Navy Yard photo album
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Abstract
One album containing 146 sepia-toned circa 1930s photographic prints mostly taken in and around the Brooklyn Navy Yard of ships, waterfront views, and people.
Historical note
The origins of the Brooklyn Navy Yard (officially known as the New York Naval Shipyard) date back to 1801, when the United States Navy acquired what had previously been a small, privately owned shipyard in order to construct naval vessels. By the time the Department of Defense ceased shipbuilding activities at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1966, eighty-eight vessels had been manufactured at the facility. In 1967, the Brooklyn Navy Yard was acquired by the City of New York and was converted for private commercial use.
One of the ships depicted in this album is the SS Jacob Luckenbach. The ship, formerly known as the USS Radnor, was renamed in 1930 by the Luckenbach Steamship Company. The ship was renamed again in 1947 after being sold. Thus its appearance in these photographs roughly dates the album to the 1930s-40s. There is also one image of a large zeppelin airship, which would seem to date the album to the 1930s, since airship use rapidly declined following the 1937 Hindenburg disaster. The appearance of the USS Chaumont (later renamed USS Samaritan), which was active from the 1920s-1930s, also supports this dating.
Sources:
- "USS Radnor," "USS Samaritan," and "Zeppelin." Wikipedia. Accessed June 15, 2026.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single photograph album. The photographs inside do not appear to have any particular arrangement.
Scope and Contents
One album containing 146 sepia-toned 2.75 x 4.5" photographic prints mounted on black paper. The photographer is not known, nor are the identities of the people depicted. The photographs seem to have mostly been taken in and around the Brooklyn Navy Yard and depict ships, waterfront views, and people, including both naval sailors and civilians. There are also a few street scenes and what seem to be international locations depicted. Identifiable subjects include the USS Chaumont; Sands Street YMCA; Statue of Liberty; Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges; and ships from the Luckenbach line, including the Jacob Luckenbach. One of the street scenes is labeled as being 4th Avenue and 36th Street, presumably in what is now the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Subjects
People
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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 researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Navy Yard photo album, CBHM.0040; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase from Brian Merlis, 2016.
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
Processed by Dee Bowers in 2026.
