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Series I. "On the Beat", 1975-1979, 2011-2012, 2022, inclusive

Extent

2 Gigabytes (224 files) +

Extent

.3 Linear feet (1 box)

Scope and Contents

Series I contains photographs and other material relating to "On the Beat 1975-1979: Women in the NYPD," an exhibition of Hoffer's photographs of some of the first female NYPD officers on the job. The photographs are arranged in categories originally determined by the photographer. For descriptions of her subjects, see the container list below.

There are 131 gelatin silver photographs in Series I (105 are 5x7-inch prints; 25 are 11x14-inch prints), as well as 8 contact sheets with 160 images, some labeled "Women Partners," for which there are no prints in the present collection.

Series I also includes a CD of images and interview texts, and the photographer's self-published photobook On the Beat 1975–1979, which reproduces photos and selections from the interviews, all of which were performed with the women represented in the collection. Note that some of the photographs present in the collection do not appear in the book; and, conversely, some of the images in the book are not represented in the collection.

A booklet, which includes some of Hoffer's photos, was added to the collection by Hoffer in 2022.

Auxiliaries, circa 1977, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 1-2 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Two mounted officers, Susan Cohen and Susan Cooke, pictured riding and caring for their horses.

Collins, circa 1975, 1978, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 3-4 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Sergeant Barbara Collins, depicted in her precinct, in dress blues, processing suspects, and on patrol.

Decoys, circa 1976-1977, 1978, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 5-6 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Officers disguised as vulnerable citizens to act as plants to lure muggers. The photographs are mostly of Officer Rita Kaplowitz, a member of the street crime unit, and show her being disguised as an older woman, at the station, and speaking to senior citizens in costume.

Hartmann, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 7-8 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Officer Mary Hartmann shown assisting on EMT calls, turning out at roll call, and on patrol in dress blues.

Knedlehans, 1978-1979, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 9-10 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Officer Helen Knedlehans, an emergency service officer and instructor, depicted teaching first aid and using the jaws of life on a car.

Pearson, circa 1975, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 11-12 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Sergeant Joan Pearson shown in the precinct house, on late night emergency calls, at the precinct cells, and out on patrol doing "community relations."

Stanton, circa 1976, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 13-14 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Sergeant Marcia Stanton shown in the precinct house, answering disturbance calls, and doing her make up.

Shaughnessy, 1976, 1978, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 15-16 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Officer Peggy O'Shaughnessy shown at the shooting range, on patrol, at the station, helping on an EMT call, and in front of a burned out building.

Doran, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Officer Val Doran photographed in the locker room.

Walker, 1975, 1978, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 18-19 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Officer Walker, whose first name and rank were unknown to the photographer, shown on patrol and answering disturbance calls.

Wilson, circa 1975, circa 1977, 1978, [undated], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 20-21 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

Ann Wilson, a physical instructor at the Police Academy, shown teaching self defense to men and women, working with police recruits, and instructing physical training.

"On the Beat" contact sheets, [1975-1979], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Graphic Materials)

Scope and Contents

8 sheets with 160 thumbnail images.

"On the Beat" CD, [1975-1979], inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 23 (Material Type: Computer Disks)

Conditions Governing Access

The digital files have been transferred off the CD to N-YHS servers. The CD is for back-up purposes only and is restricted from use except by internal processing staff.

"On the Beat" digital files, [1975-1979], inclusive

Digital-Folder: PR 312 (Material Type: Digital files)

Scope and Contents

Digital images of the contact sheets. The digital files have been transferred off the CD to N-YHS servers. A file manifest is available upon request.

Conditions Governing Access

The digital files can be made available online for viewing only. To arrange to receive a link to the desired digital files, contact the Reference Librarian at reference@nyhistory.org.

"On the Beat" interview transcripts and exhibit card, [1975-1979], 2011, inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 24 (Material Type: Text)

Language of Materials

English.

On the Beat 1975-1979. Photographs by Jane Hoffer [photobook], 2012, inclusive

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 25A (Material Type: Books)

Language of Materials

English.

"Women Officers of the NYPD" booklet, 2022

Offsite-Box: 1, Folder: 25B (Material Type: Books)

Scope and Contents

NYPD publication re: history of women on the police force. Gift of Jane Hoffer, 2022.

New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024