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Engineering Love

Written by Patricia Glowinski on January 7th, 2011

As the Archives Survey Team enters into our ninth month on the CLIR survey project, we’ve had our share of surveying interesting archival collections, be they large or small. Recently we’ve come across a surprisingly fantastic little collection, the Brooklyn Engineer’s Club publications (ARC.156). As you may have realized by now, we here at BHS love our Brooklyn architecture. But this collection reminds us that behind every great building, structure, or city infrastructure project, stands an engineer. Forever in the shadows of architects who get all the love and adoration (especially today), engineers don’t get the credit they are due. It’s not until some design malfunction or disaster (which, all in all, is pretty rare) that we take notice of the engineer. Well, today we spread the love.

Two facts about engineering and engineers:

New York is considered the birthplace of professional engineering in the United States.

The first national professional engineering society in the United States was formed in New York City in 1852; the Association of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Here’s a list of some famous engineers with ties to New York City or Brooklyn (though some may not have used their engineering skills to become famous):

1. Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746-1817) – Polish revolutionary and engineer. Studied engineering in Poland while at University (Warsaw). Was appointed head engineer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and lead many defense missions in New York State. The Kosciuszko Bridge, spanning Newtown Creek, connects Brooklyn and Queens and is named in honor of him.

2. Alexander Calder (1898-1976) – Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Known for his art but worked at New York Edison Company before getting to quit his day job.

3. Robert Moog (1934-2005) – Degree in Electrical Engineering. Born in New York City; electronic music pioneer and inventor of the Moog synthesizer.

4. Michael Bloomberg (b. 1942-) – Undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering. Now serving as the 108th Mayor of New York City.

5. John A. Roebling (1806-1869) – German-born Civil Engineer. Designer of aqueducts, railroad bridges, and suspension bridges–including the Brooklyn Bridge.

6. Washington A. Roebling (1837-1926) – Degree in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Oversaw the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge (with the help of his wife Emily Warren Roebling).

The Brooklyn Engineers’ Club was organized on October 6, 1896 with 50 charter members. Meetings where held at their clubhouse located at 117 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights. The Club met eight times throughout the year, culminating with an annual meeting in December. Every January, the Club would publish its proceedings from the previous year. Included in the Brooklyn Engineer’s Club publications (ARC.156) are the proceedings.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1901. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

These lovely hard bound books (spanning the years 1897 to 1916) include the usual year-in-review items such as reports from Club officers, the Club constitution and bylaws, and detailed Club membership lists (includes names, professional titles, and places of work). The best part of the published proceedings are the papers–presented in full written form–complete with images, photographs, charts, graphs, fold-out maps, and fold-out technical drawings. But there’s more! The pièce de résistance are the printed verbatim discussions that follow the presentation of the papers.

For example, the discussion following the presentation, “The Filtration of Sewage,” by Albert S. Crane on January 6, 1898, includes this prescient remark by Club member George C. Whipple — “The subject of sewage disposal is one that never grows old.”

Now, you might consider this funny…unless you live in Greenpoint or near the Gowanus Canal. Too true!

Here are a few images from papers presented between 1897 and 1906:

An Account of the Wallabout Improvement, by Frederick E. Pierce, presented March 3, 1898.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1898. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1898. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1898. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

The Brooklyn Anchorage of the Manhattan Bridge: Contractors’ Plant and Progress, by Gustave Kaufmann, presented May 10, 1906.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1906. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1906. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

Brooklyn Tunnels, by William T. Bruorton, presented February 4, 1897.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1897. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1897. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

The Atlantic Avenue Improvement, by Laurence J. Carmalt, presented November 12, 1903.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1903. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

Recent Development in Gas Engineering, by Henry K. Landis, presented November 9, 1899.

Brooklyn Engineers' Club publications. Proceedings, 1899. Brooklyn Historical Society. ARC.156.

Posted in Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 2 Responses »
Tags: Archives, Brooklyn Heights, Built Environment, Engineering

Brooklyn Architecture and Architects

Written by Patricia Glowinski on October 22nd, 2010

As part of the CLIR team surveying the archival, manuscript, and photography collections at BHS, we’ve come across several collections that document either iconic Brooklyn architecture or local Brooklyn architects. With the recent conclusion of the 8th annual Open House New York, I’ve been thinking about architecture, the multitude of buildings I encounter everyday, and my relationship with them. From the Hotel St. George where the subway lets me out in the morning, to the George B. Post landmarked building I work in at BHS, to the sprawling Concord Village I walk past everyday on my way to the Manhattan Bridge pedestrian walkway, I am in constant interaction with buildings. Buildings can be destinations, hindrances, or points of reference. They can be beautiful or ugly, memorable or forgettable, historic or everyday.

Not only does Brooklyn have iconic buildings such as the towering Art Deco skyscraper, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building in Fort Greene or the once grandiose destination, the Hotel St. George in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn neighborhoods have their own unique architectural styles. If someone tells you they live in Fort Greene or Park Slope, you picture rows and rows of brownstones. If you try to describe Red Hook, you can’t do it justice without including both the waterfront red brick industrial factories-turned-artist spaces and lofts, as well the vast housing project, the Red Hook Houses, that are home to over 75% of all the residents of Red Hook. Greenpoint? Vinyl-sided railroad apartments. Williamsburg? The Domino Sugar Factory. Ditmas Park? Candy-colored Victorians.

Our architectural archival collections here at BHS reflect Brooklyn’s architectural diversity. The Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, 1 Hanson Place collection (ARC.116) documents one of the most iconic landmarks in Brooklyn. Our photographic collection captures before, during, and post-construction of the second tallest building in Brooklyn, 1927-1929.

Williamsburgh Savings Bank building site, before construction, 1927. Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, 1 Hanson Place collection, ARC.116, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (2006.001.1.02).

Williamsburgh Savings Bank building site, after demolition, 1927. Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, 1 Hanson Place collection, ARC.116, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (2006.001.1.05).

Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, during construction, circa 1927. Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, 1 Hanson Place collection, ARC.116, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (2006.001.1.09).

Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, finishing the tower, 1928. Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, 1 Hanson Place collection, ARC.116, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (2006.001.1.12).

Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, near completion, 1928. Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, 1 Hanson Place collection, ARC.116, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (2006.001.1.15).

The Hotel St. George collection (ARC.100) includes historic picture postcards that make you wish you could have been there when. The hotel, located in Brooklyn Heights, once had the largest indoor salt water swimming pool and the largest banquet room in the world.

Postcard of Hotel St. George, circa 1930. Hotel St. George collection, ARC.100, Brooklyn Historical Society Postcard Collection (V1989.30.11).

Postcard of the natural salt water swimming pool at the Hotel St. George, circa 1940. Hotel St. George collection, ARC.100, Brooklyn Historical Society Postcard Collection (V1989.30.14).

William Thomas McCarthy (d. 1952) was a Brooklyn architect whose designs included large-scale apartment buildings such as the Cathedral Arms Apartments and the Chateau Frontenac Apartments in Flatbush; some of the last single-family homes built in Park Slope; and some of the most iconic housing projects in New York City, all of which are located in Brooklyn. He co-designed four of the seven buildings of Concord Village (1958, finished after McCarthy died), the Red Hook Houses (1939), and the Gowanus Houses (1949). All of the buildings below still stand today.

The Cathedral Arms Apartments and the Chateau Frontenac Apartments are located in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn and were built circa 1930.

Exterior view of the Cathedral Arms Apartments, circa 1930. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.11).

Exterior view of the Chateau Frontenac Apartments, circa 1930. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.15).

McCarthy designed some of the last single-family homes in Park Slope, circa 1920. The homes below are located along Prospect Park West. The driveways were included in the original designs and are still a very unique aspect of Brooklyn architecture.

Exterior view of single-family homes in Park Slope, circa 1920. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.30).

Concord Village is located on the border of the Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods. McCarthy co-designed four of the seven buildings with Italian born architect Rosario Candela (1890-1953). The building complex was completed in phases and was finished after McCarthy died.

Aerial view of Concord Village, circa 1930. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.22).

The rendering below shows an idealized vision of Concord Village. The delineator was Arthur Frappier.

Photograph of rendering of Concord Village, circa 1930. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.19).

The Gowanus Houses (1949) and Red Hook Houses (1939) are prominent parts of the Brooklyn architectural landscape and of Brooklyn architectural history. It’s very rare to read about who designed our large-scale housing projects throughout the city. Today, former and current residents of the Gowanus Houses are creating their own archive of the buildings and the people who live in them on a Facebook page Gowanus Houses Forever, Bklyn, NY. Below are images that help tell the story of the original vision for the housing projects.

Photograph of a model of the Gowanus Houses, circa 1950. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.5).

Photograph of a rendering of the Red Hook Houses, circa 1930. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.18 a,b).

Photograph of a rendering of the Red Hook Houses, circa 1930. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.28).

Photograph of the Red Hook Houses, circa 1940. William T. McCarthy collection, ARC.059, Brooklyn Historical Society Photograph Collection (V1990.70.19).

If you’re looking to do architectural research on your house, building, block, or neighborhood, the Library and Archives staff at BHS has made it easy for you with the House and Building Research at BHS. Or, if you want an in-depth guide to Brooklyn architecture, the BHS staff has curated a selection of books that are available through the BHS Virtual Bookstore.

Posted in Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 8 Responses »
Tags: Architecture, Archives, Built Environment, Historic Landmark, public housing

School days of Brooklyn’s past

Written by Weatherly on September 17th, 2010

The passing of Labor Day is always a sign that fall is near and school is back in session. All of the excited students—and the not-so-excited students—I’ve seen with backpacks and books this week got me thinking about school items the CLIR team has found during the survey of archival, manuscript, and photography collections. While you can browse yearbooks from Brooklyn schools in the Othmer Library, family papers and manuscript collections also have photographs, homework, and ephemera that give us an idea of what school was like in Brooklyn way-back-when.

The James Atkins Noyes collection covers one of the foundations of early education—writing. In 1867, James mastered the tricky art of penmanship with the help of his copybooks.

Copybook, 1867. James Atkin Noyes collection, ARC.069, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Copybook, 1867. James Atkins Noyes collection, ARC.069, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Once he had the hang of neat and formal cursive, James graduated to copying standard text that a businessperson of his day might use, like these sample receipts.

Penmanship book, 1869. James Atkin Noyes collection, ARC.069, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Penmanship book, 1869. James Atkins Noyes collection, ARC.069, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Thomas C. Morgan attended P.S. 56 in Flatbush, where he regularly received merit awards. As a third grader in April 1897, he was commended for “Industry, Punctuality, and Good Conduct.”

P.S. 56 merit reward, 1897. Morgan family papers, ARC.073, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Juliette Jacobson was another stellar student, attending St. James Academy on Jay Street, which closed in 1933. Her biology notebook from 1915 has detailed definitions and drawings.

Juliette Jacobsen biology notebook, 1915. Fred Hoyt family research collection, ARC.043, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Juliette Jacobson biology notebook, 1915. Fred Hoyt family research collection, ARC.043, Brooklyn Historical Society.

Juliette’s graduation photo shows her wearing medals she earned for academic excellence, no doubt the result of her excellent note-taking.

Juliette Jacobsen in her school uniform at graduation, 1917. Fred Hoyt family research collection, ARC.043, Brooklyn Historical Society photograph collection (V1992.40.32).

Juliette Jacobson in her school uniform at graduation, 1917. Fred Hoyt family research collection, ARC.043, Brooklyn Historical Society photograph collection (V1992.40.32).

The 1918 graduating class of the P.S. 50 in Williamsburg was very well-behaved in their class portrait. There isn’t a single set of bunny ears among the students.

Graduating class of P.S. 50, 1918. P.S. 50 John D. Wells School collection, 1991.005, Brooklyn Historical Society photograph collection (V1991.2.1).

A less formal portrait of a class at Bedford-Stuyvesant’s P.S. 93 in the early 1920s gives us a peek into the classroom and what students wore to school.

P.S. 93 class, circa 1925. Minnie Grace Hillard collection, ARC.041, Brooklyn Historical Society photograph collection (V1987.045.5).

Finally, something a bit more modern—Ann Kranjec was a second grader at P.S. 8 in Brooklyn Heights when she wrote this short composition in 1970.

Ann Kranjec schoolwork, 1970. Kranjec family papers, ARC.034, Brooklyn Historical Society.

I like living in the city because it [has the] Botanic Gardens, and tall buildings. I like the city for its nice parks and zoos, and its famous bridges.

Posted in Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 1 Response »
Tags: Archives, Brooklyn, Library, Photography Collection

Un-hiding our Collections

Written by Chela on September 3rd, 2010

I am beyond thrilled to be writing a post to tell you about a grant the BHS library received a few months back from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). The grant, awarded as a part of the CLIR Hidden Collections program and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, will make possible a project called Uncovering the Secrets of Brooklyn’s 19th Century Past: Creation to Consolidation. It is a big and exciting project for us to undertake. Over the next two years, we will be working to catalog many, many maps and survey and catalog a huge array of materials in our archival, manuscript, and photography collections.

This is just one of the many maps being cataloged as part of our Hidden Collections project. Map of the County of Kings showing the ward and town boundries, 1869.

The materials in the project focus on 19th century Brooklyn, covering the period from 1834, when Brooklyn was first incorporated as a city, to its consolidation with New York City in 1898. We see this as a fascinating period of history in our great borough; it is also a strong suit in our collections. Yet many of these amazing resources are currently not listed in any of our online catalogs, effectively making them invisible in a world where for many people, information seeking starts and ends with Google.

But this project will allow us to change all that! We’ll be cataloging like mad and putting the records in to a number of different online-accessible tools: the maps in to our online library catalog, the archival collections in to our catablog and an NYU-hosted online finding aid search portal, and all records from the project will become a part of the WorldCat union catalog. Our hope is that with descriptions of our resources readily available and searchable on the internet, more and more people will find and use our collections, and in doing so will be inspired to create projects, papers, books, articles, research, songs, dances, and who knows what else about Brooklyn.

The project has actually been going on for a while now. We’ve assembled a fantastic project staff, and they have spent the last fseveral months surveying and cataloging. Some of their work is already up online (like the record for the map pictured above), but some won’t be online until close to the end of the project. In the meantime, the CLIR team will be blogging about their finds; and thus far, there have been some great finds. Look for a post from the library on Fridays, or click on the Hidden Collections category to the right to read them all. I’m really looking forward to reading them– I hope anyone who might be reading this out there in the blogosphere is too!

Posted in Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 1 Response »
Tags: Archives, awesomeness, grants, maps, Photographs

Women in Archives

Written by Sady on February 3rd, 2009

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a conference at Columbia University called Archiving Women, “bringing together scholars and archivists to examine feminist practices in the archive”. It was as interesting and interdisciplinary as one would expect, and it was very crowded!

Many people spoke about the historical and habitual lack of focus on women in archival collections. Central to that is the debate about What constitutes archives-worthy materials. To illustrate how public/professional lives intertwine with the personal Michael Ryan described his processing of Erica Jong’s papers for Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library – there were letters between lovers and friends he thought were too personal to include in the collection until Ms. Jong confirmed that they were part and parcel of her work.

Nancy K. Miller used the term transpersonal to describe connections among the “I” of the story to the “we” of her generation and the “they” of her ancestors.

Everyone was excited about innovative possibilities for online access to archives.
Some things to check out:

The Pembroke Center Archives Feminist Theory Papers – They’ve made Naomi Schor’s papers available online, including complete scans of her journals.
Vectors Journal of Culture and Technology in a Dynamic Vernacular
Barnard Zine Library

Definitely fueled my fire for the ongoing process of making our oral history collection more accessible.

Posted in Library & Archives, Oral History | No Responses »
Tags: Archives, Archiving Women, Barnard Zine Library, Center for Critical Analysis of Social Difference, Columbia University, Feminist Theory Papers, Journal of Culture and Technology in a Dynamic Vernacular, Library, Michael Ryan, Nancy K Miller, Naomi Schor, Pembroke Center, Vectors

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