E. E. Rutter Photograph Collection

Call Number

BCMS.0004

Dates

1919-1954, inclusive

; 1919-1924, bulk

Creator

Rutter, Edgar E., 1883-1964

Extent

1.3 Linear Feet in 3 boxes

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

Edgar E. Rutter served as the official photographer for the borough of Brooklyn in the early 20th century. The photographs in this collection are almost exclusively from his work in that capacity, although some photographs are from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives.

Biographical Note

Edgar E. Rutter – who went by E.E. Rutter, or just Rutter, professionally – was born in Maryland in 1883. Census records variously set his birthdate at 1880, 1881, and 1884, but the 1883 birth date was found on his World War II Draft Registration card, and is verified by a Social Security Death Index record. He had a photography studio at number 8, 4th Avenue (among other locations) and was the official photographer for the Borough of Brooklyn in the early part of the 20th century. In the 1920 census he was living on State Street with his wife, Ellen; he is listed as a "Photographer" with his place of work a "Photo Studio."

Little is known about Rutter beyond those basic details. In his capacity as borough photographer, he traveled all over Brooklyn to document street parades, public building opening ceremonies, and road and subway construction. Census records indicate that he lived in Brooklyn as late as 1940. E.E. Rutter passed away in New Jersey in July 1964.

Arrangement

The photography files are arranged in two series. Series I consists of loose images that were acquired by the library in several batches in no apparent order. These are arranged by subject. Series II consists of 100 photographs from April 4–23, 1924 that were bound in a single volume for the borough president: President, Borough of Brooklyn Photographs 5001 – 5100, vol. 51. Their original order (chronological) has been preserved.

Call numbers are listed for all photographs when applicable. These numbers refer to the number assigned to each image in our Digital Collections portal.

Scope and Contents

The 582 photographs in this collection were largely taken in Rutter's official capacity as borough photographer. Some images date as late as 1954, but the bulk of the collection is from 1919–1924. The photographs document functions of government and civic life such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies, street parades, and road and subway construction projects. Notable subject areas within the collection include the Coney Island boardwalk, the Pigtown neighborhood, sewer construction, and photographs of then-borough president Edward Riegelmann. Most of the prints in the collection are original; however, several of the Coney Island photographs are reprints from digital scans of originals.

Subjects

Topics

Places

Bay Ridge (New York, N.Y); Borough Park (New York, N.Y.); Brooklyn Heights (New York, N.Y.); Coney Island (New York, N.Y.); Crown Heights (New York, N.Y.); Flatbush (New York, N.Y.); Park Slope (New York, N.Y.); Sunset Park (New York, N.Y.); Williamsburg (New York, N.Y.); Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); Borough Hall (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)

Occupations

Municipal officials and employees

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 borrower assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item/descriptive title, date (if known); E.E. Rutter Photograph Collection, BCMS.0004; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in several batches, although some images came from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives.

Related Materials

Ierardi, Eric J. Images of America; Brooklyn in the 1920s. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 1998.

Brooklynology blog posts on Rutter

Collection processed by

Ivy Marvel

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:22:05 +0000.

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

Repository

Brooklyn Collection

Photographs by subject

13th Regiment Armory

Box: 1, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Images show collapsed railing. 6 prints, call numbers RUTT 0173 – 0178

27th Division Parade

Box: 1, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

15 prints, call numbers RUTT 0179 – 0193

Atlantic Avenue El

Box: 1, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

8 prints, call numbers RUTT 0093 – 0095, 0194 – 0196, NEIG 0503

Borough Hall: Murals

Box: 1, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

16 prints, call numbers RUTT 0001 – 0016

Borough Hall: General

Box: 1, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

12 prints, call numbers RUTT 0017 – 0021, 0197 – 0203

Brooklyn Bridge

Box: 1, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0096, 0204 – 0207

Brooklyn Museum Construction (new wing)

Box: 1, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

2 prints, call numbers RUTT 0208 – 0209

Brooklyn Public Library

Box: 1, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers CBPL 0019, RUTT 0210 – 0212

Brooklyn-Queens Expressway [BQE]

Box: 1, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0090 – 0092, 0097 – 0098

Buildings

Box: 1, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

13 prints, call numbers RUTT 0022 – 0029, 0033 – 0036, 0213

Bush Terminal: Employees

Box: 1, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

11 prints, call numbers RUTT 0037 – 0046

Bush Terminal: Interiors

Box: 1, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

7 prints, call numbers RUTT 0047 – 0053

Bush Terminal: Manhattan

Box: 1, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

1 print, call number RUTT 0066

Bush Terminal: Railway

Box: 1, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0054 – 0057

Bush Terminal: Waterfront

Box: 1, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

13 prints, call numbers RUTT 0058 – 0069, NEIG 1584, TRAN 0409

Children's Court

Box: 1, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

8 prints, call numbers RUTT 0031 – 0032, 0214 – 0215, 0219 – 0221

Clarendon Road

Box: 1, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

3 prints, call numbers RUTT 0216 – 0218

Coney Island

Box: 1, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

22 prints, call numbers RUTT 0070 – 0078, 0222

Coney Island: Boardwalk I

Box: 1, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

14 reprints, call numbers RUTT 0223 – 0236

Coney Island: Boardwalk II

Box: 1, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

24 reprints, call numbers RUTT 0237 – 0260

Coney Island: Boardwalk III

Box: 1, Folder: 21 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

11 reprints, call numbers RUTT 0261 – 0271

Coney Island: Boardwalk IV

Box: 1, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General

18 reprints, call numbers RUTT 0272 – 0289

Coney Island: Boardwalk V

Box: 1, Folder: 23 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

20 reprints, call numbers RUTT 0290 – 0309

Court Street

Box: 1, Folder: 24 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0030, 0310 – 0312

Disposal Plant

Box: 2, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

13 prints, call numbers RUTT 0313 – 0325

Domestic Relations Court

Box: 2, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0351 – 0355

Exhibit of Bureau of Buildings

Box: 2, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

2 prints, call numbers RUTT 0326 – 0327

Flatbush Avenue Extension

Box: 2, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

11 prints, call numbers RUTT 0079 – 0088, NEIG 0005

Furman Street Wall

Box: 2, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

2 prints, call numbers RUTT 0328 – 0329

Hamilton Avenue

Box: 2, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

1 print, call number RUTT 0330

Launching of the Murray Hulbert

Box: 2, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

6 prints, call numbers RUTT 0331 – 0336

Municipal Baths

Box: 2, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0337 – 0341

Municipal Building

Box: 2, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

8 prints, call numbers RUTT 0342 – 0349

Murphy Park

Box: 2, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

2 prints, call numbers RUTT 0099a – 0099b

New Utrecht Ave: 40th – 46th Sts.

Box: 2, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

11 prints, call numbers RUTT 0100 – 0108

New Utrecht Ave: 46th – 51st Sts.

Box: 2, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

12 prints, call numbers RUTT 0109 – 0117

New Utrecht Ave: 52nd – 55th Sts.

Box: 2, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0118 – 0122

New Utrecht Ave: 56th – 63rd Sts.

Box: 2, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

11 prints, call numbers RUTT 0123 – 0131

Old 5th Avenue Court

Box: 2, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

2 prints, call numbers RUTT 0356 – 0357

Pigtown I

Box: 2, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

16 prints, call numbers RUTT 0144 – 0159

Pigtown II

Box: 2, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

13 prints, call numbers RUTT 0160 – 0172

Ralph Ave. and Flatlands Ave. Sewer

Box: 2, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

4 prints, call numbers RUTT 0358 – 0361

Riegelmann, Edward I

Box: 2, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

11 prints, call numbers RUTT 0362 – 0370

Riegelmann, Edward II

Box: 2, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

12 prints, call numbers RUTT 0371 – 0381

Sewer Construction: 60th Street

Box: 3, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

9 prints, call numbers RUTT 0396 – 0404

Sewer Construction: Miscellaneous

Box: 3, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

9 prints, call numbers RUTT 0382 – 0390

Sewer Construction: Ralph Avenue

Box: 3, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

5 prints, call numbers RUTT 0391 – 0395

Snyder Avenue Court House

Box: 3, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

17 prints, call numbers RUTT 0350, 0405 – 0419

Street Views

Box: 3, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

9 prints, call numbers RUTT 0089, 0420 – 0426, TRAN 0481

Thomas Jefferson High School Groundbreaking

Box: 3, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

3 prints, call numbers RUTT 0427 – 0429

Victory Loan Drive

Box: 3, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

4 prints, call numbers RUTT 0430 – 0433

Williamsburg: Boerum Street

Box: 3, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

7 prints, call numbers RUTT 0133 – 0136

Williamsburg: Johnson Avenue

Box: 3, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

4 prints, call numbers RUTT 0137 – 0138

Williamsburg: Leonard Street

Box: 3, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

8 prints, call numbers RUTT 0139 – 0143

Williamsburg: Lorimer Street

Box: 3, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

1 print, call number RUTT 0132

President, Borough of Brooklyn Photographs 5001 – 5100, vol. 51

I

Box: 3, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: Coney Island boardwalk, Van Pelt Manor, Washington Avenue. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0434 – 0443

II

Box: 3, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: Coney Island boardwalk, Foster Avenue overflow. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0444 – 0453

III

Box: 3, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: Foster Avenue overflow, Hamilton Avenue. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0454 – 0463

IV

Box: 3, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: Hamilton Avenue. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0464 – 0473

V

Box: 3, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: East 18th Street, East 27th Street – East 29th Street in Flatbush and Midwood. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0474 – 0483

VI

Box: 3, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: East 29th Street, New York Avenue, East 10th Street in Flatbush and Midwood, and 64th Street in Bensonhurst. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0484 – 0493

VII

Box: 3, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: 64th Street, Dahill Road, 12th Avenue, 24th Avenue, and 81st Street in the Bensonhurst, Borough Park and Bath Beach neighborhoods. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0494 – 0503

VIII

Box: 3, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: 81st Street, 76th Street, and 16th Avenue in Bensonhurst. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0504 – 0513

IX

Box: 3, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: 16th Avenue in Bensonhurst, Delamere Place (now East 23rd Street) in Midwood. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0514 – 0523

X

Box: 3, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Note

Contents include: Delamere Place (now East 23rd Street), Elmore Place (now East 22nd Street), and Mansfield Place (now East 24th Street) in Midwood. 10 prints, call numbers RUTT 0524 – 0533