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Ships and waterfront (84 prints), circa 1934-1950s, inclusive

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

Scope and Contents

Passenger ships, tugboats, and warships in and around New York Harbor, many unidentified, but some with visible names, such as: Bristol; African Prince; Ariosa of New York (tug) [photographed 1950]; Domfront; Esso Tug No. 3, Wilmington, Delaware (tug); Helen Buchanan (tug); Heredia, New York [photographed 1949]; Mauretania; Morro Castle [as wrecked near Asbury Park, N.J., in 1934]; Pacific Stronghold; Queen Elizabeth; Revere (tug); Santa Clara; Santa Sofia; and W. F. Dalzell (tug). Includes general views of the harbor, Manhattan docks, and infrastructure.

New York City scenes (33 prints), circa 1940s-1950s, inclusive

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

Scope and Contents

General views of Manhattan, with shots of several specific locations, such as the Chrysler Building, Grace Church (802 Broadway), McSorley's Old Ale House (15 East 7th Street), and the New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street). Includes images of a few businesses as well: Feder's Grocery, Frank Moy Hand Laundry, and the shelves in an unidentified antique shop, photographed 19 December 1947.

People (40 prints), circa 1910s-1950s, inclusive

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

Scope and Contents

Photographs of random "characters" Illo encountered around Manhattan, like a barber waiting for customers, sleeping men experiencing homelessness, children burning rubbish, a man fishing treasure from a sidewalk grate, a three-card monte dealer, men riding the subway, and a police officer issuing a ticket to an African-American deliveryman near the Marlboro Cafeteria (1359 Broadway). Includes 20 prints not taken by Illo of Vaudeville performers, two of which depict his father, Frank Illo (1886-1976), who also worked as a stage carpenter.

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