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Center for Brooklyn History Finding Aids
Guide to the Everett and Evelyn Ortner papers and photographs ARC.306

Series 3: Everett and Evelyn Ortner personal papers, 1900-2012, inclusive

Scope and Contents

The series documents the professional, social, and familial lives of the Ortners, dating from 1900 to 2012. It includes an assortment of correspondence, clippings, photographs, ephemera, memorabilia, digital files, and other materials. The Ortners' involvement in Brooklyn cultural affairs and the historic preservation movement are well represented throughout the series.

Arrangement

The series is organized into eight sub-series:

Sub-series 3.1: Personal papers, memorabilia, and photographs

Sub-series 3.2: Personal correspondence

Sub-series 3.3: Publicity

Sub-series 3.4: 272 Berkeley Place

Sub-series 3.5: Finances

Sub-series 3.6: Address books

Sub-series 3.7: Daily diaries

Sub-series 3.8: Desktop computer tower

Sub-series 3.1: Personal papers, memorabilia, and photographs, 1900-2010, inclusive

Extent

14.82 Linear Feet in six manuscript boxes, five flat boxes, two small boxes, and one oversize folder

Scope and Contents

The sub-series contains a variety of materials that document the professional, social, and familial lives of the Ortners, dating from 1900 to 2010. It includes correspondence, photographs, clippings, writings, ephemera, and memorabilia. The Ortners' roles in Brooklyn's cultural institutions and the historic preservation movement are well represented throughout the sub-series.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

E + E memorabilia - Mostly Everett, 1900-2006, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs (dating back to 1900), clippings, and ephemera

E + E pictures, 1915-2007, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs of the Ortners and family, interior and exterior photographs of 272 Berkeley Place, family correspondence, and ephemera

E + E memorabilia, 1915-2008, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes portrait of EHO's mother, Brownstone Revival Committee, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, Popular Science, EHO's writings, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera

EHO photographs, 1920s-2004, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

EGO photographs, circa 1920s-2000s, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

E + E memorabilia, 1939-2010, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes Brownstone Revival Committee/Coalition, photographs, clippings, and ephemera

Love letters and cards, circa 1940s-1960s, inclusive

Box: 16, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Text)

EGO snapshots and photographs, circa 1940s-1986, inclusive

Box: 53, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Includes photographs of EGO, EHO, friends, parties, special events, pets, Prospect Park, Fulton Ferry/Brooklyn Bridge, and foreign travel. Polaroid photographs have been removed and filed separately for preservation purposes.

Assorted memorabilia, 1940s-1980s

Box: 16, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes EHO Army portrait, EGO identification cards, EHO business card, and travel ephemera

E + E memorabilia, 1940s-2009, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, Army portrait of EHO, interior photographs of 272 Berkeley Place, Brownstone Revival Committee, Back to the City, course on Brownstones taught by EHO at the New School, clippings, and ephemera

Miscellaneous memories - OP/LP, 1941-2005, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes color transparencies of the interior of 116 Remsen Street (1963), photographs of EHO in the bath tub, a book titled Radio Talks on Mathematics (owned by EGO), a list of the Ortners' travels, correspondence, and clippings

E + E memorabilia, 1950-2009, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, poems, Popular Science, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera

Wedding invitations, 1953, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

E + E memorabilia, 1953, 1993-2008, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, clippings, and EGO memorials

E + E memorabilia (2 folders), 1959-1976, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 6-7 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes portraits of EGO, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera. Covers interior design, brownstones, Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Popular Science, and Long Island Historical Society.

Anne E. Ortner and dog photographs, 1960s, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

Greece photographs, circa 1960s, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

EHO portrait, circa 1960s, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

Unidentified Polaroids, circa 1960s, inclusive

Box: 68, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Contact sheets, 1968, inclusive

Box: 76, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

EGO resumes, 1960s-2000s, inclusive

Box: 17, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Text)

EGO business cards and driver's license, 1960s-2002, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

EGO early career photographs at 272 Berkeley Place, 1961-1971, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes resume, clippings, and Park Slope walking tour flyer

E + E odds and ends, 1961-2004, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes clippings, ephemera, a photograph of EGO, and invitation to the 100th anniversary of 272 Berkeley Place, and a note from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Puerto Rico vacation medium format color negatives, 1962, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Text)

Man with dogs photograph, 1966, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

Victorian Society in America, 1966-1970, 2002, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

Pet dog "Mara" and cat, 1966-1991, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes dog licenses, name plate, and letter regarding dog biting a neighbor

E + E memorabilia, 1966-2006, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, Brooklyn Brownstone Conference, 1992 Brownstone calendar, clippings, and ephemera

Contact sheet: various objects, 1968, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

Mounted photograph #52: Young EHO sitting for a caricature, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

Mounted photograph #54, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

Oversize photographic prints, circa 1960s-1970s, inclusive

Box: 76, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Includes duplicate of mounted photograph #54

EHO portraits and biographical statements, 1970s-1980s, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographic prints and negatives

Dining with E + E, 1970s-2006, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Text)

EGO odds and ends, 1970s-2006, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Text)

A Centennial Celebration - Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' read in its entirety poster (WBAI 99.5), 1970, inclusive

cabinet: Flat file A, Drawer: 1 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

In Oversize Posters folder

EGO Polaroid snapshots, circa 1970, inclusive

Box: 68, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

EGO tribute file, 1970-2007, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes obituaries, honors, photographs, clippings, mementos, and remembrances

EGO at Fulton Ferry Landing photograph by Jim Kallet, circa 1975, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

EGO - Art Commission and Landmarks Comission applications, 1976-1984, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Text)

E + E memorabilia, 1976-2010, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, Preservation Volunteers, Brownstone Revival Committee, Back to the City Conference, an interior design article by EGO, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera

EHO portraits - Matted Polaroids (three folders), 1977, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

EGO personal miscellaneous, 1977-2003, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes draft of speech delivered at Friends of BAM annual meeting and Long Island Historical Society Women's Committee files

Montauk Club, 1977, 2003-2004, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Text)

Old/Classic photographs, 1979-1990, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

Assorted Honors, 1979-2005, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Text)

General

Oversize certificates from Brownstone Revivial Committee (BRC), Victorian Society in America, City of Louisville, and the Preservation League of New York State

8"x8" computer diskettes, 1980s, inclusive

Box: 51, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Computer Disks)

EHO face pasted on historic preservation cartoon, circa 1980s, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

EHO, Howard Golden, and others photograph, circa 1980s, inclusive

Box: 18, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Text)

Overseas Press Club, 1981-1983, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Text)

Ronald Reagan letter to EGO, 1982, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

Award certificates, 1983-2002, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes Long Island Historical Society, Brooklyn Historical Society, and Historic Districts Council

Brooklyn Borough President citations honoring EGO and EHO, 1983, 1995, 2006, inclusive

Box: 73, Folder: - (Material Type: Text)

Mauela at City Hall negatives and contact sheets, 1984, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

Savables, 1984-2009, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes clippings and correspondence

Who's Who - Biographical, 1984-2009, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

Montauk Club stained glass dedication, 272 Berkeley Place parlor, EHO self-portraits, EGO portraits, 1985, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

General

Negatives and contact sheets

272 Berkeley Place 100th anniversary party photographs, 1986, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

Park Slope Civic Council George Lougren Memorial Award - EHO, 1986, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

Brooklyn Brewery, 1987-2004, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

EGO with statuary Polaroids, circa 1980s-1990s, inclusive

Box: 68, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Postcards, 1980-2000s, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes images of Brooklyn Botanic Graden and the Montauk Club taken by EHO, cards featuring EGO, Municipal Art Society postcards (including an image of 226 Berkeley Place), and historic images of Brooklyn

Bill Clinton inauguration and election night party invitations, 1992-1993, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Text)

Mayor David Dinkins - New-York Historical Society, 1993, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

St. Mary's Community Services - Preserving Community Art Award to EGO plaque, 1995, inclusive

Box: 74, item: - (Material Type: Realia)

Park Slope Civic Council Volunteer Award - EGO, 1996, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Text)

Ortner caricatures by Sam Norkin, 1996, inclusive

Box: 76, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

"House of Ortner" dinner menus and hummus certificate, 1997-2005, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Text)

Eggenhofer art sale, 1999, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs

E + E memorabilia, 1999-2008, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes Ortner party ephemera and photographs

Documents, 2000-2010, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes correspondence, EHO biographical statement, EHO talk on Park Slope, statement on EHO by EGO, statements on the Berkeley Carroll plan, and poem

Postal cards, 2001, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Text)

E + E anniversary dinners, 2001-2002, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photograph

Awards, 2002, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Text)

Preservation League of New York State award, 2002, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs

Clippings and ephemera, 2004-2010, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes correspondence, event invitations and programs, and photographs of an Ortner party

EHO birthday poem, 2005, inclusive

Box: 39, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Text)

BAM - EGO memorial service, 2006, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Text)

Lucy G. Moses Award, 2006, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Text)

Lucy G. Moses award statue, 2006, inclusive

Box: 71, item: - (Material Type: Realia)

EGO memorials and EHO letter to New York Times, 2006-2007, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Text)

EHO curriculum vitae and award correspondence, 2006-2009, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 21 (Material Type: Text)

Evelyn Ortner Memorial Day proclamation, 2007, inclusive

Box: 76, Folder: - (Material Type: Text)

General

Oversize

EGO memorabilia, 2009-2010, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Text)

EHO oral history interview, 2010, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 23 (Material Type: Text)

General

Recorded in 2003

Miscellaneous, 1871, 1960-2000s, inclusive

Box: 19, Folder: 24 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes proposal for a photographic survey of historic buildings, 1871 Report of the City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn (pages 350-351), poem by EHO (1960), 12th Street preschool negatives, and ephemera

Sub-series 3.2: Personal correspondence, 1939-2010, inclusive

Extent

1.2 Linear Feet in seventeen folders

Scope and Contents

The sub-series primarily consists of letters and cards written by the Ortners' friends and family, dating from 1939 to 2010. It also includes a small amount of clippings and ephemera, as well some outgoing correspondence written. Some notable correspondents include as President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, Mayor John V. Lindsay, State Senator William T. Conklin, and Borough President Sebastian Leone. Items of note include the Ortners' love letters and a draft letter to the Brooklyn Union Gas Company regarding the Cinderalla project.

Correspondence relating to brownstones and historic preservation can be found in Series 10: Brownstone correspondence.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Ortner family correspondence, 1939-1964, inclusive

Box: 79, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

Special correspondence (letters), 1951-1993, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, and draft letter to Brooklyn Union Gas Company regarding Cinderella Award

Special correspondence (cards) (3 folders), 1951-1993, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 5-7 (Material Type: Text)

Special correspondence (ephemera), 1951-1993, inclusive

Box: 9, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

E + E correspondence (3 folders), 1953-1983, inclusive

Box: 9, Folder: 2-4 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay, New York State Senator William T. Conklin, Brooklyn Borough President Sebastian Leone, and love letters from EHO to EGO

Sympathy cards for EGO's parents, 1969-1970, inclusive

Box: 9, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

EGO cards, 1983-1984, inclusive

Box: 9, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

EHO complaint letters, 1990-2004, inclusive

Box: 9, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

Correspondence, 1995-2005, inclusive

Box: 10, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

Correspondence (2 folders), 1999-2009, inclusive

Box: 10, Folder: 2-3 (Material Type: Text)

EHO letters to New York Times, 2007-2008, inclusive

Box: 10, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

EHO e-mails, 2009-2010, inclusive

Box: 10, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

Sub-series 3.3: Publicity, 1969-2004, inclusive

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet in nine folders

Scope and Contents

The sub-series contains ephemera, clippings, correspondence, and clippings related to the Ortners' role in Brooklyn cultural organizations and the historic preservation movement, dating from 1969 to 2004. Major institutions represented in the sub-series include the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Brooklyn Museum, Long Island Historical Society, Back to the City Conference, Montauk Club, and Brownstone Revival Committee. EGO's career as an interior designer is also represented in the sub-series.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

E + E publicity (2 folders), 1969-1979, inclusive

Box: 10, Folder: 6-7 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, U.S. Congressman Fred Richmond, BAM, Brooklyn Museum, Long Island Historical Society, other cultural institutions, historic preservation, and interior design

EGO personal publicity (2 folders), 1970s, inclusive

Box: 11, Folder: 1-2 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, ephemera, correspondence, and clippings. Covers cultural institutions (especially BAM), historic preservation, and interior design.

Publicity - Lectures and clippings, 1974-2004, inclusive

Box: 11, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes resumes

EHO publicity, 1976-1980s, inclusive

Box: 11, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

E + E publicity (2 folders), 1978-1981, inclusive

Box: 11, Folder: 5-6 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs, historic preservation, interior design, Back to the City, Montauk Club, Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Long Island Historical Society, New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and U.S. Congressman Fred Richmond

EGO publicity, 1979-1999, inclusive

Box: 12, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photograph

Sub-series 3.4: 272 Berkeley Place, circa 1905-2009, inclusive; 1954-2009, bulk

Extent

2 Linear Feet in ten folders and one flat box

Scope and Contents

The sub-series consists of files material related to the Ortner's home at 272 Berkeley Place in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn. It includes photographs, mortgages, a guest book, and other files, dating from circa 1905 to 2009. It also includes material related to Elsie Hincken, the first owner of the building. Additional photographs and other files related to the building can be found in Sub-series 3.1: Personal papers, memorabilia, and photographs, Series 4: Brooklyn and Historic Preservation photographs, and Series 12: Historic District Designation Reports.

Arrangement

Generally arranged chronologically.

Copy of On Liberty by John Stuart Mill owned by Elsie Hincken, circa 1905, inclusive

Box: 47, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Text)

Guest book, 1954-1986, inclusive

Box: 23, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Text)

272 Berkeley Place interior photograph?, circa 1960s, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

Williamsburgh Savings Bank - Mortgage, 1963-1978, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Text)

272 Berkeley Place directions, circa 1968, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Text)

272 Berkeley Place burglaries, 1979-1980, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

General

Includes photographs and slides

Studio apartment advertisement, circa 1990s, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Text)

Bluestone sidewalks, 1993-1995, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Text)

272 Berkeley Place notes, 2000s, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

272 Berkeley Place interior photographs by Madeleine Isom, 2002, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

272 Berkeley Place interior photographs by Levi Stolove, circa 2006, inclusive

Box: 72, Folder: - (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

General

Oversize

Elsie Hincken - First owner of 272 Berkeley Place - Notes by EHO, 2007-2008, inclusive

Box: 24, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Text)

Sub-series 3.5: Finances, 1963-2008, inclusive

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet in three folders

Scope and Contents

The sub-series consist of the Ortners' expense journals and income tax returns, dating from 1963 to 2008.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Expense journals (three volumes), 1963-2001, inclusive

Box: 13, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Text)

Income tax returns (two folders), 1996-2008, inclusive

Box: 13, Folder: 4-5 (Material Type: Text)

Sub-series 3.6: Address books, circa 1960s-2000s, inclusive

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet in one folder

Scope and Contents

The sub-series contains the Ortner's address books, dating from circa 1960s to 2000s.

Address books, circa 1960s-2000s, inclusive

Box: 13, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Text)

Sub-series 3.7: Daily diaries, 1968-2009, inclusive

Extent

0.9 Linear Feet in three folders and one small box

Scope and Contents

The sub-series consists of daily diaries that track the day-to-day affairs of the Ortners, dating from 1968 to 2009.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Daily diaries and notes, 1968, 1974, inclusive

Box: 13, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Text)

Daily diaries (2 folders), 1981-1985, inclusive

Box: 14, Folder: 1-2 (Material Type: Text)

Daily diaries (36 diaries), 1985-2009, inclusive

Box: 15, Folder: - (Material Type: Text)

Sub-series 3.8: Personal computer, 2000s-2012, inclusive

Extent

1.16 Linear Feet in one personal computer

Scope and Contents

The collection includes one personal computer that belonged to the Ortners from the 2000s to 2012.

Conditions Governing Access

This computer is currently unprocessed and unavailable to researchers.

Personal computer, 2000s-2012, inclusive

item: Personal computer (1 of 1), item: - (Material Type: Computer Disks)
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