Guide to the Brownsville and East Photographs, 1958-1965, BCMS.0044 Finding aid prepared by Diana Bowers-Smith, Archivist

This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit September 05, 2018

Brooklyn Public Library - Collection , 2018 10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, NY, 11238 718.230.2762 [email protected] Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965,

Table of Contents

Summary Information ...... 3 Historical Note...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Arrangement...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 5 Related Materials ...... 5 Controlled Access Headings...... 5 Collection Inventory...... 7 Brownsville...... 7 East New York...... 12

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Summary Information

Repository Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn Collection

Title Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965

Date 1958-1965

Extent 0.2 Linear feet , 1 document box.

Location Brooklyn Collection Annex, Shelf 5.2

Language English

Abstract 99 black and white photographic prints of the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brownsville and East New York dated 1958-1965.

Preferred Citation This collection should be cited as the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection.

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Historical Note

Brownsville and East New York are adjoining neighborhoods in the eastern part of Brooklyn, New York. While it can be difficult to definitively state the borders of neighborhoods, Brownsville is often roughly considered to be bounded by Eastern Parkway to the north, Ralph Avenue/E. 98th Street to the west, Linden Boulevard to the south, and the elevated subway tracks between Junius Street and Van Sinderen Avenue to the east. East New York's boundaries are roughly located at Cypress Hills Cemetery to the north, the elevated rail tracks next to Van Sinderen Avenue to the west, Jamaica Bay to the south, and the Queens County line to the east. The photos in this collection also include images of Ocean Hill, a smaller neighborhood to the north of Brownsville with which Brownsville is often associated. Both of these neighborhoods experienced profound shifts during the period depicted in these photographs. In the early twentieth century, this part of Brooklyn was largely populated by working class European immigrants. Due to the development of several Housing Authority (NYCHA) housing projects in both neighborhoods, as well as changing immigration policies in the United States, the neighborhood demographics shifted midcentury to primarily African-American and Hispanic residents. The photos in this collection primarily depict street scenes, which often include distinctive vehicles such as buses or police cars. There are also images of the residents of these communities which give a glimpse of their demographic makeup. Many local businesses appear in these photographs as well.

Scope and Contents

99 black and white photographic prints.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series by neighborhood. Within each series, the photographs are arranged chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn Collection , 2018

Access 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 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 researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Provenance Purchased from Brian Merlis in 2018.

Related Materials

Books about Brownsville at the Brooklyn Collection Books about East New York at the Brooklyn Collection Brooklyn Collection clippings files on East New York and Brownsville Brooklyn Eagle Photos: multiple headings for Brownsville and East New York Ephemera Collection: headings for Brownsville and East New York

Controlled Access Headings

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Genre(s)

• Photographs

Geographic Name(s)

• Brownsville (New York, N.Y.) • East New York (New York, N.Y.) • Ocean Hill (New York, N.Y.)

Subject(s)

• Automobiles • Police vehicles • Streets

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Collection Inventory

Brownsville

Folder 1: 1958

Rockaway and Lott Avenues , 4/21/1958

Newport Street between Amboy Street and Herzl Street , 4/26/1958 (2 photographs)

Sutter Avenue from Thatford Avenue , 5/12/1958

Folder 2: 1959

Pitkin Avenue west from Sackman Street , 1/27/1959

Chester Street from Riverdale Avenue , 11/2/1959

Riverdale Avenue from Chester Street , 11/2/1959

Folder 3: 1961

Sackman Street between Pitkin and Belmont Avenues

Thatford and Pitkin Avenues

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Feldman Lumber, Dumont and Hopkinson Avenues (now Thomas S. Boyland Street)

Police car, Pitkin and Thatford Avenues

Folder 4: 1962

Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard) south toward Pitkin Avenue , 5/9/1962 (2 photographs)

Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard) north to Pitkin Avenue , 5/9/1962

Chester Street between Pitkin and Sutter Avenues , 5/13/1962 (2 photographs)

Dumont Avenue toward Chester Street , 5/22/1962

Dumont Avenue and Chester Street , 5/22/1962

Christopher and Lott Avenues , 10/24/1962 (3 photographs)

Bristol Street toward Sutter Avenue , 10/27/1962

Riverdale Avenue east from East 98th Street , 12/1/1962

Police car, Blake Avenue to Strauss Street

Blake Avenue to Strauss Street

Police car, Chester Street to Blake Avenue

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Folder 5: 1963

Blake Avenue from Powell Street , 4/17/1963

Blake Avenue and Powell Street , 4/17/1963 (2 photographs)

Powell Street from Blake Avenue , 4/17/1963

Amboy Street toward Blake Avenue , 4/23/1963

Junius Street to Sutter Avenue , 4/26/1963

Sutter Avenue east toward Junius Street , 4/26/1963

Powell Street and Glenmore Avenue , 7/30/1963

Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard) south from Pitkin Avenue , 9/7/1963

Pitkin Avenue east from Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard) , 9/7/1963

Rockaway Parkway south from East New York Avenue , 9/8/1963 (2 photographs)

Pitkin Avenue east from Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard) , 9/7/1963

Pitkin Avenue and Grafton Street/Zion Park , 11/17/1963 (4 photographs)

Newport Street from Saratoga Avenue , 12/6/1963

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Saratoga Avenue north from Newport Street , 12/6/1963

Police car, Riverdale Avenue to Christopher Avenue

Subway elevated tracks, Livonia Avenue and Chester Street

Powell Street near Sutter Avenue

Crowd at Dumont Avenue and Saratoga Avenue

Saratoga Avenue north from Dumont Avenue

Police car outside bowling alley, Linden Boulevard from Rockaway Avenue

Feldman Lumber, Dumont Avenue and Hopkinson Avenue (now Thomas S. Boyland Street)

Christopher and Riverdale Avenues

Powell Street and Glenmore Avenues

Dumont Avenue west to Hopkinson Avenue (now Thomas S. Boyland Street)

Bus outside P.S. 275, Rickaway Avenue and Linden Bouelvard

Dumont Avenue west to Saratoga Avenue

Folder 6: 1964

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Chester Street and Sutter Avenue , 1/2/1964

Strauss Street to Dumont Avenue , 3/6/1964

Dumont Avenue west to Strauss Street , 3/6/1964

Amboy Street near Sutter Avenue , 3/20/1964

121 Amboy Street, near Sutter Avenue , 3/20/1964

Pitkin Avenue east to Hopkinson Avenue (now Thomas S. Boyland Street)

Folder 7: 1965

Dean Street and Howard Avenue, Ocean Hill

Fulton Street and Rockway Avenue, Ocean Hill

Newport Street west to Saratoga Avenue

Newport Street east to Saratoga Avenue

Pitkin and Stone Avenues (now Mother Gaston Boulevard)

Lott Avenue west from Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard)

P.S. 184, Lott and Stone Avenues (now Mother Gaston Boulevard)

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Saratoga Avenue from Newport Street

Riverdale Avenue south to Stone Avenue (now Mother Gaston Boulevard)

People on public housing bench

Folder 8: Undated

Police car, Eastern Parkway and Sterling Place

East New York

Folder 9: 1958

Liberty Avenue and Wyona Street , 4/22/1958

Liberty Avenue and Chestnut Street , 5/1/1958

Essex Street to Dumont Avenue , 5/4/1958

Essex Street between Liberty and Atlantic Avenues , 5/13/1958

Liberty Avenue west to Hinsdale Street , 6/2/1958

Folder 10: 1959

Vermont Street and Belmont Avenue , 1/11/1959

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Crescent and Fulton Streets , 4/2/1959

Blake Avenue and Essex Street , 4/29/1959

Glenmore Avenue west to Ashford Street , 5/25/1959

Jerome Street to Pitkin Avenue , 10/10/1959

Pennsylvania and Riverdale Avenues , 11/14/1959

Folder 11: 1962

Man at Vermont Street and Stanley Avenue , 5/13/1962

Vermont Street near Atlantic Avenue , 5/23/1962

Alabama Avenue from Riverdale Avenue , 10/24/1962

Alabama Avenue to Riverdale Avenue , 10/24/1962

Folder 12: 1963

Montauk Avenue to Pitkin Avenue , 7/2/1963

Arlington Avenue to Jerome Street , 11/7/1963

Folder 13: 1964

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Ridgewood Avenue at Force Tube Avenue , 1/10/1964

Jamaica Avenue west to Force Tube Avenue , 1/10/1964

Belmont Avenue toward Hemlock Street , 2/15/1964

Hemlock Street toward Belmont Avenue , 2/15/1964

Sutter Avenue east from Van Sinderen Avenue , 2/26/1964

Jamaica Avenue east to Miller Avenue , 3/20/1964

Synagogue, Alabama Avenue north to Dumont Avenue , 7/28/1964

Fortunoff's, Alabama Avenue at Livonia Avenue 7/28/1964

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