Westbury Library Uncovers Inspiring Stories of Local History in 'Dear Miss Overton' Documentary

The library's new film explores the lives of remarkable men who were once young patrons, many of whom went on to become writers, scientists, and pioneers in their fields.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Westbury Memorial Public Library has created a new historical documentary called 'Dear Miss Overton' that delves into its archives to uncover the stories of a generation of remarkable men who were among the first Westbury youths to join the library. Enriched by memorabilia from the Historical Society of Westbury, the film explores how these men went on to become writers, scientists, educators, and pioneers in their fields, with some leaving only faint traces in public records and others suffering personal tragedies. The documentary, which features narration by the library's archivist and voiceovers from library staff and community members, aims to shine a light on the library's resources and the lasting impact it had on the lives of these former patrons.

Why it matters

This documentary highlights the important role that local libraries can play in shaping the lives of young people and fostering their growth and success. By uncovering the stories of these former library patrons, many of whom went on to have remarkable careers and accomplishments, the film showcases the lasting impact that a community institution like the Westbury Library can have. It also promotes the library's own resources, including its digitized archives and historical collections, which were instrumental in bringing these stories to light.

The details

The genesis of 'Dear Miss Overton' dates back to 2024, when the library republished a 1949 Westbury Times article celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Robert Bacon Memorial Children's Library. Written by Jacqueline Overton, the article contained excerpts of letters written to her by eight men who were once youths at the Westbury Library. Intrigued by what became of these men, the library's reference librarian, Ian Bloomfield, began digging into the archives and discovered that many of them had gone on to become writers, scientists, educators, and pioneers in their fields. Bloomfield's research spanned a year and a half, and he was able to track down relatives and other sources to uncover more details about the lives of these former library patrons.

  • In 2024, the Westbury Memorial Public Library republished a 1949 Westbury Times article celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Robert Bacon Memorial Children's Library.
  • The library began working on the 'Dear Miss Overton' documentary in 2024 and completed it in 2026.

The players

Ian Bloomfield

A Westbury reference librarian who wrote and edited the 'Dear Miss Overton' documentary.

Jacqueline Overton

The author of the 1949 Westbury Times article that contained excerpts of letters written by eight men who were once youths at the Westbury Library.

Bill Delamar

The first African-American postmaster in Binghamton, New York, who was featured in the documentary.

Floyd Zulli Jr.

A professor featured on the Emmy-winning Sunrise Semester televised college course, who was also featured in the documentary.

Howard Griffin

A respected writer and advocate for racial equality who worked for the British-American poet W.H. Auden and was friends with other literary luminaries like Frank O'Hara, Marianne Moore, and Katherine Anne Porter.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful video history of the Westbury Library. It meant a great deal to see my father, George William (Bill) Delamar, and our family included in such a thoughtful way. The stories and memories you captured bring the library's past to life and honor the people who helped shape it over the years.”

— Marcia Griffin, Daughter of Bill Delamar (longislandpress.com)

“The spectrum of what these men did and experienced with their lives was really unusual. People come from your town and do all sorts of different things with their lives that you might never know about.”

— Ian Bloomfield, Westbury reference librarian (longislandpress.com)

“This is a wonderful documentary about local history on Long Island and it brings to light how important libraries are in the formative years in providing a foundation for success.”

— Andrea Morale, Library's cultural programming specialist (longislandpress.com)

What’s next

The library plans to host additional screenings of the 'Dear Miss Overton' documentary for the community in the coming months.

The takeaway

This documentary showcases the profound impact that a local library can have on the lives of young people, fostering their growth and success in ways that can ripple through generations. By uncovering the stories of these remarkable former library patrons, the Westbury Library has not only honored its own history, but also highlighted the enduring value of community institutions in shaping the lives of those they serve.