Astroland Park with Happyface and bottom half of Wonder Wheel (panoramic), 2006, 2008.035.1, Ron Meisel photographs, 2008.035; Brooklyn Historical Society.In addition to the thousands of historical photographs in Brooklyn Historical Society’s collections, there are also a few smaller collections of fine art photography created by contemporary artists. The photo of the week depicts a panoramic view of Astroland Park in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn taken by local photographer Ron Meisel in 2006. Astroland was…
Fall [Prospect Park West], ca. 1905, V1981.15.207, Ralph Irving Lloyd lantern slides, V1981.15; Brooklyn Historical SocietyLast Thursday marked the first day of fall, and it happens to be my favorite time of year in Brooklyn. I love the autumnal colors, the crisp air, and the abundant apple varieties! With that in mind, the photo of the week is titled “Fall” and depicts the tree-lined sidewalk along the stone wall bordering Prospect Park West on a rainy day in autumn, around 1905. In the distance is a small group of…
[Othmer Library, Long Island Historical Society], circa 1938, V1974.031.65, Long Island Historical Society photographs, V1974.031; Brooklyn Historical Society.Have you had the opportunity to visit Brooklyn Historical Society’s Othmer Library? If not, you’re in for a treat when you do. The New York City interior landmark was built in 1881 and features a unique truss system, beautiful stained glass, ornately-detailed shelving, and columns made of black ash wood. It is one of the most comprehensive collection of materials on…
[Man with camera and boy], ca. 1880., v1974.7.45, Adrian Vanderveer Martense Collection, v1974.7.45; Brooklyn Historical Society.Brooklyn Historical Society has many rich photography collections documenting Brooklyn from the mid-1800s to the present. One particular strength of the photography collections is the photographs depicting 19th century Brooklyn. The Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, Emmanuel house lantern slide collection, Ralph Irving Lloyd lantern slides, and William Koch glass plate negatives collection…
[Boy walking in Red Hook], ca. 1973, V2008.013.64, Lucille Fornasieri Gold photographs, 2008.013; Brooklyn Historical Society.The photo of the week depicts an unidentified boy walking in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, around 1973. Personally, I love the striking red, white, and blue color palate of this photograph. The red fire hydrant, sign, and hat guides my eye throughout the frame. I think this photograph is a good example of how photographer Lucille Fornasieri Gold uses color and light in her work. She has…
[Two boats off beach], 1900 ca., V1985.4.18, William Koch glass plate negatives, V1985.4; Brooklyn Historical Society.Can you make out the two boats depicted in this photograph? I love the dreamy quality of this image created by the smudges and texture on the glass plate negative. Glass plate negatives are one of the earliest forms of photographic negatives, dating back to 1851. There are two types of glass plate negatives: collodion wet plate negative and the gelatin dry plate. Both techniques require a light-sensitive…
[Men playing tennis, Flatbush, Brooklyn], 1889., V1974.7.71, Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, Arc.191; Brooklyn Historical Society.If you’ve ever walked along Church Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, you might not notice a gated entrance to the Knickerbocker Field Club, also known as “the Knick”, located at East 18th Street and Tennis Court. Since 1889, the private, member-owned tennis club has maintained five tennis courts tucked behind a large apartment complex and above the Q train line. It’s a…
[As at present at corner of East 25th St. and Avenue D – 1917], 1917., V1986.65.1.14, John Jay Pierrepont photograph collection, Arc.197; Brooklyn Historical Society.Last week, the stretch of East 25th street (between Avenue D and Clarendon Rd) in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn was named the “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Judging criteria included maintenance, creativity, community participation, suitability of plants, and more. How does your Brooklyn block compare?The photo of the…
Red Cross Office, 1917 ca., v1973.2.238, Brooklyn Oversize, 19th Century Collection, v1973.2; Brooklyn Historical Society.During World War I, the Long Island Historical Society (now Brooklyn Historical Society) transformed the 600-seat auditorium on the first floor of its Brooklyn Heights building into a Red Cross headquarters and office. The photo of the week depicts Red Cross activities in the BHS office location, around 1917. According to their website, the Red Cross provided aid in the form of donations, medical…
[View of Surf Avenue Coney Island.], 1958, V1974.4.1146, John D. Morrell photographs, ARC.005; Brooklyn Historical Society.Nathan’s Famous has stood at the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenues in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn for 100 years. Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker and his wife Ida Handwerker opened the hot dog stand in 1916. A New York Times article reported that the Handwerkers used their life savings of $300 to open the business. Ida Handwerker created the secret spice for the hot dogs, which were…
[Houston Street Ferry Terminal, Grand Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y.], 1922, V1991.106.2, Eugene L. Armbruster photographs and scrapbooks, V1991.106; Brooklyn Historical Society.The photo of the week depicts the shuttered Houston Street Ferry Terminal, a ferry that connected Manhattan (Houston Street) and Williamsburg (Grand Street) via the East River, in 1922.In 1810, Richard Woodhull purchased 13 acres of land (later named Williamsburg) that included the ferry landing, with the intention to create a suburb of New…
Louis Ramus [at the Masquerade Ball], 1917, V1978.174.30, Ramus family papers and photographs, 1978.174; Brooklyn Historical Society.The photo of the week depicts Louis Ramus dressed for the annual Masquerade Ball at Brooklyn Turn Verein Hall on March 5, 1917 in the Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. I think this photograph is particularly charming because of Ramus’s festive clothing and proud stance for the photographer.Turn Verein halls originated in Germany, and expanded to the United States in communities with…
[Brighton Beach sunbathers], circa 1975, v2008.013.32; Lucille Fornasieri Gold photographs, v2008.013; Brooklyn Historical Society.With temperatures reaching the nineties last week, I think it’s safe to say that the summer heat has finally arrived in Brooklyn. Whether you’re desperately looking for ways to cool off or you enjoy soaking up the heat (like the sunbathers above), please remember to be safe. When the heat index reaches 100 degrees for any one day or 95 degrees for two or more days, the city opens cooling…
Sunset, Coney Island, 1966, V1988.12.92; Otto Dreschmeyer Brooklyn slides, v1988.12; Brooklyn Historical Society.We hope you enjoyed a relaxing, safe, and happy July 4th holiday! With that in mind, the photo of the week is a double-exposure depicting the sunset at Coney Island as well as a fireworks display taken in August of 1966. A double-exposure is when two images are exposed on a single frame, creating a layered and unique visual effect.This photograph comes from the Otto Dreschmeyer Brooklyn slides collection that…
[Portrait of two women, one man and eight children on the beach], circa 1890, V1981.283.1.63; Burton family papers and photographs, ARC.217; Brooklyn Historical Society.Tintypes are hard to miss if you come across one in person. They are thin iron (not tin) plates typically with a blackish or brownish hue and crisp detail. They were invented in 1854, and gained popularity in the 1860s as an inexpensive and accessible photographic method. Tintypes were less expensive and easier to make than their predecessor,…
[Summer, Circa 1891, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y.], circa 1897, v1973.4.1081a,b; Postcard collection, v1973.4; Brooklyn Historical Society.Monday marked the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the long summer evenings is by visiting Prospect Park. Whether it’s jogging, hiking, reading a book, or going to a concert, there are endless ways to make the most of summer in the park.With that in mind, the photo of the week depicts people in Prospect Park, near Music…
[Joe’s Restaurant, Fulton Street.], 1958, V1974.4.890; John D. Morrell photographs, ARC.005; Brooklyn Historical Society.Joe’s Restaurant, located at 330 Fulton Street, was a Brooklyn Heights fixture for nearly 50 years. Joe Sartori and Joseph Balzarini opened their first restaurant in Coney Island. Due to its popularity and success, they opened the Fulton Street restaurant in 1909, and a third restaurant on Nevins Street shortly after. Joe’s Restaurant became a popular local chain, frequented and loved by many in…
[Atlantic Avenue elevated train station], circa 1895, V1972.2.59; Early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection, ARC.201; Brooklyn Historical Society.The photo of the week depicts the entrance to the Atlantic Avenue subway station and the elevated train station, located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue around 1895. The elevated trains at this station operated on the Fifth Avenue Line which ran above Flatbush Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Third Avenue, beginning in the Downtown Brooklyn…
Brooklyn Bridge, circa 1903, V1973.5.298; Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection, ARC.202; Brooklyn Historical Society.The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the most iconic Brooklyn landmarks, marked its 133rd anniversary on May 24. The bridge, the first structure to physically connect Brooklyn and Manhattan, was constructed over 14 years with the labor of more than 600 workers. Connecting the two cities (Brooklyn was a separate city at the time) led to an increase in population and industry. By 1885, the population in…
[Emmanuel House Club 2nd and 3rd marching line in parade], circa 1910, V1981.284.6, Emmanuel House lantern slide collection, V1981.284; Brooklyn Historical Society.Brooklyn has been honoring those who have died while serving in the United States military with an annual Memorial Day parade since 1867. The parade, which begins at 78th Street and Third Avenue, marks its 149th anniversary this year and is known as the longest-running Memorial Day parade in the country. This tradition began shortly after the Civil War, a…