Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection contains approximately 7000 items dating from the mid 19th century to the beginning of the 21st.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into two groups. "Images with object IDS" consists of photographs that are numbered by accession number. Accession V1973.005 accounts for the majority of this group, along with V1973.006. The second group, "Images by subject," is unnumbered and is arranged alphabetically by subject. Item-level description for the images with object IDS is available in the library's image database, PastPerfect.
Scope and Contents
The Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection contains approximately 7000 items dating from the mid 19th century to the beginning of the 21st. The collection provides comprehensive visual documentation of the borough of Brooklyn, N.Y., with images of neighborhoods, homes, buildings, businesses, parks, the waterfront, and infrastructure. Subjects of interest include aerial views of Brooklyn, major local banks, armories, bridges, churches, civic groups, libraries, museums, schools, parks, railroads, subway stations, and city and government agencies such as prisons, fire and police departments, and post offices. Over 30 Brooklyn neighborhoods are documented, including Brownstone Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Brownsville, Canarsie, Flatlands, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Borough Park, and Flatbush. In addition to images of the Brooklyn Navy Yard (formally known as the New York Naval Shipyard), the collection also contains photographs of Brooklyn docks, harbors, and ferries.
Subjects
Genres
Topics
Places
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn photographs and illustrations, ARC.202, Box number, Object ID number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The bulk of the collection was formalized into a collection in 1973, but material was collected throughout the 20th century and into the 21st from various news agencies, magazines, journals, and other print publications, as well as from other sources.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
Other Finding Aids
Item-level description and digital versions of images with object IDs are available for searching via the image database in the library.
A full index of subjects in accessions V1973.005, V1973.006, and the "prints by subject" section is available in paper form in the library.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection combines the accessions V1973.5, V1973.6, V1991.012, and V1991.032, among others.
Finding aid authored by Weatherly Stephan on April 27, 2011. Additional content contributed by Patricia Glowinski on November 4, 2011. Oversized items folded into prints by subject by Mary Mann on June 21, 2019. Immediate Source of Acquisition note and Conditions Governing Use note updated by John Zarrillo in February 2015. Collection reprocessed and finding aid revised by Diana Bowers in 2022 and 2023.
Sponsor Note
Repository
Images by Object ID
V1973.5.1 - V1973.5.279
V1973.5.280 - V1973.5.529
V1973.5.530 - V1973.5.749
V1973.5.750 - V1973.5.999
V1973.5.1000 - V1973.5.1249
V1973.5.1250 - V1973.5.1539
V1973.5.1540 - V1973.5.1829
V1973.5.1830 - V1973.5.2169
V1973.5.2170 - V1973.5.2569
V1973.5.2570 - V1973.5.2969
V1973.5.2580
V1973.5.2970 - V1973.5.3389
V1973.5.3390 - V1973.5.3734
V1973.6.1 - V1973.6.459
V1973.6.460 - V1973.6.773
V1973.6.745-758
V1978.38.1
Scope and Contents
Annual dinner of the Brevoort Savings Bank, February 4 1948.
V1978.4.4
Scope and Contents
50th anniversary luncheon to Willard P. Schenk by fellow officers of the Brooklyn Trust Co., December 1 1938.
V1991.12.1-3, 9-10
V1991.12.4-8, 11-15
V1992.32.1-2, 4, 6
V1991.32.3, 5
V1991.32.8, 9, 11
V1997.66
Images by Subject
Conditions Governing Access
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject, and is open for research without restrictions. This series has not been digitized.
African Americans
American Revolution
Animals
Architecture
Scope and Contents
Includes an image of a model of a pediment from the Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn.
Armories
Scope and Contents
One image of the Brooklyn armory at 52nd Street and 2nd Avenue.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Patricia Knox.
Army - People
Creator
Scope and Contents
One image of Jerry Strickland, son of Johnathan Strickland, son of Harmon Strickland.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of G.W. Wight, 1954.
Subjects
People
Artwork
Asian Americans
Scope and Contents
Photographs by Rex Chen, a photographer hired by BHS for an exhibition on Sunset Park.
Aviation - Airmail planes
Creator
Aviation - Airplanes
Creator
Aviation - Airports
Creator
Subjects
Organizations
Aviation - Dirigibles
Creator
Aviation - People
Creator
Bay Ridge
Scope and Contents
Includes a black and white photograph of Bay Ridge High School (now PS 485 High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology) and a color print of a private residence on 82nd Street.
Bedford Stuyvesant
Scope and Contents
Includes a photograph of buildings on Herkimer Street circa 1921 and a circa 19th century print of buildings on Gates Avenue.
Bensonhurst
Scope and Contents
One 1888 black and white photograph of a steam train at Bensonhurst station.
Bergen Beach
Scope and Contents
One black and white photograph of Bergen Beach seen from the water, 1918.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Harry Seeback, 1975.
Boerum Hill
Scope and Contents
One of the two photographs in this folder is labeled "from H. Dickson McKenna."
Bridges
Brooklyn - General
Scope and Contents
One book of photo postcards depicting Brooklyn landmarks by A. Wittemann, copyright 1903.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edward Sack, 2010.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Scope and Contents
3 prints from periodicals.
Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Eagle Statue
Brooklyn Heights, 1750-1850, inclusive
Brooklyn Heights, 1851-1865, inclusive
Brooklyn Heights, 1865-1900, inclusive
Brooklyn Heights, 1900-1920, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes one advertising booklet about "Mansion House," an apartment building on Hicks Street between Clark and Pierrepont.
Brooklyn Heights, 1920-1940, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes one image of 142 Joralemon Street, architect Philip Freshman.
Brooklyn Heights, 1940-1960, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes three portrait photographs in Hotel Bossert souvenir folders.
Brooklyn Heights, 1980-2000, inclusive
Brooklyn Heights - Church of Holy Trinity
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Scope and Contents
Also includes Wallabout Market.
Buildings, Houses - Dutch Homesteads
Creator
Scope and Contents
Includes Breevort, Vanderveer, Wyckoff-Bennett, Martense, Ditmas, Duryea, Lott, Neefus. One image of the Bevier house is by Leo C. Spies.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Some of the images in this folder are labeled "from Maude E. Dillard."
Subjects
People
Buildings, Houses - Identified
Scope and Contents
Addresses include 1781 East 15th Street, 511 Greene Avenue, 2358 West 12th Street, 1215 Dunne Court. Also includes Foster house, New York Telephone Co. building, Malcolm MacKinnon residence.
Buildings, Houses - Unidentified
Creator
Immediate Source of Acquisition
One of the photographs is stamped with the name and address of Walter Bursten.
Subjects
People
Business and Commerce - Advertisements
Business and Commerce - Bars and Restaurants
Business and Commerce - Business
Scope and Contents
One photograph is of people in the office of Pendleton and Pendleton, Inc. at 135 Montague Street circa 1925, donated by Margaret Menard Price, whose father Albert Robert Menard (d. 1987) was president of the company.
Also includes Leonard Moody real estate office, Dime Savings Bank, Williamsburg Savings Bank building, and an image of the truck of Frank Waring, lace curtain refinisher, donated by Thomas Ahern, August 1993.
Box 22 includes "A Hot Summer Day," 1995, which was a gift of Phyllis Starkman in 2017 and is a color photo of Heights Cinema, as well as images of Kings County Savings Bank and Grand Opera House.
Business and Commerce - Commerce
Business and Commerce - Factories/ Industrial
Scope and Contents
Includes Empire Stores (Marcia Reiss photos), Bush Terminal, Socony Vacuum Oil Co. (Mobil).
Business and Commerce - Labor Movements
Scope and Contents
Copies of two images from the Sam Reiss Photographs, Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, NYU. One depicts a picket line outside Beth-El hospital and the other Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking at an event for Local 1199, Drug and Hospital Employees.
Business and Commerce - Ladder Companies
Scope and Contents
One photograph that was the gift of Patricia Knox. Another depicts "Bridge Street Colored Church" with scaffolding on its front facade.
Business and Commerce - Merchants and Vendors
Scope and Contents
Includes two photos of horse-drawn carts that were the gift of Bob Mickert and an image of a horse-drawn cart from Frederick Loeser's.
Business and Commerce - Mills
Business and Commerce - Women at work
Cemeteries - Greenwood
Churches - Buildings
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Christ Church (Bay Ridge), Old Bushwick Church, Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush, and Third M.E. Church, Washington Street, stamped "Armbruster collection" on verso.
Box 22 includes Holy Cross Cloister.
Churches - Congregants
Scope and Contents
Box 16 includes Sunday Services at Charity R.C. Church in Crown Heights by Rodney K. Hurley, Junior Choir of the Middle Collegiate Church.
Box 22 includes Baptist Temple choir (1948) and a Pentecostal Norwegian group of the Salem Gospel Tabernacle at Seventh Avenue and 52nd Street (1939; V1988.51.1).
Churches - Plymouth Church
Scope and Contents
Most of the photographs in this folder are credited to either Roy Pinney or Boro Wide Photos.
Civic Organizations
Scope and Contents
Includes Red Cross Auxiliary of the Reformed Church of Flatbush (1944) and the Borinquen Democratic Club.
Box 22 includes images of the National Area Health Education Center Organization (pictured at Borough Hall) and the Third Congress of American Poets (1938; V1998.9.6).
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Many of the photographs in Box 22 are rolled and may be inaccessible to researchers.
Civic Organizations - Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Scope and Contents
Includes images of a 1930 women's dinner attended by Eleanor Roosevelt, a circa 1924 golf tournament, and a circa 1927 West Indies cruise.
Box 22 includes an image of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce members with President Coolidge at the White House, April 1927.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The photograph in Box 22 is rolled and may not be accessible to researchers.
Clubs and Associations
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Daughters of the American Revolution Battle Pass chapter 50th anniversary (1955, photo by R.H. White); Morse Telegraph Club (1964, gift of Joseph B. Milgram); Greenpoint Patriotic League (1944); Lincoln Public Speaking Club (1927-1929); Long Island Tercentenary Committee; Long Island Linksmen; Long Island Fair; Whig and Tory Day; Committee to Preserve Flatbush Town Hall; Knickerbocker Field Club; Brooklyn Tennis Club; Brooklyn Safety Council; Brooklyn Real Estate Board; Brooklyn Democratic Committee; Todd Memorial Post #1201 American Legion (1946).
Box 22 includes images of the National Association of Organists.
Subjects
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Many of the photographs in Box 22 are rolled and may be inaccessible to researchers.
Cobble Hill
Coney Island, 19th century, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Also includes Brighton Beach.
Coney Island, 1900-1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes a circa 1900-1910 image of the officers of the 69th precinct standing outside their building on West 8th Street (Box 22). Also includes an image of the Manhattan Beach hotel and one souvenir image of Henry and Rose Haber circa 1916 that was the gift of Frances Haber.
Coney Island, 1950-1970, inclusive
Scope and Contents
One photograph of the Parachute Jump circa 1955 by Harry Kalmus.
Coney Island, circa 1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two photographs: Polar Bear Club by Frank Passalagua and Coney Island Bayview Gardens Astella Development Corp. by Stephen Senigo (1985).
Dinners and banquets
Scope and Contents
Includes Brooklyn Rotary Club Dodgers lunch (1945); YWCA 75th anniversary (1963; Gift of Frederick C. Ward, 1994); Catholic Men's League of New York Navy Yard (1943); Morning Choral luncheons and dinners (1927, 1932, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1949, 1954); A. Schrader & Sons Co. testimonial dinner for Miss M. Forbes (Gift of Irene Kasika Jansky); Brooklyn Council, Boy Scouts of America (V1995.039); Flushing Oratorio Society (1936); 12:45 Club (1940, 1948); New York Federated Music Clubs (1948); Prospect Heights Hospital Dinner Dance in Honor of Mrs. Maud West (1957; Gift of Frances Bernstein).
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Many of the photographs under this subject are rolled and may be inaccessible to researchers.
Downtown Brooklyn, 1750-1850, inclusive
Scope and Contents
One illustration of Borough Hall.
Downtown Brooklyn, 1850-1900, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Mostly images of Borough Hall with one image of "shanties at the foot of Court Street."
Downtown Brooklyn, 1900-1920, inclusive
Downtown Brooklyn, 1920-1950, inclusive
Downtown Brooklyn, 1950-1980, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Borough Hall and county courthouse.
Dumbo
Scope and Contents
Color photographs from Marcia Reiss, 2002; Empire Stores, circa 1970.
Engineering and Construction
Scope and Contents
One circa 19th century image of what appears to be sewer pipes on the street.
Farm Life
Scope and Contents
Includes Lefferts, Boerum and Vanderveer barns.
Fire Department
Scope and Contents
Includes photos of pictures from an 1892 history of the Brooklyn Fire Department that were the gift of Mike Gorman and Museum of the City of New York picture postcards of fire engines and carriages that were the gift of H.M. Nicholson, 1956.
Fire Destruction
Flatbush
Flatlands
Scope and Contents
Includes Stoothoff, Lott, Remsen, and Bergen residences.
Fort Greene
Fort Hamilton
Forts
Gay Life
Scope and Contents
One set of black and white photos of the Stonewall project, September 1992. Several copies of one photo of a meeting of the East Coast Homophile Organization (ECHO), 1965, Jack Nichols collection.
Gowanus
Scope and Contents
Schermerhorn house; Old Stone House; view from Battle Hill.
Gravesend
Scope and Contents
Mural of Lady Moody that hung in Greater New York Savings Bank, Bay Parkway and 67th Street, until 1975; Lake, Stryker, and Wyckoff-Bennett homesteads.
Greenpoint
Scope and Contents
Debevoise house; Newtown Creek; McGolrick Park.
Hospitals
Scope and Contents
Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital (some items gift of Paul Castellon, 1976); Long Island College Hospital (set of June 1983 images numbered V1998.025); Graham Institute for Aged Females; Coney Island Hospital (gift of Joyce Hounsell, 1998; accession 2023.045).
Interiors - By address
Scope and Contents
295 Sterling Place; 22 Halsey Street; John J. Hill home, 301 Hicks Street; 44 Linden Street; 42 Bartlett Street. Note that an image of the exterior of 42 Bartlett Street is housed in Street Scenes and Buildings.
Interiors - Unidentified
Italian Americans
Scope and Contents
Giglio festival and Italian food stores circa 1980s.
Landscapes
Libraries
Scope and Contents
One image of proposed (never completed) Central library (Brooklyn Public Library).
Long Island
Manhattan
Maps
Memorials, Markers, and Gravestones
Scope and Contents
Includes Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument at Fort Greene Park.
Midwood
Scope and Contents
One image of Midwood Club, Flatbush Avenue.
Military
Mill Basin
Scope and Contents
Schenk homestead.
Motion Pictures
Museums
Scope and Contents
Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn Children's Museum; MoMA P.S. 1
Navy
Creator
New Jersey
New Utrecht
New York State
Parades
Scope and Contents
Includes a set of images of the Brooklyn Heights Historic Parade, crica 1984, gift of Adelay Liss, executrix of Robert Kahn's estate.
Park Slope
Scope and Contents
Several images of the Cortelyou house/Old Stone House; homes on 5th Street and 8th Avenue; apartment building at 118 8th Avenue; corner of Union and Plaza Streets; Litchfield Mansion.
Parks
Scope and Contents
1868 design for layout of Fort Greene Park from Manual of the Common Council of the City of Brooklyn.
Politics
Scope and Contents
Includes an image of Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden with his family.
Prisons
Scope and Contents
Two images of Kings County Penitentiary and several of the penitentiary at Blackwell's Island.
Prospect Park
Scope and Contents
Several color photos of a reenactment of the Battle of Brooklyn; Lefferts homestead; Litchfield villa; Boat House. Some images gift of Dorothy A. Burns.
Box 29 contains a 3' long rolled panoramic photo of Charles Lindbergh addressing a crowd at Prospect Park in June 1927.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The photograph in Box 29 is rolled and may be inaccessible to researchers.
Prospect Park - Grand Army Plaza
Scope and Contents
Two photographs in this folder depict the statue being installed on top of the arch and were the gift of Patricia Knox. One image of the plaza from above was the gift of the Bronx Historical Society.
Prospect Park - Plans and Drawings
Scope and Contents
Replica of Mount Vernon; Dairy; Lullwood bridge; Concert Grove house; well and boiler house; observatory; parade ground lodge and shelter; Bartel Pritchard square; Eastern Parkway.
Prospect Park - Zoo
Scope and Contents
One photograph: meeting at Borough Hall in June 1935: Robert Moses, Alfred E. Smith, Raymond V. Ingersoll, and Louis C. Wills (chairman of Prospect Park Zoo committee). Planning the raising of funds for the procurement of animals.
Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
Queens
Rallies, mid-1990s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
One set of color photos of a Protect the Arts rally to "keep culture in NYC - stop 100% cuts to arts programs," mid-1990s.
Red Hook
Scope and Contents
Erie Basin; Atlantic docks; Red Hook Houses; Battery tunnel.
Religion - Judaism
Russian Americans
Scope and Contents
One image of Black Sea Bookstore, Inc.
Schools
Scope and Contents
Erasmus; Pratt; Adelphi; Packer; Church of the Pilgrims; P.H.H. nursing; International School of Music; P.S. 179 (June 1920); Mark Hopkins JHS (January 1944; V1997.033); P.S. 102 (June 1941; 2004.013; Gift of Rosary Gilheany [nee Scacciaferro]); Prospect Heights Presbyterian Sabbath School.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The photograph from P.S. 179 is rolled and inaccessible to researchers.
Sheepshead Bay
Scope and Contents
Three of the photographs in this folder are labeled "Saul Goldsmith collection."
Shipping Industry
Scope and Contents
Includes an image of an overhead crane at the Eastern District Terminal. One of the photographs in this folder is labeled "Schwartz collection."
Ships
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs by seaman Irving Mordkowitz of surrender ship USS Missouri (built Brooklyn Navy Yard) returning for the last time, October 1947. Also includes a photograph of the Indiana in dry dock, Brooklyn Navy Yard, October 1898, gift of Isabelle L. Ivory, 1949.
Sports and Recreation - Acting and Theater
Sports and Recreation - Athletics
Creator
Scope and Contents
Mostly baseball teams and players, and one image of Mrs. Leon M. Schoonmaker, a woman fencer.
Sports and Recreation - Children
Scope and Contents
Box 19 includes a set of color photos of soccer teams in Red Hook circa 1995 and a black and white image of a toy sailboat race in Prospect Park.
Box 25 includes a black and white photo of a boy scout troop circa early 20th century.
Sports and Recreation - Gaming and Horseracing
Scope and Contents
1977 photo of what appears to be a lottery winner taken by George Kanatous. Horseracing photos by Underwood & Underwood.
Staten Island
Scope and Contents
One color print of Staten Island quarantine in 1833 and one set of black and white photos of historic Staten Island buildings, 1885-1886, gift of E.M. Luidley.
Street Scenes and Buildings
Scope and Contents
In box 19, buildings include 42 Bartlett Street (see also Interiors - Identified); A.J. Nutting and Co.; 663-667 Utica Avenue vacant lots, 1954 (Saul Goldsmith collection).
Streets include Clinton Avenue, Snyder Avenue (1910, home of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Shafer, gift of Peter Blulim, 1996); Elton Street; Fulton Street; Flatbush Avenue; corner of Joralemon Street and Court Street; Marlborough Road.
In box 25, there is an image of a crowd on Bergen Street circa 1880 and an image of the Jonathan Longmire house on Woodruff Avenue and St. Paul's Place.
Sunset Park
Scope and Contents
One image of 4th Avenue at 51st Street (1902) and one image of a home at the foot of 39th Street.
Transportation - Buses
Scope and Contents
One image of what appears to be a dispatcher.
Transportation - Cars
Transportation - Destruction of the Myrtle Avenue elevated railroad, 1970-1971, inclusive
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Adelay Liss, executrix of Robert Kahn's estate.
Transportation - Elevated Trains, Queens
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Theodore B. Wiebel, 1973.
Transportation - Ferryboats
Scope and Contents
Many images of Fulton Ferry.
Transportation - Horses
Scope and Contents
Includes a color illustration of a horse-drawn railroad car (gift of H.M. Nicholson); photograph of S. Sylvester May Gas and Electric fixtures horse-drawn vehicle, Schermerhorn Street, c. 1905; black and white illustrations of sleighing parties; Thomas Molloy and son in a carriage drawn by the horse Billy Paxton; and a photograph of Frank Waring and others in a horse-drawn carriage (gift of Thomas Ahern, 1993).
Transportation - LIRR
Transportation - NY Transit Strike, 1980
Transportation - Railroads
Scope and Contents
Includes images of the steam train "Gravesend" at Coney Island station (Box 25) and the elevated tracks at Fulton and Court Streets.
Transportation - Subways
Scope and Contents
One image of workers (including "Big John" De Marco) building the tunnel under Joralemon Street.
Transportation - Trolleys
Scope and Contents
Includes an image of the Nostrand Avenue and Prospect Park troleys at Nostrand and Atlantic Avenues (Box 25) and an image of a Flatbuhs Avenue trollet on Livingston near Nevins (Box 20).
Washington Centennial, 1889 April 30
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Many of the photos in this folder were the gift of E.P. Luquer.
Waterfronts
Scope and Contents
Includes a set of captioned photographs of an aerial inspection of the Atlantic shore front from Staten Island to Montauk, 1962. Several photos labeled "Schwartz collection."
Weeksville
Scope and Contents
Includes a set of reproductions of drawings made from photographs found at Weeksville. The reproductions are (c) 1973, Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford Stuyvesant History, and include an explanatory text.
West Indian Americans
Williamsburg
Scope and Contents
One color illustration of ice skaters on Union Pond and three images related to Morrison V.R. Weyant's 1926 book "The fountain at Bedford Avenue and Division Avenue, Brooklyn, 1859."
World War I
Creator
Scope and Contents
Many if not all of these photos are not of Brooklyn.
World War II
Scope and Contents
Includes a photograph by Nick L. Senzamici of Brooklyn, gift of Ralph R. Colantuoni, depicting a service flag dedication on Somers Street between Rockaway Avenue and Stone, April 1942.