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 - Page 2 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, 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. - Page 3 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, 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. - Page 4 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, 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 - Page 5 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, 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 - Page 6 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, Brownsville 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 - Page 7 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, Brownsville 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 - Page 8 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, Brownsville 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 - Page 9 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, Brownsville 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 - Page 10 - Guide to the Brownsville and East New York Photographs, 1958-1965, Brownsville 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