You might think that reproducing images from the newly digitized Municipal Archives of NYC's Department of Records has become a hobbyhorse of this blog—and you'd be right. In my defense, I was showing some of the past posts to my Dad, and we found some more great stuff that I just have to share!
 |
| Night view, lower Manhattan skyline at night from under Brooklyn Bridge (E. M. Bofinger, Federal Writers' Project); intended for New York City Guide, 1938 |
 |
| Aerial view, World Trade Center Towers One and Two; Trade Center 5 and 6 roofs foreground. Landfill background. November 1973 |
 |
| East side of Attorney Street from Bridge looking east, July 13, 1922 |
 |
| Portrait of a Brooklyn Bridge worker, November 19, 1928 |
 |
Golden Sun Quartet: The Hillard School of Music, 1944
|
 |
| Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia "chucking chin of Chinese tot in military uniform," 1934-1945 |
 |
| Mayor LaGuardia standing on steps with group of cowgirls and two small boys from Rodeo at Madison Square Garden. September, 1936 |
 |
| "Enjoying the Croton Surf. Fire Department erects sprinkler for kiddies at 85th Street & Lexington Avenue, NYC. Kids enjoy the bathing during hot weather." August 17, 1920 |
 |
| Close-up of cigar store wooden Indian, at 7th East, near 1st Ave., with owner Brody (WPA Federal Writers Project. ("A fine photograph of the wooden Indian now considered relics.") |
 |
| "Tree of Hope" near Harlem's Lafayette Theatre, 131st Street and 7th Avenue. Original description: "Four colored girls touch the original Tree of Hope. There is superstitious legend that to touch it brings good luck to actors seeking jobs." WPA Federal Writers Project; Federal Art Project (Photographic Division), 1935-1941 |
 |
| Brooklyn Bridge soda stand, ground level, 1922 |
The World Trade Center Towers photo is absolutely amazing!
ReplyDeleteLove old photo's of New York!!! My favorite is the Brooklyn Bridge soda stand, ground level, 1922.
ReplyDeleteI agree with "Penny" and JMarie. Though they're all marvelous, those 2 really capture the essence of New York. My favorite installment thus far...
ReplyDeleteLove the World Trade Center picture. Also the Cigar Store Indian picture immediately made me think of that hilarious episode of Seinfeld.
ReplyDeleteAll the info supplied was "China?" -- I guess they don't know. But why would NYC mayor go to China??
DeleteWhere did Mayor LaGuardia find a Chinese tot in military uniform? The background doesn't give away anything.
ReplyDeleteDid some digging and found Mr. LaGuardia served as head of UNRRA in 1946, distributing food aid to wartorn places, including China. So that's likely to be the time this photo was taken. Little Flower was quite a guy!
DeleteI love the first photo, of the skyline. I couldn't believe it was from the 30's! Gorgeous quality.
ReplyDeleteThere's something very timeless and tranquil about it; sort of mystical even. Maybe they had a large-format camera.
DeleteI love the one of the kids playing in the sprinkler! I wish firefighters would still do that now!
ReplyDeleteI wish the resolution was better -- I would love to have that one as a poster!
DeleteThat soda stand is pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteSoda is not so cool,
but it probably is healthier when served in glass bottles.
Sunkist has been around since 1922! Sunkist is so delicious!
Bloomberg would agree with you!
DeleteMy favorite is certainly the Cigar Store Indian as it reminds me of one of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld. It's capped off by the infamous scene of Kramer sticking his head out of a moving taxi hollering like a Native American. It's certainly a critique of Political Correctness and I doubt it'd be allowed on television today.
ReplyDelete