Brooklyn Historical Society Gifts Sculpture from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Newspaper to Brooklyn Public Library
Naming Contest and Pop-Up Exhibition Celebrate Eagle’s Homecoming
BROOKLYN, NY— The Brooklyn Historical Society has made a permanent gift of a cast copper sculpture to Brooklyn Public Library. The eagle adorned the Washington Street headquarters of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper until 1955.
The Library holds the historical records of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper in the Brooklyn Collection. Brooklyn Public Library's Brooklyn Collection and the Brooklyn Historcial Society both hold vast collections of public archives for the study of Brooklyn’s social and cultural history in the 19th and 20th centuries.
“With the complete archives of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle long a significant part of our Brooklyn Collection, we are delighted to provide the paper’s mascot a permanent home in the Central Library lobby,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. “We are grateful to the Brooklyn Historical Society for their generous gift of the watchful and majestic eagle and for their partnership throughout the year on special initiatives like Culture Pass and the Brooklyn Visual Heritage digitization project.”
The sculpture had been on loan to the Library for the last 21 years.
Following the demolition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle building, the eagle sculpture was donated to Brooklyn Historical Society. From 1966 to 1987, the eagle sculpture was loaned to the Brooklyn Museum, where it stood in the museum’s Warburg Sculpture Garden. After decades of battling the elements, the eagle sculpture returned to Brooklyn Historical Society in 1989 and underwent much needed conservation. New talons and the lower beak were recast in fiberglass and repainted to match the surrounding material. Upon completion of the restoration project, the eagle sculpture was then loaned to the Brooklyn Public Library where it has since been on display since 1997.
“Brooklyn Historical Society is pleased to formally gift the Brooklyn Daily Eagle sculpture to the Brooklyn Public Library,” said Deborah Schwartz, president of Brooklyn Historical Society. “We’ve been proud to steward the care of this special object at many points in its long life, and now we’re pleased to see it settle permanently into its home at Grand Army Plaza. Brooklyn Historical Society strives to bring Brooklyn’s history to as many Brooklyn residents and visitors as we can, and this permanent gift ensures the statue will be enjoyed by the greater Brooklyn community for generations to come.”
Now that the Eagle has a permanent place to nest, the Library is planning a special homecoming with a naming contest and pop-up exhibit.
Members of the public are invited to suggest names for the eagle. Submissions will close on October 19 at 5 p.m. A panel of experts will select up to five finalists and the public will be able to vote for a favorite. The winner will receive a library gift bag.
In addition, to welcome home the Eagle, Central Library is hosting an exhibition including clippings and photographs from the newspaper, printing plates and a Pulitzer Prize medal.
Contest entries can be submitted here.
To learn more about the Eagle and the many places it has nested over the years, check out this blog post from the librarians in the Brooklyn collection.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: https://www.bklynlibrary.org
About Brooklyn Historical Society
Founded in 1863, Brooklyn Historical Society is a nationally recognized urban history center dedicated to preserving and encouraging the study of Brooklyn's extraordinary 400-year history. Located in Brooklyn Heights and housed in a magnificent landmark building designed by George Post and opened in 1881, today's BHS is a cultural hub for civic dialogue, thoughtful engagement and community outreach. In May 2017 BHS opened a second site in DUMBO’s Brooklyn Bridge Park.