Allen J. Kone collection of Brooklyn postcards
Call Number
Dates
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
A collection of photographic and picture postcards collected by Allen J. Kone that relate to Brooklyn, chiefly documenting the Brooklyn Bridge and the neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Fort Greene.
Biographical note
Allen J. Kone is a retired attorney and longtime resident of Brooklyn, New York who collected Brooklyn view cards and post cards for over 30 years. His chief collecting interests were in the Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Brooklyn, including the surrounding "brownstone neighborhoods" such as Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Fort Greene.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject, with the exception of the Brooklyn Eagle postcards which are arranged in number order.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises approximately 840 photographic and picture postcards collected by Allen J. Kone that relate to Brooklyn, chiefly documenting the Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Fort Greene neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Within these neighborhoods institutions such as charities, schools, civic buildings, and churches are represented, as well as businesses and leisure locations such as clubs, restaurants, and theaters. Approximately one sixth of the collection consists of postcards relating to the Brooklyn Bridge. The collection also contains many postcards of various buildings in the Borough Hall area. Other highlights of the collection include many postcards of the Hotel St. George, the Hotel Bossert, and postcards of the Young Men's Christian Association and Young Women's Christian Association. The bulk of the collection dates from the early twentieth century. Some cards are postmarked and/or stamped and have handwritten messages.
Subjects
Organizations
People
Topics
Donors
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); Allen J. Kone collection of Brooklyn postcards, 2016.014, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Allen J. Kone, 2016 and 2019.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection was received in two batches, one in 2016 and one in 2019. The postcards from the original accession were removed from two binders that originally housed the collection and placed in an archival box. The postcards from the accrual were removed from a non-archival box and placed in an archival box. The donor's original arrangement was loosely geographic. The archivist reorganized the collection into a more accessible and searchable subject arrangement.
Processing Information
Originally minimally processed to the collection level, this collection was processed to the file level by Dee Bowers in September 2023 as part of incorporating an accrual deposited by the donor in 2019.
Repository
View Inventory
Advertising and trade cards
Banks
Scope and Contents
Brooklyn Savings Bank, Dime Savings Bank, Eagle Savings and Loan Co., Peoples Trust Co., Williamsburgh Savings Bank.
Bridges
Scope and Contents
Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg.
Buildings
Scope and Contents
Includes Borough Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum, main post office, and the Temple Bar building, as well as armories, court houses, clubs, Eagle building (and one postcard of the Eagle Paris Bureau), factories, and civic buildings.
Churches
Scope and Contents
Baptist Temple, Christ Church, First Presbyterian, Greene Avenue Presbyterian, Hanson Place Baptist, Hanson Place M.E., LaFayette Avenue Presbyterian, New York Avenue M.E., Plymouth Church, St. Agnes, St. Francis Xavier, St. James, St. Paul's, St. Peter's, Svenska Ev. Lutherska Bethlehem-Kyrkan, Trinity Church, Westminster Presbyterian, Ye Olde St. Mary's.
Eagle postcards
Scope and Contents
In number order. Not a complete set.
General
Scope and Contents
"Greetings from Brooklyn" and other souvenir postcards with multiple images.
Grand Army Plaza
Scope and Contents
Includes the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial arch, entrance to Prospect Park, and Mount Prospect water tower.
Hospitals
Scope and Contents
Brooklyn Hospital, Long Island College Hospital, Methodist Episcopal Hospital, Seney Hospital, Tillary Street Maternity Center.
Hotels
Scope and Contents
Bossert, Clarendon, Franklin Arms, Granada, Mansion House, Montague, Margaret, Mohawk, Palm, Pierrepont, Plaza, St. George, Times Plaza, Touraine, Towers.
Monuments and statues
Scope and Contents
Includes Henry Ward Beecher statues and Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument.
Navy Yard
Scope and Contents
Includes Wallabout Market.
Neighborhoods
Scope and Contents
Cobble Hill and Coney Island.
Parks
Scope and Contents
Includes Prospect Park and Fort Greene Park.
Restaurants
Schools
Scope and Contents
Includes Adelphi, Packer Collegiate Institute, Polytechnic, and Pratt.
Stores
Scope and Contents
Includes Namm's, Loeser's, and Abraham and Straus.
Streets
Scope and Contents
Bergen Street, Clinton Avenue, Columbia Heights, Court Street (including City Hall Square), Eastern Parkway, Flatbush Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Fulton Street, Greene Avenue, Hanson Place, Lafayette Avenue, Montague Street, Myrtle Avenue, Park Place, Pierrepont Street, Prospect Park West, St. Mark's Avenue, Union Street, Washington Avenue.
Theaters
Scope and Contents
Albee, Grand Opera House, Fox, Fulton, New Montauk, Orpheum, Paramount, Prospect, Strand.
Transportation
Scope and Contents
Includes L.I.R.R. depot, Fulton Street elevated, and Borough Hall station.
Views and waterfront
YMCA and YWCA
Scope and Contents
Includes both Central and Naval YMCA.
