Henry Reed Stiles

Born on March 10, 1832, and dying on January 7, 1909, Henry Reed Stiles was an American physician, historian, and genealogist. Alongside his medical career, he became known for painstaking historical research and for writing works that documented communities, families, and institutions in New York.

He practiced medicine in New York City and also spent several years in Dundee, Scotland. Over time, his interest in the past became a major part of his public reputation, and he produced historical and genealogical volumes including studies of Brooklyn and Long Island as well as family history research.

Stiles is remembered less as a literary figure than as a careful compiler of records and stories that might otherwise have been lost. For listeners who enjoy history close to the ground—local places, everyday lives, and family connections—his work offers a rich window into 19th-century America.