Brooklynology

Fascinating Brooklyn stories from our local history archivists.

Soup Season: The Syrian-Jewish Edition

Opening the Pocket Doors: What Past Exhibitions Reveal

"Long Island Treasures Preserved in Brooklyn," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 27, 1900. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Throughout its 157-year history, the Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) executed over 150 e

Brooklyn's Mechanical Milkman

 

Kane Street Synagogue

Odessa in Brooklyn

Marcia Bricker, "Odessa Restaurant," circa 1980, color slide, V1992.43.40. Marcia Bricker photographs collection, V1992.043; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
This image of a restaurant in Brighton Beach is from our small collection of photographs by Marcia Bricker.

Opening the Pocket Doors: Ba Da Dao/Sunset Park Chinatown History Project

[New Neighbors Exhibit Opening], June 1996.

Sliding into the New Year

[Families sledding on a snowy hill in Prospect Park]  1978, V1990.2.183, Donald L.

Stories a Photo Can Tell

[P.S.

July 16, 1968 Was Hot

[Cyclone roller coaster], 1968, 

Opening the Pocket Doors: A Look at Executive Director, David Kahn

[Former Brooklyn Historical Society Executive Director, David Kahn]. undated, Brooklyn Historical Society Institutional Records, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Welcome to our second installment of Opening the Pocket Doors, our ongoing series looking into the processing of the Institutional Records of the Brooklyn Historical Society.  

Dining Under the Dome

[Diners at Dome Motor Inn restaurant], circa 1978, HERZ_0004_044, color slide. 

Brooklyn Theater Fire: The Musical!

[Mid Flame and Smoke, undated].

Cutting a Rug: Evidence(s) of Social Dance in Brooklyn

Juke box jive--Happy-faced teenagers at Colony House [located at 297 Dean Street] applaud two slick-footed regulars [dancing], 1944.

The Smallest Horse in the World

[Miniature Abraham & Straus delivery van], 1908.

Bundling Up

Opening the Pocket Doors: Processing Brooklyn Historical Society’s Institutional Records

[Man outside of the Long Island Historical Society], undated.

Hurricane Sandy

Shore Hotel sign damaged from the Hurricane Sandy], 2012, 2014.010.7, MIchael Claro Hurricane Sandy Photographs, 2010.010; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
 

Be Kind, Rewind

[Boy outside of video store], 1986, COHEN_0036; George Cohen photograph collection, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Today's Photo of the Week rewinds to 1986, where a boy is peering into a Brighton Beach video store.

The Lady of Gravesend

The Lady so integral to the history and development of Brooklyn spent most of her life in England. She was born Deborah Dunch around 1586, in London’s Gray’s Inn or a country estate outside the city. Her father, Walter Dunch, was a barrister and her grandfather, William Dunch, was an Auditor of the Royal Mint. She was a child during the reign of Elizabeth I, and grew up in the shadow of the plague, which had killed one-quarter to one-third of London’s population only twenty years before her birth and made appearances again in 1581 and 1592.

No Bones About It – They Are Getting the Skinny on This Exam Subject

Young students, oldest school--[eight] prospective R.N.'s are receiving instructions from Anna Dennis, R.N., director of nursing at the Prospect Heights Hospital … 1946. HOSP_0566. Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History
In honor of the sc

Five Children and a Puppy

[Five African-American children with puppy], circa 1968, HERZ_0667, black and white silver gelatin print. 

The Elephantine Colossus

Elephantine Colossus], circa 1893, Illustration, V1972.1.1090; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History
This From the Vault post was originally written by Dan Brenner and published on November 6, 2019 by the Brooklyn Historical Society.

LGBTQ+ History Resources at the Center for Brooklyn History

Group portrait taken at Brooklyn Pride Street Fair, 2007.

Risky Business: October 1878

Brooklyn Anchorage, 1878, gelatin silver print, BRID_0040; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.   
 

Wasted Space, But Not for Long

Wasted space, but not for long, 1952, Gelatin silver print, CBPL_0111; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Black-and-white photograph of two men standing in the center of an unfinished basement with columns along each side

A Child's Bedroom in 1880

[John T. Martin house], c.

Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, 1900-1939

[Portrait of man posing on a boardwalk in Coney Island], 1898, v1974.022.4.068, Eugene L.

The World of Miklos Suba

Miklos Suba, Study for “Barber Pole, South 8th Street,” [1941?], watercolor on paper, 2022.006.28; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
When artist and trained architect Miklos Suba (1880-1944) immigrated to NYC in 1924, he was confronted with a starkly different cityscape compared to his native Hungary.

Remembering 9/11 with Larry Racioppo and Amy Weinstein

  This month's guest blog post comes from friend of the blog Larry Racioppo and Amy Weinstein. First is Larry's contribution followed by Amy's.  

Williamsburg Bridge

[Waterfront basketball], 1951, PARK_0050; Brooklyn Daily Eagle Photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History. 
The Williamsburg Bridge was completed in 1903, making it the second of three bridges to connect Brooklyn to our neighbors in Manhattan. Make no mistake, this middle sister is no Jan Brady.

Shirley Chisholm Visits Fulton Street Festival

Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm visits the Fulton St. festival, 1972 ca. 2020.002.018. Khalil Abdulkhabir photographs of the Dar-ul-Islam movement, 2020.002.

Jacob Mann Photographs

 

Sunrise on Brighton Beach, 2009, 2010.008.2; Jacob Mann photographs, 2010.008; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
 

The Skate Emancipator: Abraham Lincoln’s Unexpected Legacy in Prospect Park

Abraham Lincoln never thought he would witness a kickflip. Never mind seeing one while cast in bronze and elevated nearly nineteen feet high over the southeast corner of Prospect Park lake. However if you stroll through the park’s ornate Concert Grove and make your way down to the waterfront esplanade, taking care to avoid the skateboarders flying around Abe’s feet, you will find yourself being scrutinized by more than the sunbathing red-eared slider turtles who have (against all odds) also made the lake their home.

Hot Dog Days

[Hot dog coat of arms], 1939, Gelatin silver print, CONE_0198; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
It's the dog days of summer here in Brooklyn, a perfect time to head down to Coney Island and enjoy a hot dog on the boar

A coat of arms depicting a royal figure knighting a kneeling hot dog with dachshunds on the sides, a pot of mustard at the top, and the words "calidus canis" at the bottom in a ribbon

Remembering CETA artists in NYC

Walking through the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights, one can easily miss the two colorful tile murals installed near the entrances. Completed in 1981 by artists Jonah Sellenraad, Alan Samalin, and ceramicist Joe Stallone, the murals depict several nearby attractions, including Plymouth Church and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

Summer Vibes

HERZ_0080, Bathing beauties, 1959, black and white silver gelatin print. Irving I.

One-Woman Coney Express

Ponyback protest--Post office economy moves notwithstanding.

Anders Goldfarb Photographs of Coney Island

Anders Goldfarb, [Person reading on boardwalk], 1989, v1992.48.59. Anders Goldfarb photographs of Coney Island, v1974.031. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
This From the Vault post was originally written by Tess Colwell and published on August 23, 2017 by the Brooklyn Historical Society.

Mourning the Victorian Way

[Hair Link], circa 1875, M1986.72.7; Artifact collection, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
This simple, braided bracelet holds a special meaning. If you look closely, you’ll see that the braid is actually made of human hair.

Extortionists Targeting Abortion Doctors Arrested

Accused shakedown artists face law, Sep 28, 1954. Gelatin silver print, CRIM_0066;

UnBanning Books Since 1934

You might have heard of our recent initiative Books UnBanned, which allows individuals ages 13-21 nationwide to apply for a free BPL eCard, providing access to our full eBook collection as well as our learning databases, and which makes a selection of frequently challenged and banned eBook & audiobook titles always available for BPL cardholders. But obviously, banning books and restricting access to information is unfortunately not a new phenomenon.

To Save Three Lives

Black and white image depicting a nurse in the foreground with a stethoscope on the arm of a man. In the background, two men stand with FDNY seals on their hats. On the righthand side, a standing doctor holds a stethoscope to the heart of a man

Kindergarten Class at Fort Greene Park

[Kindergarten class at Fort Greene Park], circa 1910, V1981.284.32, Emmanuel House lantern slide collection, v1981.284; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History
This From the Vault post was originally written by Tess Colwell and published on September

From Factory to Community Hub

V1990.7.1, [South Side of Fulton Street between Brooklyn and New York Avenues], circa 1972. Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation publication a

Introducing the Park Slope Civic Council Records

The Park Slope Civic Council (PSCC) was founded in 1896 as the South Brooklyn Board of Trade, a kind of chamber of commerce formed to lobby the city and state for improvements to infrastructure and services across the geographic area south of Downtown Brooklyn. In the late 1950s, the South Brooklyn Board of Trade changed its name to the Park Slope Civic Council in order to improve engagement in the neighborhood.

Fighting Metal: Keys to Victory

Librarian Charlotte Villanyi wearing jewelry made from castoff keys collected by the Brooklyn Public Library in nationwide campaign sponsored by the Paper and Twine Club.

Home Sweet Hut

[Canarsie Quonset huts], [1946?], NEIG_0315, Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs.

Wonder Wheel

[Coney Island Wonder Wheel], circa 1945, CONE_0239; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History
The world-famous Wonder Wheel is a Ferris wheel (also known as a pleasure wheel) designed by Romanian immigrant Charles Herman and operated by his business partner Herman Garms.

Miss Chien at the Book Chute

Miss Chien at bottom of book chute, 1962. BPL_0298; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs;

Community-driven Change in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Greater Gowanus

Throughout the Center for Brooklyn History’s archival collections there exists evidence of grassroots community organizations mobilizing to improve the quality of life for Brooklyn residents. Two recently processed collections provide insight into the people, programs, and services of community-driven neighborhood associations in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Greater Gowanus, meanwhile illuminating common and reoccurring issues faced by residents throughout the greater metropolitan area.