This profile is part of a series of interviews chronicling the experiences of researchers who use The New York Public Library's collections for the development of their work.

Preeti Sodhi is an urban planner, art lover, and proud 20-year resident of downtown Manhattan. She is the Director of Community Engagement for The High Line and is the Founder of @Hello_Voter.

What brought you to the Library?

The Camilla and Earl McGrath Papers served in the Manuscripts and Archives division. 

I attended an auction of the Estate of Camilla and Earl McGrath at the Stair Galleries in Hudson, NY and that was where I first discovered the late British painter John Rudge through his painting, “Ribbons.” It caught my eye because of its simplicity, scale, use of color, and style. I knew nothing about Rudge or the McGraths, but I was intrigued. Researching the McGraths, I discovered that they were notable art collectors who travelled in social circles in New York, Los Angeles and internationally. All I could find online about John Rudge was a pretty sparse auction record and a brief New York Times article discussing his murder at his studio on the Bowery in 1971, very close to where I live. That grabbed my attention right away and I was curious to know more.

When did you first get the idea for your research project?

It all started seeing that first painting and falling in love with it. When I quickly searched Rudge’s name online and could only find the article about his murder—I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t more information about him. As I kept searching, he emerged as such a fascinating character. As an artist who started in humble beginnings in England, travelled to Asia during World War II, befriended European aristocracy while selling towels on the beaches of Italy to survive, and then ended up living and dying so close to where I live —in a building I walked by all the time. It felt like I discovered a story that needed to be told on so many levels.

Describe your research routine.

Most of my research took place over the last two years, when I was working on independent projects and had more of a flexible schedule than I do now. I had an easy commute to the Library that allowed me to visit whenever I felt the inspiration. I would find little bits of information about John Rudge, spurring me forward and then would return home to do further research (calling my research partner and friend Rachel and excitedly describing all my discoveries, no matter how small) and this cycle continued for months. Eventually my research led me to other reading rooms in the Library including Art & Architecture, Local History and Genealogy, and the Music Division at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. 

What's your favorite spot in the Library?

Manuscripts and Archives—where it all started.

What’s the most unexpected item you encountered in your research?

I used my background as an urban planner to my advantage while doing this research. I submitted a FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request for any information in city records about his life and murder and was sent a digital scan of the NYPD police report a few months later. 

But most surprising was something I found this February—two years into my research—during a visit to the Library. A librarian suggested I search for newspaper articles using ProQuest Historical Newspapers. I found an article detailing Rudge’s last night alive and the subsequent police investigation entitled “The Murder Routine.”  I screamed a little in my seat when I found it. I couldn’t and still can't believe it when I make new discoveries like this. The article had so many first-hand details; the reporter had spoken to over 60 sources during the month after Rudge was murdered.

What research tool could you not live without? 

Using Google Drive has been essential. Usually I like the tactile feeling of writing on napkins or scraps of paper when ideas come to me in the moment but using Google Drive folders has kept me really organized. And I can access it from my laptop or my phone and that makes it really easy to share information with others.

Is there anything you'd like to tell someone looking to get started?

Don’t be afraid to cold call/email museums, art galleries, or other institutions—you never know what you may find. And the Library is an incredible resource. I started with one department and then got referred to another then another. I can’t believe how much information I have found within one building.

Updates on Preeti's research on John Rudge can be found at johnrudgeartist.com and on Instagram @shelter_gallery and @johnrudgeartist.