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Brooklyn Historical Society

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Doll and Spinning Wheel

Doll and Spinning Wheel amid Bookshelves on Top Floor of Long Island Historical Society, 6/21/1979, Amy Davis, v1974.31.103; Photographs Relating to Long Island Historical Society; Brooklyn Historical Society.

With renovations to BHS’s first floor and lower-level underway and Brooklyn Historical Society’s 150th anniversary rapidly approaching, it is fun to look through photographs of the institutional archives collection. One such photograph features this eerie porcelain doll, once housed in BHS’s storage room. This doll may seem lost and lonely, but according to Mrs. Gordon, a former BHS librarian, in the days of volunteer “women’s groups” at BHS the doll collection was considered to be an extremely valuable part of the library’s holdings. This photograph was taken in 1979 when Brooklyn Historical Society was still known as the Long Island Historical Society; the name change took place in 1985. Look for more stories and images from BHS’s past as we launch our 150th anniversary celebration in 2013.

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.

Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Miss Mary E. Ingalls

Miss Mary E. Ingalls, L.I.H.S. Museum attendant, ca.1912, v1972.1.1057; Early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection, ARC.201; Brooklyn Historical Society.

The woman pictured in this early twentieth-century photograph is staffing the museum gallery desk of what was then called the Long Island Historical Society. Much has changed since Miss Ingalls’s day: the Long Island Historical Society is now Brooklyn Historical Society, the building’s museum space looks very different, and the popular style of dress has relaxed a bit. Yet Brooklyn Historical Society still maintains a legacy of creative and engaging public exhibitions. Today, BHS visitors can explore such exhibits like Context\Contrast, which examines new architecture in New York’s historic districts, and Inventing Brooklyn: People, Places, Progress, a student-curated exhibit that traces the evolution of Brooklyn into the place we know today. Ms. Ingalls, no doubt, would approve.

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.

BHS Breaks 100 Followers on Twitter!

Screenprint of BHS's page on twitter.com

Screenprint of @brooklynhistory on twitter.com

In an effort to get the word out about our events, exhibits, and educational programs, (and to better connect to today’s diverse communities), BHS started “tweeting” on twitter.com a bit over a week ago. In that short time, we have amassed over 100 followers! (Those are people who are signed up to see our updates.) It’s great to see so much interest in BHS on the internets.

If you’re a bit of a technophobe or just not into twitter, don’t worry. You don’t have to sign up to see this up-to-the-minute reporting of what’s going on at BHS. Just go to http://twitter.com/brooklynhistory and you’ll see our updates. If you are on twitter, please follow us @brooklynhistory. Our next goal is to have as many followers as we are years old (146).

Welcome!

The Brooklyn Historical Society began our Oral History Program in 2006 to collect important audio documents: primary sources about people, ideas, and events that make up the history of 21st century Brooklyn.

In December 2007, we opened our Oral History Gallery with the exhibit In Our Own Words: Portraits of Brooklyn’s Vietnam Veterans.

Come visit!

We’re located in Brooklyn Heights, an historic landmarked district, in a building designed by architect George B. Post and completed in 1881. We’re down the street from Borough Hall (and the Borough Hall Farmers’ Market on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade along the East River and not far at all from the Fulton Mall.