Guide to the Brownsville and East New York 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 - Brooklyn 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 New York City 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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