Ryerson family papers and photographs: Ryerson family papers and photographs: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Call Number

ARC.095

Date

1700 to circa 1920, inclusive

Creator

Ryerson family

Extent

1.75 Linear Feet

in two manuscript boxes and one oversize box

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The Ryerson family papers and photographs contain deeds, wills, invoices, receipts, account books, architectural records, tax records, genealogical notes, minutes, and photographs relating to the Ryerson family of Brooklyn. The collection spans the 18th and 19th centuries with the bulk of the collection from the 19th century. John and Jacob Ryerson inherited family farmland in Wallabout. The brothers also owned farmland in Flatlands on New Lots Road near Kings Highway. Also, a Ryerson family homestead was located on what is now the Parade Grounds in Prospect Park. Variations of the Ryerson family name include Adriance, Martense, Ryers, and Ryerse.

Biographical note

The Ryerson family of Brooklyn descended from early Dutch settlers who immigrated to New Netherland as early as 1623. Marten Ryerson first came to New Amsterdam around 1647. He arrived with his brother Adriaen and they settled in Flatbush, now a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The Ryerson brothers operated a large farm that ran along what is now Flatbush Avenue.

On May 14, 1663, Marten Ryerson married Annetje Joris de Rapelje in the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn. Annetje was the daughter of Joris Jansen de Rapelje and Catalina de Rapelje (nee Tricot). The Rapeljes were one of the first Dutch families to settle in Fort Orange in 1623. Fort Orange was one of the two original Dutch trading posts that were located in what is now Albany, N.Y. From Fort Orange, the Rapelje family moved first to New Amsterdam and then across Wallabout Bay, now Upper New York Bay, to Wallabout, the area of land extending eastward into Brooklyn from Wallabout Bay. Today, Wallabout would include the DUMBO and Vinegar Hill neighborhoods of Brooklyn. In addition to being the first area settled by Europeans in Brooklyn, Wallabout was also the site of the first ferry landing between Manhattan and Brooklyn in 1637.

Several generations later, John and Jacob Ryerson inherited family farmland in Wallabout. The brothers also owned farmland in Flatlands on New Lots Road near Kings Highway. Also, a Ryerson family homestead was located on what is now the Parade Grounds in Prospect Park.

Variations of the Ryerson family name include Adriance, Martense, Ryers, and Ryerse.

Sources:

Ryerson, Albert Winslow. The Ryerson genealogy: genealogy and history of the Knickerbocker families of Ryerson, Ryerse, Ryerss; also Adriance and Martense families; all descendants of Martin and Adriaen Reyerz (Reyerszen), of Amsterdam, Holland. Chicago: Privately printed for E.L. Ryerson, 1916.
Ryerson, Louis Johnes. The Genealogy of the Ryerson Family in America, 1646-1902. New York: Jenkins & McCowan, 1902.

Scope and Contents note

The Ryerson family papers and photographs contain deeds, wills, invoices, receipts, account books, architectural records, tax records, genealogical notes, minutes, and photographs relating to the Ryerson family of Brooklyn. The collection spans the 18th and 19th centuries with the bulk of the collection from the 19th century. The collection is organized into two series: Ryerson family papers and Ryerson family photographs.

Subjects

Families

Ryerson family

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction rights for the photographs have not been evaluated. Please consult library staff for more information.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Ryerson family papers and photographs, ARC.095, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of William Navin, 1994.

Collection processed by

Patricia Glowinski

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:21:19 +0000.

Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information note

Minimally processed to the series level.

This collection combines the accessions 1994.017, 1994.018, and V1995.018.

Additional content contributed by Emily Reynolds (January 2011) and John Zarrillo (December 2014).

Sponsor Note

This collection was processed and described in October 2007 by Ilaria Papini. The finding aid was revised and entered into Archivists' Toolkit by Nicholas Pavlik as part of the project, "Uncovering the Secrets of Brooklyn's 19th Century Past: Creation to Consolidation," funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources, with additional support from The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Box: ARC.095 1 of 2 (Material Type: Text)

Box: ARC.095 2 of 2 (Material Type: Text)

Oversize: OS-26 (Material Type: Text)

Ryerson family papers and photographs