  In such situations, we have a volunteer who compiles the information for the request and sends it out.  Currently, Carol Haber does a wonderful job assisting in research at a distance. 

 We encourage the community to explore the past by utilizing our diverse resources. Items of particular interest to researchers in our collection include: biographical & subject files, cemetery index, books, manuscripts, photographs, newspapers, and maps.  If we don't have the information you are looking for, we may be able to refer you to the proper place.  Our website also has a guide to archival resources with useful links to other websites.

Please call ahead or e-mail us when planning your visit to the library so that we can schedule a time and prepare certain materials in advance. 

Essex County Historical Society/Adirondack History Center Museum
7590 Court St., PO Box 428, Elizabethtown, NY 12932
(518)873-6466
research@adkhistorycenter.org
www.adkhistorycenter.org