William G. Butler photography collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The William G. Butler photography collection, collected by William G. Butler, consists primarily of photographs of New York City from 1890-2015. The earliest document in the collection, from 1875, is a page from an Ulster County atlas.
Biographical / Historical
This photography collection was created by William G. Butler, art and photography collector. He has also donated part of his collection to the Palm Springs Art Museum, which showed a curation of his donations in a 2019 exhibit "Contemporary Sublime: The Photographic Collecting of William G. Butler".
Arrangement
In this collection each item is arranged first by date in chronological order, then by title in alphabetical order. Although oversized photographs are housed separately from the rest of the collection, they are arranged by the previously stated parameters.
Scope and Contents
The William G. Butler photography collection consists primarily of vintage photographs of New York City collected by Butler. Many of the photographs were taken for publication and originally owned by newspicture agencies or press associations. The content of the photographs is varied, however many are views of cityscapes or street scenes and city life. The majority of the photographs are silver gelatin prints. While some artists are known, the collection does not consist of a series by any particular artist. Many of the photographs seem to have been titled by a third party rather than the photographer and are bracketed in this finding aid to distinguish them as later additions. The collection also includes a small number of non-photographic pictorial works. The container list includes a complete item level inventory of the collection.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers by appointment only.
Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact printroom@nyhistory.org prior to your research visit to coordinate access. Keep in mind that it will take between two (2) and five (5) business days for collections to arrive, and you should plan your research accordingly.
Use Restrictions
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
The collection should be cited as: William G. Butler photography collection, PR425, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, estate of William G. Butler, 2021.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by Sydney Bebon in June 2021.
Repository
View Inventory
[County Atlas of Ulster], 1875
Scope and Contents
Atlas pages 45 and 46. Page 45: complete map of Olive, New York; Page 46 is one-half of a spread of Ulster County. Authored by F.W. Beers, Superintendant, published by Walker and Jewett.
[New York City/Coney Island?], 1890
Scope and Contents
Printed later in 1960.
[Fifth Avenue New York], 1899
Scope and Contents
Printed later in the 1950's. While the photographer is unknown, the photo originates from Ewing Galloway's photography agency.
[New York, NY], 1905
Scope and Contents
This photograph, printed later, features 161st street between Amsterdam and St. Nicholas Avenues. The picture is stamped and signed on the back, however the name of the artist is unclear.
[5th Avenue, NYC], 1912
Scope and Contents
Printed in the 1950's. While the photographer is unknown, the photo originates from Ewing Galloway's photography agency.
[Workers, Brooklyn Bridge], 1914
Scope and Contents
The photographer is Eugene de Salignac. It appears to have been taken for or in the possession of the New York Post, which is stamped on the back.
[NYC], 1920s
Scope and Contents
The photograph seems to have originally been the possession of Air France and published in their "Tele-Magazine" as noted on the back.
[Nassau Street NYC], 1923
[New York City], 1924
Scope and Contents
This photograph, printed later, features two people with street vending boxes hanging from their necks as they warm their hands over a fire.
[New York], 1924
Scope and Contents
Pictures Nassau Street.
[Fifth Avenue, NYC], 1925
[Fifth Avenue, NYC], 1925
[Fire Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum], 1925
[Iron Workers, NYC], 1925
[Fifth Ave, NYC], 1926
Scope and Contents
Printed later.
[Broad Street, NYC], 1927
Scope and Contents
While the photographer is unknown, the picture appears to have been in the possession of the New York Evening Post in which it was published (as noted on the back).
[Coney Island], 1927
Scope and Contents
The photograph is attributed to ACME NEWSPICTURES and includes a caption on the back.
[Brooklyn Bridge, NYC], 1930s
Scope and Contents
Printed later.
[Weehawken Docks, NJ], 1930s
[Grand Central Terminal, New York], 1930
[New York City], 1930
Scope and Contents
Accredited to the New York Post.
[Swimming Pool, Jones Beach, NY], 1931
Scope and Contents
New York Post photograph.
[Woolworth Tower, NYC], 1932
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photograph.
[Times Square, NYC], 1933
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photograph.
[Men in Acrobatic Poses at Machinery], 1934
Scope and Contents
Photo credit is to General Electric
[Snow at 47th and Broadway, NYC], 1934
[Metropolitan Opera House, NYC], 1935
Scope and Contents
Accredited to the Wide World Studio, caption on the back.
[Times Square , NYC (Chevy, Planters)], 1937
Scope and Contents
Accredited to ACME NEWSPICTURE.
[Wall Street, NYC], 1937
Scope and Contents
This photograph features the New York Stock Exchange. Accredited to Keystone View Co.
[New York, NY], 1939
[Central Park (Ice Skaters)], 1940s
[Times Square], 1940s
Scope and Contents
Printed later.
[New York City], 1940
Scope and Contents
This photograph features a crowd gathered outside a crime scene on 138th street. Accredited to ACME NEWSPICTURES.
[Times Square NYC (above Chevy)], 1940
Scope and Contents
This photograph was taken by Lou Stoumen in 1940 and printed in 1986. It was previously held by the Milwaukee Art Museum and Floyd and Josephine Segel.
[Central Park NYC], 1941
[Coney Island Boardwalk, NYC], 1941
Scope and Contents
Accredited to ACME NEWSPICTURES. Caption on the back.
[Grand Central Station], 1941
[Grand Central Station], 1941
[Music Box NYC], 1941
[New York, NY], 1941
Scope and Contents
This photograph features Central Park.
[Penn Station], 1941
[Times Square], 1942
[Times Square], 1942
[Times Square], 1943
[Brooklyn, NY], 1944
Scope and Contents
This photograph features a crowd of evacuees after a chlorine gas explosion. Accredited to ACME NEWSPICTURE INC.
[Central Park, NYC (snow)], 1945
[Macy's Day Parade], 1945
[Moon Over Manhattan, NYC], 1945
Scope and Contents
Taken by Charles Langer at ACME NEWSPICTURE INC.
[NYC], 1945
Scope and Contents
Taken by David McLane and accredited to ACME NEWSPICTURE INC.
[NYC (crosstown street in the rain)], 1945
Scope and Contents
Taken by David McLane and accredited to ACME NEWSPICTURE INC.
[Park Avenue NYC], 1945
[Coney Island], 1946
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photo, caption on the back.
[Grand Central Station], 1946
[Times Square], 1946
[Coney Island], 1947
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photo, caption on the back.
[Mulberry Street, NYC], 1947
[Times Square, NYC], 1947
[Times Square, NYC Snow], 1948
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photo.
[Broadway and 47th, NYC], 1949
[Manhattan, NYC (long exposure)], 1949
[New York (night traffic, 6th Ave)], 1949
[NYC (high above 6th and Broadway)], 1949
[NYC (man on payphone, night)], 1949
[Ten Nights in a Dance Hall], 1949
[New York], 1950s
[NYC (man in snow)], 1950s
[Coney Island, NYC], 1951
[Times Square], 1951
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photograph.
[Bronx], 1952
Scope and Contents
This photograph was featured in an article on Broadway in an unspecified publication.
[NYC (Peanut Vendor) Downtown], 1952
Scope and Contents
Press photo, caption on the back.
[Coney Island], 1953
[Coney Island], 1953
[Times Square], 1955
Scope and Contents
Associated Press photograph of a bomb scare in Times Square.
[Park Avenue, NYC], 1957
Scope and Contents
Press photograph.
[NYC (Saks)], 1958
Scope and Contents
Press photo.
[New York, NY], 1960s
Scope and Contents
This photograph, taken and printed in the 1960's, pictures the 59th Street Bridge/Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge
[New York, NY (harbor view)], 1960s
[Sophia Loren], 1960s
[Sophia Loren], 1960s
[Times Square, NYC], 1960
[Atop 30 Rockefeller Center, NYC], 1961
Scope and Contents
This photograph features the releasing of balloons by Johnny Maguire and Mariann Kelly for the March of Dimes Campaign.
[New York City], 1961
[Waldorf Astoria Hotel, NYC], 1961
[Central Park], 1962
[Free Seatbelts], 1962
Scope and Contents
Accredited to United Press International Photo.
[Chelsea NYC], 1963
Scope and Contents
Pictures Chelsea during a blackout.
[Brooklyn Bridge], 1965
[Central Park] 1965, 1965
[NYC (Save Water, Goodyear Blimp)], 1965
[Sixth Avenue], 1965
[Coney Island], 1966
[Lower East Side, NY], 1966
Scope and Contents
Pictures Orchard Street.
[Orchard Street, Lower East Side NY], 1966
[Maxwell Street Fur Coats], 1968
Scope and Contents
The photograph, printed later, pictures a street vendor with his merchandise (fur coats). The picture signed on the back by the artist, Ave Pildas.
[Manhattan (Goldwater Hospital)], 1969
[42nd St., NY], 1976
Scope and Contents
Photograph by Michael DeChellis, signed on the back. Taken in 1976, this photograph was printed later.
[World Trade Center, Brooklyn Bridge], 1997
Scope and Contents
This photograph by Chris Bliss was taken in 1997 but printed later.
Bread of Life, 2012
Scope and Contents
This photograph features a neon sign from which the title of the photograph is derived. The photograph is printed with archival pigment and signed by the artist John Dubois.
Piazza San Barnaba, 2014
Scope and Contents
This photograph, featuring a cafe, is signed by the artist Jim M Kimmin.
T.SQ NEWSSTAND, 2015
Scope and Contents
This publication features pictorials of Times Square by various artists over various periods. The material is presented in a magazine-like form.
[Triborough Bridge], undated
Scope and Contents
This photograph of Triborough Bridge is signed by the artist Francesca Ifilligi.
[untitled], undated
Scope and Contents
This photograph features an aerial view of the New York skyline. The photograph was taken by Jon Hughes and is accredited as a press photo on the back.
[untitled], undated
Scope and Contents
Contemporary, features urinals and graffiti.
[untitled], undated
Scope and Contents
Photograph of NYC skyline.