Brooklyn Historical Society institutional records: Brooklyn Historical Society institutional records: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Call Number

ARC.288

Date

1862-2020, inclusive

Creator

Extent

450 Linear Feet

in 740 boxes, 4 flat file drawers, and several loose oversize folders.

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The records of the Brooklyn Historical Society, founded in 1863 as the Long Island Historical Society. The Society closed in 2020 when it was merged with Brooklyn Public Library to become the Center for Brooklyn History.

Historical note

Founded in 1863, the Long Island Historical Society (LIHS)'s mission was to collect and preserve the "history of the United States, the State of New York, and, more particularly, of the counties, cities, towns, and villages of Long Island." Over time, the institutional mission and collection policy narrowed to focus on Brooklyn history, and in 1985 LIHS changed its name to Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS). With these changes came an emphasis on showcasing Brooklyn's diversity, specifically through community-centered exhibitions and educational programming. In 2020, BHS merged with the Brooklyn Collection at the Brooklyn Public Library to form the Center for Brooklyn History.

Sources:

The Long Island Historical Society Quarterly, vol. 1, no. 1, Jan. 1939, p. 27.

Arrangement

The collection is organized in the following series:

Series 1: Administrative files

Series 2: Board and Committee records

Series 3: Executive Director files

Series 4: President files

Series 5: Building records

Series 6: Scrapbooks

Series 7: Curatorial Affairs and Collections

Series 8: Exhibitions and Special Projects

Series 9: Oral History

Series 10: Development

Series 11: Education

Series 12: Programs and External Affairs

Series 13: Marketing and Communications

Series 14: Visitor Services and Retail

Series 15: Publications

Series 16: Financial records

Series 17: Audiovisual materials

Scope and Contents

The Brooklyn Historical Society Institutional records chronicle the topics, events, and departmental activities that are part of the Society's 157-year history. Materials in this collection provide information regarding the landmark building, exhibits, special projects, the library and archives, public programming, education, the Board of Directors, and much more. In addition to documenting how BHS operated, this collection shows how the Society's mission and policies changed over time, as well as the institution's impact on Brooklyn's history and people.

Conditions Governing Access

The majority of this collection is open to researchers without restriction. Access restrictions are noted at the series or box level.

Materials in the following series are restricted for 20 years from the date of creation:

Series 2: Board and Committee records

Sub-series 10.1: Grants and Gifts: Government

Sub-series 10.2: Grants and Gifts: Foundations and Non-Profits

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 Historical Society institutional records, ARC.288, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The bulk of these records were collected by the institution as part of its recordkeeping. Materials from external sources are noted as such where possible.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.

Related Materials

Library and collections:

-Edna Huntington papers and photographs (ARC.044)

-Edna Huntington photograph collection (V1974.016)

-Emma Toedteberg collection (ARC.079)

-Emma Toedteberg bookplate collection (2012.004)

-Henry Reed Stiles papers (ARC.218)

-Chandos Fulton notes on the history of Brooklyn newspapers (1973.223)

-John D. Morrell photographs (ARC.005)

Presidents:

-Brevoort family papers (1977.285)

-Edgerton G. North papers (1977.323)

Building:

-128 Pierrepont Street building architectural drawings (ARC.302)

Women's Committee:

-Maud E. Dillard papers (ARC.133) (unprocessed)

Exhibitions, Special Projects, and Oral Histories:

-AIDS/Brooklyn Exhibition collection (1993.001)

-Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection (ARC.202) - photos of AIDS/Brooklyn Opening

-The Battle of Long Island: A Bird's Eye View exhibition maps and drawings (ARC.301)

-Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories (2008.030)

-Borough Hall: Mirror of Change exhibit photograph collection (V1982.003)

-Brooklyn Heights Synagogue oral histories (2011.005)

-Brooklyn Neighborhoods and How They Grew exhibit photograph collection (V1974.034)

-Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations oral history collection (2011.019)

-Crown Heights History Project collection (1994.006)

-Dutch Homesteads exhibit photograph collection (V1974.035)

-Elias Lewis, Jr. letters (2013.002)

-Ford family papers and Long Island Historical Society exhibition records (1978.162)

-Henry R. Stiles collection of Brooklyn Historical Society institutional memory oral histories (2015.030)

-Hispanic Communities Documentation Project records and oral histories (ARC.032)

-In Transit exhibit photograph collection (V1974.033)

-Long Island Historical Society photographs (V1974.031)

-Muslims in Brooklyn oral histories (2018.006)

-New Neighbors: Sunset Park's Chinese Community oral histories (1994.007)

-Prospect Park exhibit photography collection (V1974.036)

-Puerto Rican Oral History Project records (1976.001)

-Voices of Brooklyn oral histories (2008.031)

-West Indian Carnival Documentation Project records (2010.019)

Lectures:

-G. Naphegyi lecture transcription (1977.663)

-John F. Aiken lecture transcriptions (1977.660)

-John Hooper lecture transcription (1977.662)

-Oliver Starr St. John lecture notes on the Battle of Long Island (1973.286)

-William Everett lecture transcription (1977.661)

Membership:

-Cyrus Pyle membership receipts (1977.369)

Other related collections:

-Daniel M.C. Hopping collection of Long Island Historical Society photographs and slides (V1988.052)

-Long Island Historical Society photographs (V1974.031)

-Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection (ARC.202)

-Committee on Brooklyn History records (1977.256)

-Brooklyn Historical Society institutional artifacts (consult CBH staff)

Existence and Location of Copies

Portions of Series 17: Audiovisual materials have been digitized. Consult CBH staff for more information.

Collection processed by

Katherine Sorresso and Nicole Font did the initial surveying and processing. Dee Bowers, Alice Griffin, and Sarah Quick also contributed to the project.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-14 18:01:36 +0000.

Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

Folder titles in brackets were provided by the archivists. Newspaper clippings were photocopied and the originals discarded. See Processing Information notes elsewhere in this finding aid for more detailed information.

Sponsor Note

The Brooklyn Historical Society Institutional Archives Project was generously funded by the Leon Levy Foundation, 2023-2025.

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society