SIM-23: The 9/11 Documentation Project

The Archives and Special Collections of the CSI Library, building on a mission to document recent history on Staten Island, embarked on a public information and archival documentation project to preserve historical resources that will aid future researchers to understand the immediate response of Staten Islanders to September 11th. September 11th had an immense impact on Staten Island. A large percentage of Staten Islanders work in lower Manhattan and many were commuting to jobs at or around the World Trade Center on September 11th. The number of victims from the Staten Island community was disproportionately high and most people on Staten Island knew one or more of the victims or victims’ families. In addition, the large population of police and firefighters on Staten Island contributed to the tremendous local impact of the tragedy. For months after the event and memorial services, the impact of September 11 th lingered as Staten Island’s Fresh Kills Landfill accepted the debris of the World Trade Center.

With funding from the NYS Archives Documentary Heritage Program, CSI’s Archives and Special Collections surveyed documentation, established relationships with community organizations, and educated the public on the importance of recording, documenting, and preserving the materials related to Staten Island’s response to the events of 9/11. The Archives received materials from public memorials such as the Garden of Healing at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Angels Circle – a spontaneous memorial that has grown into a permanent memorial for the victims from Staten Island, and the World Trade Center Cross at Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House. In addition, the Archives and Special Collections collected materials from schools and churches, local elected officials, and community groups. Photographs, speeches, programs from memorial events, and newspaper clippings make up the rest of the collection. In addition to the Guide to Resources Documenting Staten Island’s Response to 9/11 at the CSI Library, the project also included the creation of a Guide to Resources Documenting Staten Island’s Response to 9/11 at Other Institutions.