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June, 2012

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Off the Clock

Written by Keara Duggan on June 28th, 2012

Off the Clock, circa 1887, v1972.1.1242; Early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

From the desk of Keara Duggan, BHS Public Programs Manager: I don’t know much about this photograph. I know it was taken around 1887 by Walter H. Nelson. I know that it’s a part of BHS’s early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection, which is comprised of 1,400 black-and-white photographs taken from 1860 to 1920. And I know that the softly rippling waters look cool and inviting to me at a time of year when the summer heat is heavy and humid. BHS is also nice and cool this time of year, a great escape from the hot sun. Come in, explore our collections, and enjoy our temperature-controlled library, archives, and museum.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

 

Posted in Brooklyn Past & Present, Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 1 Response »
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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Kids Playing in the Yard

Written by Susan Gamble on June 20th, 2012

Kids Playing in the Yard, circa 1940, v1991.110.1; Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services Collection; Brooklyn Historic Society

This is a publicity photograph taken for the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services (BCS) in the early 1940s. Back then, the organization was called the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities. Since 1866, the organization has supported at-risk children and families in Brooklyn. Specifics on the children featured in this picture are unknown; they may have received aid from the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities or its constituent organization, the Brooklyn Children’s Aid Society. What is known, according to our archival records, is that this photo would have been used for internal publicity for the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities. Today, the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services continues their mission to help children and families through programming and events.  To learn more about BCS visit their website.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Couple at Prospect Park

Written by Susan Gamble on June 13th, 2012

Couple at Prospect Park, ca.1950, v1991.11.11.2; Natalie Kalmus and Frana Kalmus Baruch Collection; Brooklyn Historic Society.

Harry Kalmus was a Brooklyn-born photographer who grew up in the neighborhood of East New York. After serving in World War II, he returned to Brooklyn to become a professional photographer. He was a photographer for a Manhattan advertising agency as well as a special events photographer, shooting mainly in bar mitzvahs and weddings in Brooklyn. In 1957, Kalmus settled down with his family in Kew Gardens, Queens and later moved to Freeport, NY, where he died in 1987.  His works are found in the Natalie Kalmus and Frana Kalmus Baruch Collection,  which includes approximately 13,339 black and white negatives, 108 prints, 186 stereoscopic views, and 880 slides by Mr. Kalmus. His photography is an important part of BHS’s archives, capturing intimate moments in the lives of Brooklynites, such as the photograph of the couple above in Prospect Park ca. 1950.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Brooklyn Bookmobiles

Written by Susan Gamble on June 6th, 2012

One of Brooklyn Public Library’s Twin Bookmobiles, ca. 1960, v1973.4.445; Postcard Collection, Brooklyn Historical Society.

If one were to ask you “what makes Brooklyn unique?”  you may think of its diverse communities or its unique role in American history. But what about something as simple as bookmobiles? Since 1951 Brooklyn Public Library’s bookmobiles have been cruising the streets and making scheduled stops in neighborhoods that are a half-mile or more away from the nearest library. Embracing an attitude of “if the people can’t get to the books, we’ll bring the books to the people,” the bookmobiles were incredibly successful. In 1952 alone the bookmobiles lent out 252,323 books with an average book circulation of 238 books per hour (four books per minute). The original trucks were 27 feet long, eight feet wide, weighed 21,500 pounds, and housed 2,500 books at a time.

Today the bookmobiles are still revving their engines and circulating books across Brooklyn year-round to communities whose libraries are under renovation during the week and to community events on Saturdays. They have traded in their original white and blue paint job for a more modern green. They are also larger and carry more books: bookmobiles are now 29 feet long, nine and a half feet tall, and able to house 6,000 books. The Brooklyn Public Library has also diversified the bookmobile fleet. There are now orange Kidsmobiles which stop at schools during the school year and parks in the summer. There are also red bookmobiles that cater to the Spanish-speaking communities called Bibliobús. This unique part of Brooklyn will continue to be a time honored tradition for Brooklynites of all ages. So, get your reading list together and chase that truck! For bookmobile schedules and information please visit the Brooklyn Public Library’s Bookmobile site.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Posted in Hidden Collections, Library & Archives, Oral History | 2 Responses »
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Map of the Month – June 2012

Written by Carolyn on June 5th, 2012

Titled “Panorama of the Great Metropolis,” this month’s featured map actually consists of three maps and two bird’s-eye views. The maps shows the city of New York, the city of Brooklyn, and the Hudson River, while the views and illustrations provide images of New York City, including tourist attractions such as Union Square and the Latting Conservatory. Although this piece isn’t dated, it’s likely that it was used to promote  the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, a World’s Fair held in New York City in 1853.

Panorama of the great metropolis. Phelps, Fanning & Co. ca. 1850s. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Click here to view detail of the bird’s-eye view of New York.

Click here to view detail of the New York Crystal Palace.

Interested in seeing more maps? You can view the BHS map collection anytime during the library’s open hours, Wed.-Fri., from 1-5 p.m. No appointment is necessary to view most maps. Our cataloged maps can be searched through BobCat and our map inventories through Emma.

Map of the Month is part of a project to catalog our map holdings, funded through the Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Collections program. If you would like to help us do more of this kind of work with our exciting map holdings, donate here.

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