John Elari photographic slide collection
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Abstract
This collection consists of 1,000 photographic slides taken by New York City resident John Elari (1943- ). The collection spans the period from 1965-1999 and is composed of images of New York City and its inhabitants.
Biographical Note
John Elari was born in Brooklyn, NY on 6 April 1943. He developed an interest in photography while spending the summer of 1964 traveling in Europe. Elari completed a degree in interior design at the Paier School of Art in Hamden, CT in 1965, and then moved back to New York City. He worked as an interior designer, and then as a florist from 1974-2000, all the while honing his photography skills. Elari's photographs document the cityscape and street life of New York City from 1965-1999.
Scope and Contents
The John Elari Photographic Slide Collection consists of 1,000 color slides of New York City, mainly Manhattan, taken between 1965 and 1999. The collection is arranged by the subject of the photograph, as originally identified and organized by the photographer. These subjects include Bridges, Buildings, Events, Monuments and Statues, Neighborhoods, Night Scenes, Parks and Gardens, People, Skylines and Cityscapes, and Transportation. Labels on the slide sheets, as well as any titles and dates on the slides, were provided by the photographer.
Subjects
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Conditions Governing Use
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as: John Elari Photographic Slide Collection, PR 285, Department of Prints, Photographs and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of John Elari, 2016.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by archivist Marybeth Kavanagh in March 2017.
Repository
View Inventory
Bridges, 1979-1999
Scope and Contents Note
Images of NYC bridges, including the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge.
Buildings, 1977-1992
Scope and Contents Note
Photos of Broadway theaters, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Pan Am Building, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower, and the World Trade Center (Twin Towers).
Events, 1971-1999
Scope and Contents Note
Images of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, the Bicentennial Celebration, Christmas displays, and the Easter parade.
Exceptionals, 1965-1999
Scope and Contents Note
These are the images that the photographer, John Elari, considered "the best of the lot." He labeled these "the exceptionals." The subject matter of the slides is consistent with the other slide sheets.
Monuments and Statues, 1991
Scope and Contents Note
Images of the Statue of Liberty.
Neighborhoods, 1991, n.d.
Scope and Contents Note
Views of Chinatown, Times Square, and the Financial District.
Night Scenes, 1965-1992
Scope and Contents Note
Photographs that capture New York City after dark, including views of Lincoln Center, Park Ave, and the Upper West Side.
Parks and Gardens, 1977-1996
Scope and Contents Note
Images of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Central Park, Hudson River Park. Also includes images of people playing volleyball, and snow scenes.
People, 1969-1999
Scope and Contents Note
Includes images of people in parks, street performers, musicians, street vendors, chess players, children, elderly people, and homeless people.
Skylines and Cityscapes, 1970-1999
Scope and Contents Note
Views of Manhattan from different vantage points. Includes images of cars and street traffic, digital neon signs, and street views.
Transportation, 1990-1998
Scope and Contents Note
Images of buses, subway stations and trains, and the Staten Island Ferry.