Long Island was one of the centers of Quakerism in colonial America. Quakers or Friends were active in Flushing, Oyster Bay, Jericho, Westbury, and Matinecock a generation before William Penn's colony began in Pennsylvania. Long Island Quakers took a forthright stand for freedom to practice their religion and, in the process, helped forge the acceptance of religious diversity and religious freedom in America.

This first published transcription of the Minutes of the early Long Island Quaker meetings, 1671-1703 include the earliest surviving Quaker Minute in America. That May 23, 1671 Minute refers to meetings at Oyster Bay, Matinecock, and at the "wood edge" (Westbury). These early records are from John Cox's 1898 copy of the Minutes--more complete today than the original, which is now in the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. The Minutes have been edited to make the records accessible to today's readers while retaining the flavor of the seventeenth-century document. The Appendixes provide additional information, including entries from George Fox's diary on his 1672 visit to Long Island and selections from Henry Onderdonk's 1878 history of Quakers. These records document the early history of Quakers on Long Island.

Elizabeth H. Moger, Keeper of the Records at the Haviland Records Room from 1978 to 1997, has written a Foreword. The Introduction is by Mildred Murphy DeRiggi, an historian with the Nassau County Museum Services, whose doctoral dissertation was "Quakerism on Long Island: The First Fifty Years, 1657-1707."

Editor:
Natalie A. Naylor was Director of the Long Island Studies Institute and Professor in Hofstra University's New College, where she taught courses in American social history, including Long Island history. She has edited or co-edited several of the Institute's conference volumes and has published many articles on educational history and Long Island history. She is now Professor Emerita.

Publication and Ordering Information:
This book was published by Empire State Books and Hofstra University in January 2001. Illustrated with maps and photographs and indexed, the 174-page book is $28 in the hardcover edition (1-55787-2 ) and $18 in paperback (1-55787-159-0); LC: 00-135654.

This and other Long Island Studies Institute books can be ordered from the Weathervane Shop of the Suffolk County Historical Society, 300 W. Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901, (631) 727-2881, fax (631) 727-3467, histsoc@suffolk.lib.ny.us; or Heart of the Lakes Publishing, Box 299, Interlaken, NY 14847, (607) 532-4204, fax (607) 532-4684, or HLPbooks@aol.com. Schools, libraries and bookstores can purchase from the Long Island Studies Institute, Hofstra University, West Campus Library, 619 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11549, LISI@Hofstra.edu, (516) 463-6441, fax (516) 463-6441.

Contents:
Foreword by Elizabeth H. Moger
Introduction by Mildred Murphy DeRiggi
Preface by Natalie A. Naylor
Editorial Method by Natalie A. Naylor
John Cox's Preface
Minutes: Westbury Quarterly Meeting, Flushing Monthly Meeting, and Flushing Yearly Meeting, 1671-1703
Appendices
A. George Fox's Visit to Long Island by George Fox
B. The Rise and Growth of the Society of Friends on Long Island and in New York City by Henry Onderdonk, Jr.
C. Quaker Manuscripts and Microfilms in the Long Island Studies Institute
D. Quaker Meetings and Meeting Houses
Bibliography
Indexes

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