BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anthony C. Wood, Chair Elizabeth R. Jeffe, Vice-Chair Stephen Facey, Treasurer Lisa Ackerman, Secretary Daniel J. Allen Eric Allison Michele H. Bogart Susan De Vries Kent Diebolt Amy Freitag Shirley Ferguson Jenks Otis Pratt Pearsall Gina Pollara Anthony W. Robins Bradley J. Vogel Duane A. Watson

NEWSLETTER FALL 2013 Welcome to the nineteenth edition of the newsletter of the Preservation Archive Project. The mission of the New York Preservation Archive Project is to protect and raise awareness of the narratives of historic preservation in New York. Through public programs, outreach, celebration, and the creation of public access to information, the Archive Project hopes to bring these stories to light.

Bard Birthday Breakfast Benefit 2013 ______December 10, 2013 8:15 a.m.: Breakfast BARD 8:30-10:00 a.m.: Program Save the Date! Penthouse th Join Us for the 10 Annual Bard Birthday Breakfast Benefit 80 Fifth Avenue, at 14th Street Tickets are now available for the Tenth Rossi has spent the last 13 years producing, Annual Bard Birthday Breakfast Benefit on directing, shooting, and editing national December 10th! programs for public television. In 2012, Tickets: Rossi received an Emmy Award for his Benefit Committee Tickets:$250 Fifty years ago, in 1963, the demolition of work as coordinating producer of the PBS Benefit Tickets: $125 New York City’s Pennsylvania Station began. children’s engineering series, Design Squad This monumental loss came as a shock to Nation. His production credits for American Student Tickets: $65 many and is regarded as a major galvanizing Experience include Building the Alaska Highway, influence on preservation advocacy and The Gold Rush, and We Shall Remain, a five- To purchase tickets, or if you have policy in the United States. To commemorate part television series and multimedia project any questions about the event, please this anniversary, join the Archive Project in on Native American history. Rossi has also visit our website at www.nypap.org a special benefit celebration of what would contributed to PBS’s Frontline, including or contact Matthew Coody at the have been Albert S. Bard’s 147th birthday. a thirty-minute documentary entitled The Archive Project office: Michael Rossi, an independent documentary Silence. [email protected] film and non-fiction television producer, will or 212-988-8379. be the featured speaker. Rossi is currently A graduate of the B.A./M.A. program producing a film about the construction in U.S. history at Boston College, Rossi Your support of our annual benefit of Pennsylvania Station for the award- began his career at PBS in the educational will enable the Archive Project winning PBS series American Experience. programming department at WGBH While researching this documentary, Rossi Boston. In addition to work in public to continue its efforts to record has delved into extensive archives on the television, his company, Rossi Films, has and document the history of the doomed terminal, and he will discuss the completed a variety of production work preservation movement in New York significance of archives in the process on documentaries, feature films, television City. We are very excited about this of creating historical documentary films. shows, music videos, and commercials. upcoming event and sincerely hope Introducing Rossi will be Lorraine B. Diehl, Rossi’s documentary on Pennsylvania Station you will join us on December 10th! author of The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station. is expected to air on PBS in 2014. Page 1 was made. You were part of that delegation that met with the staff of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. You sat in on the meeting with your local elected officials. You witnessed the community board debate on that issue. You participated in the meeting with The New York Times editorial board. You were in the room when the deal was made. You worked for that agency, that politician, that not-for-profit, that developer; you served on that community board.

Years ago, following an Archive Project program, I received a note from the planner and community activist, the late Walter Thabit. In it he revealed the important yet almost invisible role Raymond Rubinow, long-time civic activist and “philanthropoid” extraordinaire, played in opposing the demolition of Pennsylvania Station. Thabit credited Ray with recruiting dozens to the cause and helping structure AGBANY— Action Group For Better Architecture in Vest covered in preservation advocacy buttons; New York—and “leaving the architects and Courtesy of Anthony C. Wood other high visibility supporters the run of the effort to stop the demolition.” The role of this civic veteran in an effort frequently Chairman’s : depicted as fueled by young architects offers us a more nuanced appreciation of the Be Your Own Preservation Archivist! dynamics of that effort. Without Walter’s note, how would we ever know? By Anthony C. Wood, Founder & Chair In addition to the specialized information We all have memories of those seismic You may have special knowledge that will be stored between your ears, imagine what historical events that have touched our lost forever if not somehow “downloaded” historians could learn from the papers lives. “What were you doing when you for the future. stuffed in your file drawers, piled in the back heard that President Kennedy had been of that closet, or perhaps stored in that extra shot?” or, more pertinent for younger This was underscored to me over a recent shower stall? Your clipping files probably generations, “Where were you on 9/11?” lunch conversation with Margot Wellington, don’t contain unique information, but your Those events are indelibly etched on the former executive director of the Municipal correspondence and working papers certainly national consciousness and on our own. It is Art Society. We were discussing the “sliver” do! Did you keep notes of the organizing true that our personal memories add to the building outbreak in Manhattan in the early meetings of a preservation campaign? Did richness of that shared history, but in most l980s and the resulting successful campaign you head up a working committee? Do you cases our stories are not essential to establish to control them. Margot recounted that a have the list of the delegation that met with the “historic record.” The opposite is true City planning staffer had told her that the the borough president on that issue? when it comes to capturing the history of reason those narrow towers had started preservation in New York City. to pop up was an “innocent” change in Even simple records, where little else mandated parking requirements for new exists, can provide an invaluable window You and I have singular roles to play in residential construction. How long would into the past. Again, an example from the documenting the history of preservation. it have taken a researcher to connect those Pennsylvania Station story: thanks to the If you’ve been involved in a preservation dots, let alone gain the other insights Margot papers of Costas Machlouzarides, the effort—whether fighting to save a building, and her civic colleagues could provide into treasurer for AGBANY, we have a partial restoring an historic resource, achieving that chapter of civic history? list of those who contributed financially designation for an historic district, or battling to AGBANY. Since AGBANY’s flame an ill-conceived project—your memories From your work in the preservation burned brightly yet briefly, and its efforts and records can provide singular insights trenches, you too have “insider” knowledge. were appreciated more after the fact than at into that episode of preservation’s history. “You were there” when preservation history the time, having factual information about

Page 2 its supporters and its finances is a real gift to historians. From this simple financial document we learn that as of the date of its preparation, Philip Johnson Associates, Frances H. Jones, and Alfred A. Knopf were AGBANY’s largest donors, each at $100.

And what about preservation ephemera? Who doesn’t have preservation memorabilia kicking around the house? How many “Save [fill in the blank] buttons” are in your collection? Do you still have preservation campaign T-shirts, posters, hats, you name it? In some future exhibition, the history of preservation can be brought alive by these Past LPC Chair Gene Norman speaks at the Albert S. Bard Cultural Medallion Dedication Ceremony; items as well as by the brick you salvaged Courtesy of Charles Starks from that landmark we lost, the piece of decorative molding you snatched from that gutted interior, or a salvaged piece of terra NYPAP Events cotta you retrieved from the dumpster. Our Public Programs Continue to Celebrate, Educate & Inspire The Archive Project has been working with preservationists to both capture This year marks the 50th anniversary of the lessons can be used to guide contemporary their memories and preserve their papers demolition of New York City’s Pennsylvania preservation struggles. and preservation ephemera. However, to Station, a loss that became an influential paraphrase a line from an old R&B song, force in the passage of the City’s Landmarks * * * “So many preservationists, so little time.” Law. In fact, most historians cite this On September 23rd the Archive Project The only way to truly capture the inspiring watershed moment as the beginning of teamed up with the Historic Landmarks and instructive history of preservation the modern preservation movement in the Preservation Center to host a dedication efforts in New York is for you to unleash the City. But numerous actions to advance some ceremony for the Albert S. Bard cultural archivist within. Become your own archivist. form of landmarks protection predate this medallion at the Broad Exchange Building, famous episode. Last spring the Archive a New York City Landmark where Bard Thanks to the technology that has engulfed Project and the Greenwich Village Society maintained an office for over 60 years. The our lives, it is easier than ever to become your for Historic Preservation co-sponsored a medallion, part of the Historic Landmarks own archivist. You can begin by capturing panel entitled Preservation before the Preservation Center’s Cultural Medallion some of your choice insider preservation Demolition of Penn Station. Early efforts Program, celebrates the work of Bard, recollections using the voice memo feature to protect buildings and neighborhoods whose advocacy of governmental aesthetic on your phone. You can now easily scan were discussed and analyzed by experts regulation was instrumental in preserving your most important preservation papers in the field, including Franny Eberhart, our City’s history. He is most noted for and give them a new digital life. Preservation trustee of the Historic Districts Council, the passage of the Bard Act, the piece of organizations, even if all volunteer, can now vice-chair of the Historic House Trust, legislation that enabled the creation of the document their current advocacy efforts with and president of FRIENDS of the Upper New York City Landmarks Law in 1965. a click of the camera built into their phones. East Side Historic Districts; Jon Ritter, Speakers at the ceremony included former On that iPad, keep notes and observations professor of urbanism and architecture at of the meetings and events you attend. NYU; and Anthony C. Wood, founder and chair of the Archive Project. The panel To capture the history preservationists are focused on how early struggles—including making every day, preservationists merely such examples as the unsuccessful battle in need to be conscious of the fact they are 1948 to save Greenwich Village’s Genius making history. The preservation history Row, several row houses on Washington you make today can only inspire and instruct Square South that housed notable writers, new generations of preservationists if it is artists, and musicians—differed from later documented for the future. Here at NYPAP initiatives in the post-Pennsylvania Station we are doing our best, but to truly capture era. Discussion concluded with a debate on the old and new chapters in preservation’s the lessons preservationists have learned evolving story, it really is up to you! Activate from the demolition of the iconic train your inner archivist and go to work! station, prompting a reflection on how these Bard Medallion; Courtesy of the Archive Project

Page 3 Landmarks Preservation Commission values as scenic and historic views of the Chairs Beverly Moss Spatt, Gene Norman, Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, Kent Barwick, and Laurie Beckelman, as or the Statue of Liberty, as well as distinctive Stewardship well as Archive Project founder and chair neighborhoods unlikely to be protected and Bard historian, Anthony C. Wood. After through landmark designation. the medallion unveiling, a reception was Society held inside the Broad Exchange Building, In commemoration of the 100th anniversary where attendees were regaled with stories of the Report of the Mayor’s Billboard Advertising Our annual series of special events for of the civic activist’s accomplishments. The Commission of the City of New York, on our Stewardship Society continues! This Archive Project is proud to be involved in November 4th the New York Preservation fall the Society visited the Carnegie the creation and installation of this plaque Archive Project hosted From Signs to Hall Archives. Museum director and for Albert S. Bard, one of the latest cultural Scenic Vistas: Aesthetic Regulation’s archivist Gino Francesconi discussed medallions to be installed in the City to Unfinished Agenda. This panel program this fascinating collection of materials commemorate individuals or occurrences examined the origins of aesthetic regulation that tell the story of the musicians, which have made significant contributions in New York State, delving into present politicians, and world figures who day situations where have appeared at the premiere concert venue since its opening in 1891. The policy has fallen short archives consist of thousands of in protecting historic concert programs, posters and fliers, and scenic views, and musical manuscripts and autographs, exploring potential administrative files, and architectural tools to solve these drawings, as well as materials related to shortcomings. Before the successful effort to save Carnegie a robust discussion Hall from demolition in the early 1960s. and question-and- After the guided tour, a reception was answer session with held where guests mingled over wine a panel of experts, and hors d’oeuvres. Anthony C. Wood, author of Preserving The Stewardship Society is the Archive New York: Winning Project’s devoted group of benefactors Billboards at Fifth Avenue, 89th & 90th Streets; from the Report of the Mayor’s the Right to Protect who regularly meet for special tours Billboard Advertising Commission of the City of New York, 1913 a City’s Landmarks, at institutional archives and private to New York City’s rich cultural heritage. began by explaining the legacy of the 1913 collections throughout New York City. The Archive Project gives special thanks to proposed amendment. Panelists included The Stewardship Society is made up of Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, creator Ronald Lee Fleming, chair of Scenic those donors who annually contribute $500 or more in general support in of the Cultural Medallion Program, board America, Matthew Goebel, author of addition to attending the annual Bard member Daniel J. Allen for spearheading the Aesthetics, Community Character, and the Law, Birthday Breakfast Benefit. Since its effort, LCOR, the owner of 25 , and Carol Clark, adjunct associate professor launch in 2011, the Society has held and Bobby Van’s Steak House for catering at ’s Graduate School private viewings of archival treasures the lovely reception. of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. at the Century Association Archives The evening was planned with the help of Foundation, the Seventh Regiment * * * panel moderator Seri Worden, architectural Armory Archives Collection, the In 1913, the first step was taken in New York historian and cultural heritage consultant. apartment of Betsy Barlow Rogers, and City to advance the then radical concept Many thanks to the event co-sponsors, the Museum of the City of New York. that a city could regulate aesthetics on the Scenic America, Historic Districts Council, The Archive Project is pleased to offer grounds of “public beauty.” This notion took the Neighborhood Preservation Center, the such inimitable experiences to our most the form of a constitutional amendment Historic Landmarks Preservation Center, generous supporters! Those joining proposed for New York State by the Mayor’s the NYC Landmarks50 Alliance, and the our Stewardship Society will receive Billboard Advertising Commission of the Historic House Trust of New York City. invitations to future events. City of New York. This early amendment, attributed to Albert S. Bard, was the first The Archive Project enjoys sponsoring exciting We hope that you will consider becoming known iteration of what would become in collaborations that celebrate the history of a Steward of the New York Preservation 1956 the legislation that gave cities across preservation and record the stories of those involved Archive Project and thus a steward of the New York State the authority to protect in the field. If you know of a preservation story history of New York City’s preservation movement. To join the Society, please contact individual landmark buildings and historic that should be captured, please consider contacting Matthew Coody at [email protected] or districts. Despite the potentially broader us to co-host an event such as those described here 212-988-8379. scope of that authority, New York City still that will educate other preservationists lacks the ability to protect such aesthetic and inspire similar projects.

Page 4 New to Archives New York City Council Documents, Design Commission Film Reels, & Department of Parks & Recreation Annual Reports!

Researchers of past preservation struggles in 1973, which would allow the designation films document the poor condition of involving the New York City Council can of interior and scenic landmarks. These many monuments located within City parks now consult a major resource of archival documents reveal the support for this and plazas, and the repair and restoration information via the Internet. In May, the La amendment from various quarters around activities that took place during the Guardia and Wagner Archives of La Guardia the City and the research and rationale 1930s. Among the monuments carefully Community College held a ribbon-cutting behind their support. A rare dissenting voice documented in the films are the Soldiers’ and ceremony for its new Legislative Archive, was the Real Estate Board of New York, Sailors’ Monument at Grand Army Plaza, which includes a vast array of City Council which sent an objection letter. This specific the Maine Monument at Columbus Circle, documents from 1955 to 2005. The archive collection also includes marked-up copies and the Carl Schurz Memorial overlooking contains 2,500 boxes of correspondence, of draft legislation, lists of speakers from Morningside Park. The next Design adopted and proposed legislation, transcripts meetings, and miscellaneous articles related Commission archive to be put online will be of meetings at which legislation and to interior and scenic landmark preservation the Frank Cousins photography collection. landmark designations were discussed, and that had been submitted to the City Council. Cousins was hired by the Art Commission other miscellaneous background materials. The amendment was passed and the LPC in 1913 to document approximately 50 These documents provide the context to has since designated over 100 interior and buildings that the commission feared were council decision making on matters affecting scenic landmarks in all five boroughs. in danger of demolition. This effort, one landmarks. Nearly one million of these of the first examples of official interest documents have been digitally scanned and * * * in documenting historic architecture, was may be viewed on the archive’s website at The New York City Design Commission spurred by the outcry over the loss of St. www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu. (formerly the Art Commission) is in the John’s Chapel, demolished when Varick process of placing some of its archival Street was widened. An example of the contents within this collections online. The first to be made * * * valuable online archive is an extensive available is a series of films prepared by paper trail of notes, correspondence, and the sculptor Karl Gruppe, who worked for The New York City Department of Parks draft legislation documenting the proposed the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation has created a digital archive amendment to the City’s Landmarks Law & Recreation from 1934 to 1937. Gruppe’s of annual reports and meeting minutes that date back to the mid-19th century, all of which is now available on the agency’s website. The online collection includes annual reports from 1870 through 1930, reports on Central Park dating back to the time of its construction in the 1850s, minutes of parks commissioners’ meetings from 1859 to 1930, and press releases from 1934 to 1970. The annual reports reveal many details of land acquisition, capital investment, park usage, and maintenance activities during these years. Many reports also contain historic photos and historical summaries of individual parks. Department activities outside park boundaries are also documented, such as the planting of street trees. Covering both large parks like Central Park and Prospect Park, and smaller neighborhood parks and playgrounds, the information in this collection is useful to anyone seeking to document the history of parks in the City. To view the collection, Still from a Karl Gruppe film reel documenting the removal of patina from the Washington Irving visit www.nycgovparks.org/news/reports/ Memorial in Prospect Park; Courtesy of the New York City Design Commission archive.

Page 5 Archival Assistance Fund Grantees Announced in Special Round of Archival Funding By Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe, Vice-Chair

This past August, the Archive Project Given the Archive Project’s mission to that once graced the Pelham Bay area in the announced a set of grants from its safeguard and share the story of preservation 19th century. In 1914, IGC hired the noted Archival Assistance Fund, established to in New York, each organization was required architectural firm of Delano & Aldrich help historic preservation-related not-for- in its application to state how its archival to restore the Bartow mansion and create profit organizations identify and maintain collections are significant to the history of a formal sunken garden, and many years their archival resources and organizational historic preservation. The varied responses later, in 1993, the original carriage house documents. This funding program reveal that despite their unique missions was also restored. The Bartow-Pell Mansion is another example of new outreach and the diversity of their archival holdings, Museum is a National and New York City initiatives on the part of the Archive every recipient institution boasts a record of Landmark, and its archives relating to this Project to provide practical assistance to activism in preservation and a demonstrated major preservation victory constitute an the preservation community. Last year, the commitment to safeguarding the story of inspiring and instructive chapter in New Archive Project launched its those preservation efforts. York preservation history. Archival Outreach, Education and Technical Assistance Located in the Washington The Merchant’s House Museum on East Initiative, providing New York Heights neighborhood, the Fourth Street, just off Washington Square, City history organizations Morris-Jumel Mansion educates the public about the life of the with workshops offering Museum can point to its Tredwells, a prosperous merchant family, professional expertise on how efforts to document the and their four Irish servants who lived in to save their collections. history of the Jumel Terrace the house from 1835-1865. The house is the National Historic District only family residence in New York to have The response to the Archival surrounding the mansion, survived virtually intact from the 19th century, Assistance Fund project was which was built in 1765 and complete with its original furnishings and heartening: a number of served as George Washington’s personal possessions of the Tredwells. Two well-known organizations headquarters during the with significant preservation- Revolutionary War’s Battle of related histories and important Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum; Harlem Heights in the fall of Courtesy of A. Saavedra collections applied for grants, 1776. The historic district, demonstrating that there is definitely a known for its gracious wood and brick need for this kind of funding and that the row houses as well as apartment buildings preservation community recognizes that dating from the late 19th and early 20th the Archive Project is there to help. After centuries, showcases the Queen Anne evaluating the various applications carefully, and Romanesque styles. Appreciating the NYPAP provided funding to five institutions importance of this residential component for a total disbursement of $10,000. of the story of New York, Morris-Jumel Three of the recipients are historic house archivists created a significant photographic museums—Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum record of Washington Heights and also in Washington Heights, Bartow-Pell Mansion recorded interviews with longtime residents Museum in the Bronx, and Merchant’s in order to capture the area’s history through House Museum in Greenwich Village. The first person recollections. remaining two grantees are neighborhood preservation and education organizations— The very existence of Bartow-Pell FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Mansion Museum in the Bronx testifies Districts and the Greenwich Village Society to the dedication of a New York City for Historic Preservation. Each organization preservation group that fought to rescue cited special needs for archival assistance, the c. 1840 Greek Revival Bartow mansion ranging from climate control equipment and from what would be an eventually fatal basic preservation material to digitization state of deterioration. The International projects and the re-housing of collections. Garden Club (IGC), today the Bartow-Pell Archivist Christine Williams with IGC collection (For a list of the specific projects being Conservancy, saved the home, now the only at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum; funded, please see sidebar on facing page.) remaining example of many similar estates Courtesy of Margaret Highland

Page 6 Bearing witness to the long- mission to make archival materials available established commitment of for research and educational purposes. Greenwich Village preservation efforts, the Greenwich The Archival Assistance Fund has been Village Society for Historic most satisfying for the Archive Project as Preservation (GVSHP) has it engenders interaction with organizations worked since 1980 to safeguard seeking to improve the condition and the architectural heritage and organization of their archival collections. cultural history of Greenwich Helping to make this possible, even on a Village, the East Village, and modest scale, makes this effort a “win/win” NoHo through research, for all concerned. education, and advocacy. GVSHP holds in its archival collection a wide range of Grantees materials that reflect the role Demolition of Washington Square South between MacDougal Alley and of the Village as an icon in the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum Sullivan Street, 1950; Courtesy of the Greenwich Village Society Project: Purchase of new air conditioners and for Historic Preservation, New York Bound Collection local and national preservation humidity-monitoring devices for the museum’s movements. GVSHP’s image archival storage areas. The museum’s archive individuals who were essential to the creation collection, just one part of its archival comprises over 350 years of New York City and restoration of the Museum, founder holdings, consists of 300 photographs, and American history, as recorded in letters, George Chapman, and architect Joseph prints, slides, and negatives, chronicling the maps, newspapers, photographs, manuscripts, Roberto, respectively, left extensive archival preservation struggles of the Village. This audio recordings, and administrative records. materials that tell the story of Chapman’s visual trove is complemented by GVSHP’s Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum transformation of the house to a museum oral history series, in which community Project: Inventory, organize, preserve, and in the 1930s and Roberto’s major restoration members document their preservation enhance public access to the archives of the in the 1960s and 1970s. Architecturally, these efforts for the Village, and a collection of International Garden Club. These archives records provide essential information about preservation-related manuscripts featuring document how a group of early preservationists and horticultural enthusiasts successfully alterations made to the building over 50 leading researchers in the field. All are of transformed this significant, yet threatened, site years, thus helping ensure historical accuracy critical importance to the preservation into an historic house museum. for current and future restoration work. community. They also provide an unparalleled primary Merchant’s House Museum Project: Re-house the archives of George resource on New York City’s preservation Of course, the five organizations receiving Chapman and Joseph Roberto, the Museum’s history and practice, and the development archival assistance funding from the Archive first two stewards. The archives offer unique and organization of historic house museums Project house treasures beyond the materials primary resources for preservation history, in the early 20th century. directly associated with preservation. containing extensive documentation of the Indeed, reading through the organizations’ transition from family residence to historic The lifeblood of FRIENDS of the Upper mission statements and descriptions of house museum and various restoration campaigns. Funding also covers the creation of East Side Historic Districts (FRIENDS), their holdings provides a mini-lesson in a finding aid. founded in 1982, is active participation in New York history—the variety, depth, and public debates that affect the historic and uniqueness of their collections remind us FRIENDS cultural resources of the Upper East Side of the importance of the materials that can Project: Inventory, create finding aids, and and the City as a whole. With a mission of be found in discrete New York locations, establish policy and procedures for building a digital collection from the archives of Halina acting as vocal advocates for the architectural and how important these collections are as Rosenthal and Anne Millard, the organization’s legacy, livability, and sense of place of the valuable sources of information for scholars first two presidents. The varied collection Upper East Side, FRIENDS possesses and activists alike. In total, the organizations includes organizational documents, slides, archival records documenting important safeguard diverse items covering 350 years photographs, paraphernalia, flyers, and written chapters in New York City preservation of New York history. Holdings range from correspondence related to the past 30 years of history. Whether testifying at Landmarks letters, maps, newspapers, photographs, preservation advocacy on the Upper East Side. Preservation Commission hearings or manuscripts, recordings, ledgers, scrapbooks, GVSHP fighting for the designation of new Upper invitations, and mementoes, to furniture, Project: Provide online access to the East Side landmarks, this activist organization paintings, decorative objects, books, textiles, organization’s archival image collection, has produced a valuable compendium of and clothing. All of the Fund recipients have which illustrates some of the many important grassroots preservation struggles of the past and ongoing preservation battles and noted that they either wish to increase public neighborhood. This grant funds the uploading victories; these records relating to public access to their archival collections, digitally of photographs and catalogue information education and outreach activities are of and/or physically, or intend to make their into a dedicated software system and integrated great interest to researchers, historians, and collections available to researchers in the website. activists. near future, furthering the Archive Project’s

Page 7 NYPAP News NYC Landmarks50 Alliance Planning the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Landmarks Law The Archive Project would like to welcome its newest board members, In the spring 2013 newsletter, the Archive for future designation. The exhibition will Bradley J. Vogel, Anthony W. Robins, Project reported on the exciting launch represent the first effort to highlight the and Kent Diebolt. of the NYC Landmarks50 Alliance. To unique significance of interiors as part of commemorate the 50th anniversary of the the built environment since 1979, when Before joining Clifford Chance as Landmarks Law in 2015, over the next the American Society of Interior Designers associate attorney, Bradley J. Vogel was two years this group of organizations launched a Significant Interiors Survey the Ed Majkrzak Historic Preservation and institutions will work to broaden under the leadership of then-Landmarks Fellow with the National Trust for appreciation of and commitment to New Preservation Commissioner R. Michael Historic Preservation. As fellow, York City's landmarks through a series of Brown, FASID. he worked with legislative bodies, events and projects throughout the five not-for-profit organizations, and the boroughs. The Archive Project is a founding The Asian American Arts Alliance will media to tackle preservation issues member and financial supporter of the NYC be among those organizations bringing in New Orleans as the city recovered Landmarks50 Alliance. Other members a slightly different perspective to the from Hurricane Katrina. Vogel’s legal include the Friends of the commemorative projects expertise and passion for preservation High Line, the Museum of Landmarks50. As an will make him an indispensible of Modern Art, the arts service organization addition to the board. Greenwich Village Society that supports individual for Historic Preservation, artists and small arts Through his walking tours, lectures, the Park Avenue Armory, groups in all disciplines seminars, courses, and award-winning Pratt Institute, and many in the five boroughs, the publications, Anthony W. Robins has more. To view a full list Alliance plans to highlight been working for years to bring New of members, and to learn the vibrant cultural and York City’s historic architecture to more about projects, visit architectural contributions life. After two decades on the staff www.nyclandmarks50.org. that Asian Americans of the New York City Landmarks have made—and continue Preservation Commission, Robins Each member of the NYC to make—in New York is currently co-owner and director Landmarks50 Alliance is City. To begin, 31 of of historic preservation services at planning a special project their members—at least that will commemorate one for every year of the Thompson & Columbus, Inc. Robins the upcoming anniversary, organization's existence— brings a love of the City’s history and and many of these plans will be featured on the architecture to the board of directors are already underway. In Alliance website in a of the Archive Project. spring 2015, the New York "Proust Questionnaire," School of Interior Design showcasing their work Responding to a need for highly (NYSID) will open the first- and their perspectives specialized architectural inspections ever exhibition to focus in brief responses to in extreme locations, Kent Diebolt exclusively on New York City’s designated such questions as, "Who are your heroes founded Vertical Access in 1992, landmark interiors. With guest curator Hugh in real life?" and "What is your idea of pioneering the use of industrial Hardy, leading American architect, the show perfect happiness?" A final question will rope access in the United States. will offer an appraisal of the City’s progress challenge artists to reflect on the City's built Vertical Access has since worked on in preserving its significant interiors since the environment, and which structures and hundreds of structures, historically 1973 amendments to the 1965 Landmarks physical spaces particularly resonate with significant buildings, and landmarks Law enabling the protection of interiors. their experiences as artists and as people of throughout the United States such as In its East 69th Street gallery space, NYSID color in New York. Independence Hall in Philadelphia will focus on a select group of the City’s 114 and the Chrysler Building in New landmark interiors—representing theaters, Various projects are currently in planning York City. Through his work, various lobbies, banks, and retail and civic spaces phases, and the NYC Landmarks50 lectures, courses, and publications in the five boroughs—to trigger discussion Alliance welcomes innovative ideas from on surveying, documentation, and about what and where these often unknown individuals and organizations throughout accessibility, Diebolt brings a unique spaces are, how they are preserved and the five boroughs. To get involved, share perspective to the board. adapted for continued use, and which as-yet- ideas, and volunteer your time, please email unprotected interiors should be prioritized [email protected].

Page 8 ABOUT NYPAP The New York Preservation Archive Project (NYPAP) is a not- for-profit organization dedicated to documenting, preserving, and celebrating the history of historic preservation in New York City. Henry Hope Reed at the NYPL in 1983; Fire Island Lighthouse; Thomas Roberts; Recognizing the instructive and Courtesy of Andrew Reed Courtesy of the NPS Courtesy of The New York Times inspirational importance of this history to the continued health, success, and growth of preservation In Memoriam in our city, NYPAP hopes to bring The preservation community recently mourned the loss of two longtime members. Please share your memories these stories to light through of these figures online at the Memory Collection Project: www.nypap.org/content/memory-collection-project. public programs, oral histories, and Through more than a half century of Thomas Roberts, a successful New York the creation of public access to writing and activism, Henry Hope Reed City banker, maintained a lifelong passion information. NYPAP is devoted to was dedicated to raising public awareness for nautical history inspired by his childhood celebrating neglected narratives of of the classical tradition embodied in New on the south shore of Long Island. New York historic preservation, as York City’s built heritage and promoting Roberts channeled this enthusiasm into well as the canon, using the archives the revival of classical design. Reed was an inspirational movement to restore and that hold these stories. outspoken in the media with his fervent maintain the historic Fire Island Lighthouse. opposition to post-WWII Modernist Built in 1858 on the western end of the barrier NYPAP would like to thank the New architecture and helped galvanize the island, the 170-foot-tall black-and-white- York Community Trust’s Windie historic preservation movement with a 1955 striped lighthouse was in service until 1974. Knowe Fund, the Robert A. and exhibition on New York City’s classical An important landmark for transatlantic architecture co-sponsored by the Municipal ships coming into New York Harbor, the Elizabeth R. Jeffe Foundation, the Art Society (MAS). He then developed Fire Island Light, as it is called, was many Winston Foundation, and the J. M. MAS’s well-known program of walking immigrants’ first glimpse of America. To Kaplan Fund for their generous tours to encourage wider public interest prevent demolition of the decommissioned grants. The work at NYPAP could in preservation, leading the first such tour structure, Roberts founded the Fire Island not be accomplished without their— himself in April 1956. Reed considered Lighthouse Preservation Society in 1982. and your—financial support. the walking tour to be the key method of In its first four years, the society raised $1.2 introducing historic preservation to the million through broad community support, NYPAP depends on contributions general public, and by the 1960s he had helping to fund repairs to the lighthouse, to continue our work. We hope you developed tours in historic neighborhoods the conversion of the lighthouse-keeper’s will consider making a donation throughout the City. In 1966, Reed was cottage into a visitors’ center, and the to support the documentation and named the first curator of Central Park relighting of the historic beacon. In 1986, celebration of the history of by Parks Commissioner Thomas P. F. Roberts himself triumphantly pulled preservation in New York City. Hoving. In this role, Reed co-authored a the switch that relit the lighthouse in a Donations can be made in the form historical guidebook to the park and decried ceremony witnessed by thousands, including of checks mailed to our office (174 commercial intrusions not in keeping with hundreds of spectators watching from East 80th Street, New York, NY Central Park’s original design. In 1968 boats. With Roberts’ continuing leadership, 10075), securely online via PayPal on Reed helped to found the not-for-profit an agreement was reached with the National our website (www.nypap.org), or by organization Classical America, the mission Park Service in 1996 that allowed the society credit card over the phone of which was to reprint texts on classical art to take over operations of the lighthouse at 212-988-8379. and design, as well as to publish new works on as a maritime museum. This agreement the classical tradition in art and architecture. became the model for provisions in the In 2002, Classical America merged with National Historic Lighthouse Preservation As always, NYPAP welcomes any the Institute of Classical Architecture to Act of 2000 and inspired many lighthouse thoughts, comments, and suggestions form what is now known as the Institute of preservation campaigns across the country. from our supporters. Please feel free Classical Architecture & Art. Reed continued The Fire Island Lighthouse remains open to contact Matthew Coody at to work with the organization and write on to the public, and draws 200,000 visitors a [email protected] architecture and preservation until his death year. Roberts passed away at the age of 75 or 212-988-8379. this year at age 97. on June 17, 2013.

Page 9 The Archive Project thanks the following supporters for their generous contributions in 2012:

Stewardship Society Hal Bromm Anne H. McCormick Lisa Ackerman Bonnie Burnham George McDaniel Daniel J. Allen George Calderaro Barnabas & Marie Bannon McHenry Anthony Badalamenti Marvin A. Carlson Pauline Metcalf Helen Chin Adele Chatfield-Taylor Barbara R. Michaels Joan K. Davidson Vin Cipolla Lynden Miller Susan De Vries Carol Clark Norman Mintz Stephen Facey William Cook John T. Moran Andrea H. Fahnestock & George A. Theresa Craig Nathaniel H. Morison III Hambrecht Suzanne Davis & Rolf Ohlhausen Robert Motzkin Elizabeth R. & Robert A. Jeffe Thomas A. De Martini Caroline Niemczyk Shirley Ferguson Jenks Carol De Saram Deborah Parks Joyce Matz Michael Devonshire Richard Pieper Kenneth Monteiro & Leo Blackman Alice B. Diamond Charles A. Platt Richard J. Moylan Donald P. Dillon James S. & Ellyn M. Polshek Kate Burns Ottavino Andrew S. Dolkart Nicholas Quennell Otis & Nancy Pearsall Dan Donovan Kathleen Randall Peter Pennoyer Frances & David Eberhart Matt Reiley Gina Pollara Judy Edelman David Fitch Remington David & Marie Ritter Melissa Elstein & Eric Katzman Genie & Donald Rice Jack Taylor Mamie Eng Tony Robins Anne H. Van Ingen Kristin Gamble Flood Denise Rosenberg Duane A. Watson Thomas M. Fontana Joseph S. Rosenberg Anthony C. Wood Amy Freitag Janet Ross John Gallagher Frank E. Sanchis III Foundations, Firms & Barbara E. Ganley & William E. Roper Jeffrey A. Saunders Organizations Carol Gayle Donna Schaper Anonymous Richard A. George Martin L. Schneider Brooklyn Heights Association Gerald Goldberg Paul Segal East 79th Street Neighborhood Association Diana Goldstein Whitney North Seymour, Jr. Irene Ritter Foundation Andrea Goldwyn Phyllis Shanley The J. M. Kaplan Fund Vera Julia Gordon Lauren & Marc Shenfield Jan Hird Pokorny Associates Roberta Brandes Gratz I. Barnett Shepherd Kress Foundation Alison G. Greenberg Arlene & Bruce Simon The New York Community Trust’s Windie Frances Halsband Teri Slater Knowe Fund Alex Herrera Joanne L. Sliker Nicholson & Galloway Inc. Richard J. Hershner Susan W. Stachelberg Platt Byard Dovell White Roger Herz Robert A. M. Stern The Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe Leslie B. Hoopes Meryl Stoller Foundation Anna B. Iacucci Judith Stonehill Pamela Jerome Sean Strub Individuals Susan Henshaw Jones Joseph V. Svehlak Anonymous Mary Kay Judy Jean Tatge & Phil Collis J. Winthrop Aldrich David I. Karabell Stephen Tilly & Elizabeth Martin Richard Anderson Mary Knapp Helen S. Tucker Karen Ansis Carol H. Krinsky Bradley J. Vogel Charlotte P. Armstrong Jeffrey Kroessler Diana S. Waite Elizabeth C. Ashby Alexia Lalli Bethany Wall Simeon Bankoff Susan Lally Arete Swartz Warren Fred Bay Margaret Webb Latimer Suzanne Welles Holly Bean Mimi Levitt Tatiana G. Werbizky Barry Benepe Barbara & Herbert Levy Diane White Anne D. Bernstein Jack T. Linn Samuel G. White Robert J. Biegen Phyllis Loeb Charles L. Whited Minor Bishop Vincent M. Love Walter F. Wientge, Jr. Burke Blackman Ken M. Lustbader Marillyn B. Wilson Louis Blumengarten James R. MacDonald Kate Wood & David Sprouls Agnes Bogart Margaret M. Madden Seri Worden Michele H. Bogart Janet Marks George W. Young Polly Caroline Bookhout Susan Mathisen Linda Yowell Christopher Broadwell Felicia Mayro Lloyd P. Zuckerberg

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