New York City WPA historical survey of Indigenous People of Brooklyn
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Abstract
This collection includes drafted sections of "The Indians of Brooklyn in the Days of the Dutch," edited by William Christie MacLeod, which have been organized by subject. It also includes research notes, annotated maps, notes on the orthography of Native American words and names, and typescript copies of 17th century deeds and proclamations.
Historical note
The New York City Work Projects Administration (WPA) Historical Records Survey was one of the many cultural projects initiated as part of the WPA's federal relief programs from 1935 to 1943. This collection represents the efforts of the Historical Records Survey to collect, transcribe and explain records pertaining to the Native American communities of 17th century Brooklyn.
Archaeological evidence testifies that indigenous people have been living in the region now comprising the five boroughs of New York City for at least 11,500 years. Indigenous people living along the Atlantic seaboard between the Delaware and Hudson valleys refer to themselves as Lenape (people), though the Europeans arriving in the 16th and 17th century called them Delawares. Native Americans of the region are believed to have spoken a variant of Lenape/Delaware dialect known as Munsee. Documented Munsee communities who lived in the area that would eventually become known as Brooklyn included the Marechkawick (sandy place) near present-day Borough Hall, Nayack (point of land), Wichquawanck (sandy bank) at present-day Fort Hamilton, Techkonis (translation unknown) in present-day Gravesend, and Canarsie (grassy place) in present-day Flatlands.
Sources:
- Grumet, Robert S. "American Indians," in The Encyclopedia of New York City, ed. Kenneth T. Jackson (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New York Historical Society, c1995), 25-28.
Arrangement
The materials in this collection have been processed to the folder level. Materials are arranged by type and subject.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes drafted sections of "The Indians of Brooklyn in the Days of the Dutch," edited by William Christie MacLeod, as well as research notes, annotated maps, notes on the orthography of Native American words and names, and typescript copies of 17th century deeds and proclamations.
Subjects
Organizations
Families
Activities
People
Places
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users 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); New York City WPA historical survey of Indigenous People of Brooklyn, 1977.121, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Deposited by the New York City WPA, 1941.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Materials were rehoused, and folder level description was added in 2020. The collection was renamed from the New York City WPA historical survey of American Indians of Brooklyn to New York City WPA historical survey of Indigenous People of Brooklyn to reflect current terminology.
