LOCAL HISTORY
Suzanne G. Long Local History Room
History of the Hammond Public Library Archives
Originally named the Calumet Room, the Hammond Public Library archives were founded in 1967 when the Hammond Public Library and the Hammond Historical Society joined in cooperative effort to collect and preserve materials relating to Hammond and the Calumet Region.
Later renamed the Suzanne G. Long Local History Room after the passing of beloved Local History Librarian Suzanne Geis Long, the local history room archives have evolved along with the library. The exponential growth of the collections eventually resulted in a narrowing of the local history room's collecting scope from the entire Calumet Region to a primarily Hammond based one.
About the Local History Room
Hours
Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays: 1pm to 5pm
Wednesdays 1pm to 9pm
Some appointments may be available in the mornings or Mondays and Saturdays by request and availability.
For questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact:
Amanda Aguilera, Local History Librarian
Hammond Public Library
For questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact:
(219) 931-5100 Ext. 307
Collections
As with most archives, the majority of the collections found in SGL are paper artifacts and photographs. However, small historical items of interest have also been accepted over the years in order to faithfully reflect the past eras that are represented in our archives.
An example of the types of collections you may find in the Suzanne G. Long Local History Room are:
-
Photograph and negatives
-
City directories or phone books
-
Maps and plat books
-
Informational files on various Hammond related subjects
-
Biographical files on Hammond families and individuals
-
High school yearbooks
-
Scrapbooks
-
Newspapers on microfilm
Currently, a small amount of SGL's collections have been digitized and added to our online collections. The number of artifacts included in our online collections is continually growing.
SGL's online collections are divided into two databases: the Local History Room Collection Database and the Local History Digital Resources page. The Local History Room Collection Database includes all artifacts that have been processed and cataloged currently. The Local History Digital Resources page contains direct links to several large and popular digital databases, such as our Digital Yearbook Collection or our City Directories Collection.
Research Requests & Reproductions
The Local History Room Librarian or HPL staff will fill research requests dependent on size of the request and staff availability. Large requests for patrons that live outside of the Calumet Region are filled solely at the discretion of the Local History Librarian. Generally it is expected that patrons come to the archives and conduct their own research with, if necessary, the assistance of the Local History Librarian.
To submit a research request, please click on the Research Requests button.
SGL permits the use of digital and print reproductions of its collection materials according to federal rights and restrictions. We permit and encourage personal and educational use for unrestricted collection items. Physical copies can be made in the Local History Room for $.10 per page or scanned and emailed to the patron when possible.
The Hammond Public Library reserves the right to refuse reproduction permission based upon the intended use of the item, existing condition issues with the item, or the reproduction method.
Higher quality or high-resolution photograph images and copies are available upon request at the Local History Librarian's discretion. For publication, commercial use, or distribution, patrons are required to fill out a Reproduction Request Form and submit it to the Local History Librarian for administrative approval prior to receiving or making the copies.
Please keep in mind that many of the photographs displayed in our digital collection have been digitally restored and can vary from the current state of the original.
Note: All reproductions obtained from the archives requires credit to be given when shared. The following is an acceptable example of a basic credit line: Courtesy of the Hammond Public Library.
Donations
The Suzanne G. Long Local History Room continues to collect items of historical significance related to the Hammond area. If you are interested in donating something to our collection, please contact us to make an donation assessment appointment.
The library reserves the right to decline a donation for any reason; including, but not limited to, the following:
-
The archives already has the item or document in the collections
-
The item or document is not a good match for the SGL collections
-
The space and housing requirements exceed the capability of the archives
-
The item or document is hazardous to the health of staff or patrons (e.g. moldy, active pest infestation, etc.)
-
The item or document is too fragile to be properly preserved and cared for in the archives
For more information about what is accepted, please contact the Local History Librarian at aguila@hammond.lib.in.us.
After an item or collection is accepted for SGL, the donor will be expected to either come into the library during the archives' open hours to fill out a Deed of Gift donation form OR fill it out and mail it with the item.
Note: The library reserves the right to dispose of items left/abandoned at the library without proper documentation (i.e. Deed of Gift form).
Copyright
While the archives attempts to monitor collections for copyright restrictions, the archives collections are obtained from many sources and are intended primarily for research and educational purposes. Certain works may be protected by copyright, trademark, or related interests not governed by the Hammond Public Library. While copyright attachments will be shared with patrons if known, the responsibility for ascertaining whether any additional rights exist, and for obtaining all necessary permissions, remains with the researcher.
For more information on copyright:
Obituaries
The Hammond Public Library currently offers obituary retrieval service for the Hammond Times/Northwest Indiana Times, from 1931 to 2019.
Service Fees:
-
daf
-
Physical copy & delivery: $5.00 per obituary
-
Digital copy & delivery: Free
To retrieve an obituary, patrons need to submit a filled out Times Obituary Request Form with information on the individual in question. Patrons can consult our list of Hammond Times Obituary indexes on our Local History Digital Resources page for exact dates and page numbers.