Shelter Island Historical Society: Local Histories by Patricia and Edward Shillingburg

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Patricia and Edward Shillingburg, upon moving to the Island full-time in 1999, researched and wrote about Shelter Island for about 16 years, producing, among other materials, more than 21 titles, most of which are available at the Historical Society. Patricia had grown up summering on the Island; her family had done so since the late 1870s. Edward was from New Mexico and viewed the Pilgrims as latecomers to North America. Louise Green handed them the Jonathan Havens Case letters recently acquired by the Historical Society (despite the name, he turned out to be from Peconic), and they went on to the Nicoll letters and finally the Dering letters, interspersed with detours to the Heights, Francis “Borax” Smith, Community House, and other people and situations that they came upon. They enjoyed working together and, their hope was that their materials would help the Historical Society to preserve and disseminate Island history.

Shown is just a sample of their books. Complete descriptions and additional titles can be found in the Patricia and Edward Shillingburg Books section.