Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection

Brooklyn Public Library Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11238

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Copyright © 2012 Brooklyn Public Library. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Terrence J. Allen Title: Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection Date Span: 1868 – 2007 (bulk dates 1895 – 1915) Abstract: The collection focuses solely on Prospect Park and its immediate environment, and consists of 783 postcards, 259 stereoviews, 72 photographs, 17 lantern slides, 7 glass plate negatives, 11 film negatives, 18 prints and periodicals, and 18 ephemera items, arranged by format. Quantity: 7 boxes, 2.1 cubic feet Location: Central Library, Brooklyn Collection, Map Room Repository: Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection Reference Code: BC0221

Historical Note Prospect Park is a 585 acre park in the heart of Brooklyn. It was designed by famed landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who had previously designed Manhattan’s Central Park. Construction of the park began in 1866 and was mostly completed by 1875. Created to serve all classes of Brooklyn – at that point still an independent city and one of the largest in the country – the park was deliberately constructed to resemble a natural landscape, with a small creek, a lake, wooded areas, and long open meadows. Buildings in the park were mainly rustic shelters built of wood to complement the pastoral atmosphere.

The park evolved over the years, and as the 19th century drew to a close many classical design elements were added to the landscape. The architecture firm of McKim, Mead, and White was hired to redesign the entrances around the park’s perimeter; they installed the classical pedestals, columns, and statuary that stand at Grand Army Plaza, the Third Street entrance, Bartel-Pritchard Circle, and Park Circle. A number of new buildings were also erected around the turn of the century, including the Boat House and the Peristyle.

Under the administration of city parks commissioner Robert Moses in the mid-twentieth century, the park was again renovated to emphasize physical recreation over the passive enjoyment of natural vistas. Moses built a new zoo, bandshell, and several playgrounds around the park’s perimeter. A period of declined followed, with original buildings falling into disuse and decay even as the park celebrated its centennial year in 1966. Restoration efforts were mounted in the 1980s, including the founding of the Prospect Park Alliance, a non-profit organization that works with the City of New York to maintain and restore the park grounds.

When taken in its totality, the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection, the bulk of which dates from 1895 to 1915, forms a nearly complete picture of the park in its earliest incarnation, before cycles of dilapidation and redevelopment altered the landscape. Many of the landmarks represented in the postcard collection, like the Mount Prospect water tower, the Dairy, and Mount Vernon have been replaced or are gone completely.

Scope and Content The collection consists of 783 postcards, 259 stereoviews, 72 photographs, 17 lantern slides, 7 glass plate negatives, 11 film negatives, 19 prints and periodicals, and 18 ephemera items. Although the collection spans from 1868 to 2007, the bulk of materials are from the period between 1895 and 1915. In addition to the park grounds themselves, the collection also represents areas immediately adjacent to the park, including the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, and scenes along Prospect Park West and Eastern Parkway. The ephemera collection includes fourteen programs from the Parks summer concert series dating from 1897 to 1914.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions Collection is located in the Brooklyn Collection at the Central Branch at Grand Army Plaza. The collection may only be used in the library and is not available through interlibrary loan. Requests to view the collection must be made at least 48 hours in advance of visit.

Use Restrictions While many items in the Brooklyn Collection are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The borrower assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Access Points

Subject Topics: Parks -- New York (State) -- New York. Prospect Park (New York, N.Y.) Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903. Vaux, Calvert, 1824-1895.

Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection 2 of 7 Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection Administrative Information

Provenance Collected by Terrence J. Allen and donated to the Brooklyn Collection in 2012.

Preferred Citation This collection should be cited as the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection, Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection.

Related Materials

Selection of sources available at the Brooklyn Collection: Berenson, Richard J. The complete illustrated guidebook to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. New York: Silver Lining Books, 2001.

Graff, M. M. The making of Prospect Park : notes for a projected historical study. Greensward Foundation, c1982

Lancaster, Clay. Prospect Park handbook. New York: Long Island University Press, 1972.

Landmarks Preservation Commission. Prospect Park designation report. New York: The Commission, 1975.

Prospect Park Alliance. Saving Brooklyn’s last forest: the plan for Prospect Park. New York: Prospect Park Alliance, 1994.

Prospect Park Centennial Committee. Prospect Park, 1866 - 1966. New York: Prospect Park Centennial Committee, 1966.

Historic photographs available in the Brooklyn Public Library catalog

Historic prints and ephemera may be found in our Prints Collection and Ephemera Collection finding aids.

Online resources: Prospect Park Alliance website: http://www.prospectpark.org/ Prospect Park Alliance archives: http://www.prospectpark.org/about/history/archives Forgotten New York’s “Secrets of Prospect Park”: http://forgotten-ny.com/2005/05/secrets-of-prospect- park/

Arrangement The collection is arranged into series by format. Within the postcard series, materials are arranged geographically, as per Mr. Allen’s original order, to replicate the experience of physically touring the park, starting at Grand Army Plaza and looping through the various landmarks of the park. The remaining collections are arranged chronologically or, if no dates were available, as found. Although there are some duplicates in the collection, for the most part each item is unique.

Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection 3 of 7 Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection

Series 1: Postcards Arrangement: Geographic Extent: 778 postcards

Park Location No. of postcards Dates Location 1.1 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch 57 1902 – 1943 Box 1 (see also 1.40 Oversized Postcards) 1.2 Grand Army Plaza 51 1904 – 1927 Box 1 1.3 Prospect Park West 8 1904 – 1910 Box 1 1.4 The Drive 3 1905 – 1919 Box 1 1.5 Meadowport 2 1907 – 1909 Box 1 1.6 Long Meadow 23 1905 – 1918 Box 1 1.7 Woods 10 1906 – 1908 Box 1 1.8 Litchfield Mansion 10 1909 – 1914 Box 1 1.9 Conservatory 13 1906 – 1919 Box 1 1.10 Tennis Grounds and Pavilion 15 1907 – 1927 Box 1 1.11 Rock Arch Bridge, Dairy, and Menagerie 41 1907 – 1915 Box 1 1.12 Ambergill 11 1907 – 1921 Box 1 1.13 Nethermead Arch 14 1907 – 1915 Box 1 1.14 Music Grove Bridge 9 1909 – 1921 Box 1 1.15 Binnen Falls and Bridge 6 1909 – 1911 Box 1 1.16 Boat House: New Building 32 1906 – 1943 Box 1 (see also 1.40 Oversized Postcards) 1.17 Boat House: Old Building 26 1905 – 1913 Box 1 1.18 Lullwater Bridge 13 1907 – 1942 Box 1 1.19 Rustic Arbor 7 1907 – 1913 Box 1 1.20 The Umbrella (Breeze Hill) 7 1908 – 1915 Box 1 1.21 Mt. Vernon 1 c. 1932 Box 1 1.22 Terrace Bridge 36 1905 – 1954 Box 1 1.23 The Lake: General Views 29 1905 – 1928 Box 1 1.24 The Lake: Rustic Shelters 32 1903 – 1924 Box 1 1.25 The Lake: Swan Boats 4 1911 – 1912 Box 1 1.26 Park Circle 49 1904 – 1924 Box 1 1.27 Parade Grounds and House 4 1910 Box 2 1.28 Parkside Avenue Entrance 1 1911 Box 2 1.29 Peristyle 23 1905 – 1925 Box 2 1.30 Concert Grove: Shelter 31 1904 – 1956 Box 2 1.31 Concert Grove: Monuments 51 1906 – 1934 Box 2 1.32 Concert Grove: Flower Garden 45 1904 – 1949 Box 2 1.33 Stairways 6 1915 – 1919 Box 2 1.34 Lincoln Road Entrance 14 1910 – 1921 Box 2 1.35 Cleft Ridge Span 6 1908 Box 2 1.36 Empire Boulevard Entrance 8 1907 – 1911 Box 2 1.37 Vale of Cashmere 42 1904 – 1919 Box 2 1.38 Eastern Parkway 8 1910 – 1951 Box 2 1.39 Mount Prospect Water Tower 22 1902 – 2007 Box 2 1.40 Oversized Postcards 4 no date Box 6

Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection 4 of 7 Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection

Series 2: Stereoviews Location: Boxes 3 and 4 Arrangement: As found Extent: 259 stereoview cards Description: The stereocards, though largely undated, date roughly from 1900 to 1920. As with the postcard collection, these consist mostly of scenic views of different areas of the park.

Series 3: Prints Location: Box 5 Arrangement: Chronological Extent: 19 prints Title Date Publication The Big Bicycle Parade in Brooklyn, New York June 29, 1895 Harper's Weekly A Morning Ride in Prospect Park Jan. 10, 1914 Brooklyn Life Fountain Built of Beton, and Erected at the Flatbush Entrance to Prospect Park 1877 The Manufacturer and Builder Scenes at the Opening of the Famous Cycle Path from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, to Coney Island: Incidents at the Manhattan Beach Track. July 6, 1895 The Illustrated American Prospect Park. June 4, 1870 Appletons' Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art. Prospect Park, Brooklyn June 4, 1870 Appletons' Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art. Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York Sept. 12, 1868 Harper's Weekly [no Prospect Park images] April 4, 1868 Harper's Weekly The Lake, Prospect Park. 1899 The New Metropolis Sham Battle at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, on Washington's Birthday March 7, 1885 Harper's Weekly The Lincoln Monument in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York Nov. 13, 1869 Harper's Weekly Steam Spraying Apparatus used in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1869 Yearbook U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Prospect Park, Brooklyn n.d. Cities of the World The Parks and the People n.d. The Outlook Entrance to Prospect Park, Brooklyn 1909 The New New York Electric Fountain at the Entrance to Prospect Park. 1899 The New Metropolis The Battle Pass (in Prospect Park,) Brooklyn. 1884 History of King's County Including Brooklyn, NY Map of a Part of the Borough of Kings (Brooklyn,) New York City Gazetteer of Cities and Towns n.d. of the World

Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection 5 of 7 Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection Series 4: Ephemera Location: Box 6 Arrangement: Chronological Extent: 16 items, various sizes. Title Date Myra Ward in Colors of Prospect Park Model Club no date Arbor Day at Battle Pass, Prospect Park. May 2, 1890 Prospect Park Concerts Season 1897 1897 Prospect Park Concerts Season 1897 1897 Park Concerts Season 1902 June 15, 1902 Park Concerts Season 1902 July 6, 1902 Park Concerts Season 1903 September 6, 1903 Park Concerts Season 1904 July 17, 1904 Park Concerts Season 1904 August 13, 1904 Park Concerts Season 1904 August 28, 1904 Park Concerts Season 1904 September 3, 1904 Park Concerts Season 1905 July 2, 1905 Park Concerts Season 1907 August 18, 1907 Park Concerts Season 1908 June 13, 1908 Park Concerts Season 1913 August 2, 1913 Park Concerts Season 1914 August 8, 1914

Series 5: Photographs, Negatives, and Slides Subseries 5.1: Photographs Arrangement: Chronological Extent: 72 photographs, varying sizes. Description: The photographs are mostly in black and white and range in date from 1892 to 1934. Of note are 14 panoramic prints on scrapbook board dating from 1907, and 10 black and white snapshots of one couple’s day in the park from 1934. Locations depicted in the park include the Terrace Bridge, lake, lawn, Concert Grove, boat house, Lincoln Monument, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. Photographs are arranged by date, although their original order can be reconstructed by sequencing the call numbers assigned to each of the photographs.

Description Location 5.1.1 Photographs 1890 – 1899 Box 6 5.1.2 Photographs 1900 – 1929 Box 6 5.1.3 Photographs 1932 – 1934 Box 6 5.1.4 Undated photographs Box 6 5.1.5 Oversized photographs Box 5

Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection 6 of 7 Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection Subseries 5.2: Slides Location: Box 7 Arrangement: Chronological Description: 17 lantern slides, mostly in black and white, ranging in date from 1894 to 1915. Most are undated. Five 35mm slides, in color, all undated. Areas depicted include the lake, Long Meadow, and fountains.

Subseries 5.3: Negatives Location: Boxes 6 and 7 Arrangement: As found Extent: 18 negatives Description: Five 4 inch by 5 inch glass negatives, all undated but one, from 1906. Two 5 inch by 7 inch glass negatives from 1907 (stored in Box 6). Eleven 2.75 inch by 4.5 inch film negatives, all undated, but from approximately the 1930s. Areas depicted include the Concert Grove pavilion, Abraham Lincoln monument, the thatched shelter, lake and Long Meadow.

Box List Box 1: Series 1.1 – 1.26, Postcards

Box 2: Series 1.27 – 1.39, Postcards

Box 3: Series 2, Stereoviews

Box 4: Series 2, Stereoviews

Box 5: Series 3, Prints Series 5.1.5, Photographs (oversized)

Box 6: Series 4, Ephemera Series 1.40, Postcards (oversized) Series 5.3, Glass plate negatives (oversized) Series 5.1.1 – 5.1.4, Photographs

Box 7: Series 5.2, Slides Series 5.3, Negatives

Guide to the Terrence J. Allen Prospect Park Collection 7 of 7 Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection