Lee Bergeson collection of Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge photographs
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Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection contains 42 black and white photographs of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge during construction, dating from 1959 to 1963. These photos are occasionally accompanied by typewritten descriptions and data about the construction of the bridge and the growing population that necessitated it. The collection's photographs extensively document the building of what was, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Biographical / Historical
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Staten Island and Brooklyn. Prior to the building of this bridge, Staten Island's only connection with New York were ferries, which were subject to overcrowding and long wait times for drivers. Construction on the bridge began in 1959 and was completed in 1964. With a total suspended length of 7,400 feet and a mainspan of 4,260 feet, the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge was at the time of its dedication the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The bridge is named after Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, but this name was mispelled in the original dedication of the bridge with only one z: the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The spelling was not officially corrected until 2018. It is commonly referred to as simply the Verrazzano Bridge.
Sources:
1. Gay Talese, The bridge: the building of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (New York: Bloomsbury 2014); TG147.5.T35 2014; Brooklyn Historical Society.
2.Lili Rethi and Andrew M. Young, The great bridge; the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (New York: Ariel 1965); TG25.N5394 Y3 1965; Brooklyn Historical Society.
3. New York State Governor's Press Office, "Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation to Correct the Spelling of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge"; (October 1, 2018).
Arrangement
This collection contains 42 photos which remain in the six photo albums in which they were received. These albums were numbered by their creator: the first three are housed in Box 1, the last three in Box 2.
Scope and Contents
The Lee Bergeson collection of Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge photographs are comprised of six albums dating from circa 1959 to 1963 and including 42 images of the bridge under construction. Some of these images are accompanied by descriptive captions and other contextual materials, particular in the first album, which contains a list of Staten Island population numbers over the years and a fact sheet on United States Steel letterhead, among other items. All of the images are black-and-white. The photographers are unidentified, but the albums themselves were created by John Pollock.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction rights for the photographs have not been evaluated. For information on securing rights to publish or reproduce, please see the Brooklyn Historical Society Reproduction Rights Policy on our website.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Lee Bergeson collection of Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge photographs, 2007.048, Box number, Object ID number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lee Bergeson, 2007.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level. Albums remain intact and were placed in acid-free boxes in the order indicated on their covers by their creator.
