Skip to main content

East Hampton Historical Society Hires New Director

Thu, 09/23/2021 - 05:20
The historical society is headquartered in the Osborn Jackson House on East Hampton Main Street.
Durell Godfrey

The East Hampton Historical Society has hired Stephen Long, the president of the Children's Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton, to be its new executive director, the organization announced on Monday. Mr. Long has led CMEE since 2008, and during his tenure attendance has doubled and programming has flourished, the museum said in a statement.

He will step down on Dec. 3, and Liz Bard, the director of education, and Lara Sweeney, the director of development, will serve as interim presidents.

Before working at CMEE, Mr. Long had been vice president of collections and education at the Tenement Museum in Manhattan. The historical society had conducted a nationwide search for a new executive director, Mike Clifford, the president of the board of trustees, said in a statement, and "in the end, we were thrilled to find someone with roots already in the Town of East Hampton. Steve combines a deep commitment to the local community with extensive experience in history and historic preservation."

Mr. Long will join the organization at a time when it is celebrating its 100th anniversary and planning a renovation and reinterpretation of the Marine Museum in Amagansett, the historical society said. "I am excited and honored to join the East Hampton Historical Society and develop new opportunities for the entire community to engage with the past," Mr. Long said. 

Villages

Recognizing Grossman’s Half-Century of Activism

Karl Grossman, an author and educator who has tirelessly advocated for the environment and journalism, and against nukes, will be honored on Saturday at the Sag Harbor Cinema in a fund-raiser hosted by Fred Thiele. 

Nov 13, 2025

Item of the Week: Payment by the Yard, 1794

This weaver’s account book was kept by Benjamin Parsons, who began recording business transactions in 1794. His father was one of 49 weavers in East Hampton who signed the 1778 Loyalty Oath to the British.

Nov 13, 2025

Stepping Up for Jamaica in Hurricane Melissa’s Wake

East Hampton Town’s Jamaican population has been focused on the news and social media since Melissa struck as a Category 5 storm last week, making landfall with winds up to 185 miles per hour.

Nov 6, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.