"Gotham Without Long Island: Thinking the Unthinkable" is the intriguing title
of the featured talk by Edwin G. Burrows at an April 10th Long Island Studies
conference at Hofstra University.  Professor Burrows is the co-author of Gotham:
A History of New  York City to 1898" which was awarded the Pulitzer prize for
history in 1999.  The conference, sponsored by the Long Island Studies
Institute, includes presentations on Long Island artist William Sidney Mount,
African American whalers, Native Americans, maritime Long Island, Gold Coast
estate islands.   Hofstra professor Natalie A. Naylor, Director of the
Institute, will give a slide talk, "A Sense of Place: Long Island History and
Heritage."  Barbara M. Kelly, Curator of the Institute, will speak on "'What
have you got, and what can I use it for?' A Researcher's Guide to the Long
Island Studies Institute Collections." "Behind Enemy Lines: Long Island in the
America Revolution" is the topic which will be addressed by John G. Staudt of
Hofstra's History Department.  Hofstra professor Daniel L. Miller and his
students from the School of Communication will present Student Video
Documentaries on Long Island History, Society and Culture.  Other topics
addressed at the conference include an oral history workshop, how to uncover the
history of your house, teaching the Long Island Story, and recent films on
Jones Beach and the golden age of aviation on Long Island.
        Making its debut at the conference is the latest book published under
the auspices of the Long Island Studies Institute, Nassau County: From Rural
Hinterland to Suburban Metropolis.  Sections of this conference volume are
devoted to national perspectives, the creation of Nassau County, governance and
political leadership, the 19th century and earlier, changes and
transformations, health care, aerospace heritage, and people and places.
The 336-page book published by Empire State Books in Interlaken, NY is $19.99
 in paperback and $35in hardcover.
        Conference registrants have the opportunity to purchase this and other
Long Island Studies books.  The one-day conference is open to the public.
Information about Institute publications and the Long Island Studies conference
including registration fees can be obtained by calling the Institute, (516)
463-6411.  The Institute is located on HofstraUs West Campus at 619 Fulton
Avenue (Hempstead Turnpike), Hempstead, New York.  The Institute collections
are open to the general public for research, Monday through Friday from  9 a.m. to
5 p.m.
        For a conference announcement, you can e-mail the Institute secretary,
Victoria Aspinwall @ <[log in to unmask]>
        Submitted by Natalie A. Naylor, Director, Long Island Studies
Institute, [log in to unmask]