Series I. Photomurals, circa 1933, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The series holds 30 panels comprising what are believed to be the back-up copies of Edward Steichen's photomural for the New York State exhibit at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. From left to right, the mural includes photos of the George Washington Bridge, a lake in the Adirondacks (possibly Lake George), and the New York State Education Building in Albany, each segment separated by an image of a tree.
The panels have original numbering and annotations indicating their placement. Panels numbered with prefix NB are the bottom panels; panels numbered with prefix NT are the top panels. Each row is numbered 1-17, running from left to right, though some numbers are not used, likely to account for gaps in the mural for doorways and other openings in the wall. The size of each panel is approximately 100 x 40 inches. Each panel is documented in the container list but all are restricted from access because of their size and condition. See the following access conditions note.
Arrangement
The finding aid presents the panels in order, reading left to right along the bottom row (panels with prefix NB), then left to right along the top row (panels with prefix NT). Given their unwieldy size and fragility, the objects themselves were rolled and boxed in no particular order but simply in the order in which they were conserved.
Conditions Governing Access
The photomural panels in the series are fragile, exceptionally oversize, and held in specialized storage. Consequently the objects are restricted, and access requires permission from and special arrangements with the N-YHS curator and conservator. Permission will be granted only in the most exceptional circumstances, and a fee for the cost of special handling may be required. In-lieu of physical access, a digital image taken by N-YHS photographer Glenn Castellano in March 2022 of each of the 30 panels is available on request from N-YHS; see the first entry in the container list to request these files. Also, an extensive number of related images, including some detailed close-ups, taken by Tremont Auctions in June 2017 are available through Tremont's website.
Digital images of George Washington Bridge / Adirondack Lake / State Education Building photo mural panels (30), circa 1933, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The digital files are named to follow the sequence of the photomural panels, reading left to right along the bottom (NB panels) then left to right along the top (NT panels). Photos by N-YHS photographer Glenn Castellano, March 2022. The filenames are:
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB01_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB03_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB04_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB05_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB06_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB08_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB09_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB10_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB11_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB12_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB13_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB14_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB16_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NB17_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT01_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT02_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT03_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT04_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT05_George_Washington_Bridge
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT06_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT07_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT08_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT09_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT10_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT12_Adirondack
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT13_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT14_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT15_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT16_Education_Building
nyhs_PR440_Steichen_NT17_Education_Building