Manhattan Mistabulation: The Story of the 1890 New York City Police Census
by Andy McCarthy, Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
May 10, 2019
In 1890, New York City Mayor Hugh Grant believed the recent federal census undercounted the city's population. Local pressure from Tammany Hall and the potential loss of seats in Congress spurred the mayor to deploy the NYPD to conduct its own enumeration of NYC, which results tallied 200,000 more New Yorkers. Some defended the authenticity of the police census - others called it fraud.
Yizkor Books at The New York Public Library
by Amanda Seigel
April 25, 2019
Yizkor ("memorial") books are an important primary source documenting the history of Jewish communities destroyed during the Holocaust. The 700 yizkor books at the NYPL make up the largest collection of its kind in North American, and the most heavily used. See how researchers and genealogists use these vital records, and how you can access yizkor books digitally, for free.
Genealogy How-To Books: How a Little Reading Can Save You A Lot Of Time
by NYPL Staff
March 25, 2019
Looking for your family history? Wanting to find your ancestors? Consulting a genealogy research guide will almost certainly save you time, effort, and frustration. Check out our recommended how-to books and references, and start finding what you're looking for.
2019 Bernstein Awards Finalist Spotlight: Dopesick
by Meredith Mann, Manuscripts and Archives Division, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
March 19, 2019
One of our finalists for this year's Helen Bernstein Award, "Dopesick" presents a searing investigation of America's opioid crisis, as author Beth Macy confronts a pervasive, systemic challenge to American drug treatment.
How to Find Old Maps by Location with Map Warper
by Mishka Vance, GIS Specialist, Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
March 14, 2019
Using the New York Public Library's Map Warper, map lovers and history buffs can find old maps by their location, and align them with present-day locations.
In the Weeds: The History of Botanical Illustration and the Work of Anna Atkins
by Emily Walz
February 20, 2019
From painstaking hand-drawn illustrations to actually adding dried plant specimens to works, bringing botanical studies to life had been challenging for centuries. Discover the different processes, and how they led to Anna Atkins's groundbreaking work, "Photographs of British Algae."
Yiddish Drama Queen: Jennie Goldstein in Pictures
by Amanda Seigel
February 8, 2019
On the anniversary of her death, here is our illustrated tribute to Jennie Goldstein, the woman whose long and varied career spanned the Yiddish stage, theatre ownership, film, and beyond.
Annie Proulx’s Visibility through Violence
by Jamie Crosswhite, Short-Term Research Fellow
January 10, 2019
A Library Fellow discovers the staggering volume of research undertaken by Proulx for her novels: notes, comments, observations, and newspaper clippings on small communities, and the all-too-frequent violence within.
Using Maps for Genealogy Research, Part 1: Finding Records
by Philip Sutton, Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 24, 2018
Did you know the Library is home to 433,000 sheet maps, and 20,000 books and atlases published between the 16th and 21st centuries? In the first of this five-part series, we review the various ways genealogists can use these maps in their research.
Using Maps for Genealogy Research, Part 2: Fire Insurance Maps - Exploring Space and Time
by Philip Sutton, Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 24, 2018
Born of necessity, fire insurance maps can be used with other sources to create family histories with color and context. Find out more in this second part of our five-part series of genealogy research.
Using Maps for Genealogy Research, Part 3: Place of Origin and Immigration Stories
by Philip Sutton, Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 24, 2018
Determining an ancestor's place of origin, and how they arrived in the U.S., is one of the engaging aspects of genealogy research. In this 3rd part of our five-part series, see the role that maps play in that research and follow the story of one immigrant family from Northern Italy to Iron Belt, Wisconsin.
Using Maps for Genealogy Research, Part 4: Topographical Maps, and County Maps and Atlases
by Philip Sutton, Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 24, 2018
Discover how topography can help inform your research, creating a powerful narrative that can bring the past to life. Part 4 of our five-part series.
Using Maps for Genealogy Research, Part 5: Gazetteers and Finding Maps
by Philip Sutton, Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 24, 2018
We wrap up our five-part series with a look at the importance of gazetteers in your genealogical search, and a summary detailing how to find the maps at NYPL.
2018: The Year in Archival Research
by NYPL Staff
December 20, 2018
Here are a dozen recent books whose authors relied on the Library's archival records as a vital resource, from the world of George Washington to the history of the Manhattan waterfront. Add these to your 2019 reading list!
Collection of Broadside Real Estate Maps Announcing Auctions Of Lots in Early 19th Century New York City: 1832-1837
by Ian Fowler, Curator of Maps, History, and Government Information, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 7, 2018
Witness the city's expansion as real estate companies promoted lot auctions north of the historical boundary of Canal Street.
Piecing Together the Early Musical History of the Yaddo Artist Colony
by Caitlin E. Brown, Short-Term Research Fellow
December 5, 2018
Discover the place once frequented by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and an entire community of musical notables, in this essay from an NYPL Short-Term Research Fellow.
"A is for Aye-Aye": How Filmmaker Augusta Palmer Uses the Picture Collection
by Jessica Cline, Picture Collection, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
December 3, 2018
In this interview with Palmer, get a behind-the-scenes look at her short film "A is for Aye-Aye." Also, check out two upcoming workshops (including animation for kids) inspired by the film.
Balloons over Broadway: Macy's Mishaps, Costumed Hijinks, and Other Lesser-Known Thanksgiving Weekend Traditions
by Diane Dias De Fazio
November 18, 2018
From wayward Thanksgiving parade balloons to masked trick-or-treating, here are some New York City Thanksgiving-time traditions we bet you didn't know about.
DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room: Spotlight on the Collectibles collection
by Diane Serrano, Operations Manager, Periodicals Room, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
November 13, 2018
From pens to baseball cards to doorknobs(!), there's a collectible out there for just about everyone. Check out this selection of archived magazines dedicated to collectors of all kinds.
The Ghost Library of the Château de La Roche-Guyon
by Kathie Coblentz, Rare Materials Cataloger, Spencer Collection, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
October 31, 2018
Learn about the French castle with an entire library of "ghosts" and its connection to The New York Public Library's Spencer Collection.
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