Howard Beach Library Queens Hosts Griffith Archive Exhibit By Marcus Vance, Local Politics Reporter | March 12, 2026 | Community Education NEW YORK — Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott announced Thursday morning that a permanent historical display dedicated to preserving local civil rights history will open in South Queens next month. The administrative decision follows a municipal grant aimed at digitizing historical records and expanding public access to neighborhood documents, according to official board filings. Historical Preservation of the 1986 Michael Griffith Legacy The initiative focuses on the historical events of December 20, 1986, when a racially motivated attack resulted in the tragic death of 23yearold Michael Griffith. This critical period in Queens history is documented extensively on the , which serves as a major reference point for the new public display. Local organizers have spent three years gathering physical newspapers, court records, and oral testimonies to assemble this collection. The project aims to provide educational context for younger generations who did not live through the turbulent decade of the 1980s. Community Education Director Announces New Archive Launch "Our goal is to ensure that history is preserved accurately and taught with absolute transparency," Queens Library Director of Archives Angela Carbone said Thursday afternoon. "We want this space to serve as a classroom for local schools to understand the structural evolution of civil rights in our outer boroughs." The archive will occupy a newly renovated 400squarefoot room inside the civic building on 156th Avenue. The library system has committed to hiring a dedicated archivist to manage the collection and facilitate school field trips starting in the spring term. Oral Histories and Verifiable Court Transcripts Preserved The collection includes over 1,200 digitized legal documents from the state prosecution that followed the 1986 incident. Researchers will have access to highfidelity audio recordings of community board hearings and neighborhood assemblies from that winter. This preservation effort is expected to draw academic researchers from universities across the metropolitan area. The local community center has already coordinated with history departments at Queens College to establish student internship positions at the facility. Collaborative Archival Access with Local Civic Groups Local civic leaders emphasized that the project was built on collaboration between neighborhood groups and municipal historians. Neighborhood associations have donated personal letters and local newsletters that reflect the community's internal dialogue during the late twentieth century. Public safety patrols have also coordinated with local educational groups to ensure the venue remains secure during evening hours. To understand current neighborhood watch efforts, residents can read about how to manage civic gatherings safely. Public Presentation Schedule and Educational Outreach Programs Starting on April 15, 2026, the facility will host biweekly public lectures featuring historians, legal experts, and civil rights advocates. These sessions will be free to the public and will require advance registration through the library's online portal. The educational curriculum developed for the exhibit will also be distributed to public high schools across School District 27. Officials expect more than 3,000 local students to visit the archive during its inaugural year of operation. Frequently Asked Questions How can local residents donate historical materials to the archive? Residents who possess physical documents, letters, or newspapers from the 1980s are encouraged to contact the lead archivist at the 156th Avenue branch. The library will evaluate materials for historical relevance and can professionally digitize items so that owners can retain their original physical copies. Is there an admission fee to access the permanent historical collection? No admission fee will be charged to access any part of the public display or the digital database. The program is fully funded through municipal arts grants and the Queens Public Library system to ensure open access for all researchers. What safety measures are in place for the historical collection? To ensure the safety of the archival documents and visitors, the facility has installed stateoftheart climate control systems and 24hour security cameras. Staff members will oversee the reading room at all times during public operating hours.
