By Sara Fetherolf, Brooklyn College Intern, and Veronica Benjou, Pratt School of Information Intern
Title: Photographs, c. 1920-1990
Extent: 2.0 Boxes
Arrangement: By subject matter.
Subjects: Abandonment of automobiles, Automobiles, black-and-white prints, Blizzards, Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)--History, Brooklyn--New York, N.Y., Bus accidents, Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History, Construction, Crematoriums, diffusion transfer prints, Enclosures, Explosions, Fences, Gates and Railings, Funeral service, Grave digging, Grave Enclosures, Ground Cover Plants, Hit-and-run drivers, Hurricane Damage, Hurricane Donna, 1960, Hurricanes, Ivy, Mausoleums, Plants, Ornamental, Rainstorms, Sepulchral monuments--New York (State)--New York, Sewer-Pipe, Stereoscopic photographs, Traffic accidents, Tree felling, Vandalism, Watchmen, Wind damage
Forms of Material: color negatives, Photographs
Languages: English
This series contains a miscellaneous range of photographs of Green-Wood Cemetery. Taken anywhere from 1920 to 1980, the photographs include Polaroid snapshots, large black-and-white prints, negatives, stereoview images, and book or magazine prints. The subject matter also varies, though in nearly all cases the grounds or buildings of Green-Wood Cemetery are depicted.
The photographs have been organized by subject. A small number of pre-1930 photographs depict scenic views of the grounds and monuments, as do several stereoscope images. The majority of post-1930 photographs were originally taken to document damage caused to the cemetery grounds, or activities that took place in the cemetery, rather than for display purposes. There are a number of prints from a heavy snowstorm that happened in 1934, and an even larger amount from a 1944 rainstorm. Polaroids capture damage from hurricanes Donna and Esther. Polariod images depict construction of the modern office buildings and the crematorium, general maintenance activities, grave-digging, and snapshots of individual lots. Vehicle accidents that occured within Green-Wood are documented, including a large number of polaroids from a city bus accident in 1967. There are a number of Polaroids taken of damage caused by a dock explosion from 1956.
Finally, a small collection of Polaroids and prints depict ceremonies and funerals held at the cemetery. Though most of the photographs contained in the series were taken for documentation rather than artistic purposes, the images contain a striking visual depiction of the cemetery as it appeared at a particular point in time.
Polaroids of lots and maintenance work found among these photographs have remained in this series, though the subject matter and original function of the images may directly overlap with the material found in the series Boundary Marker Photographs (015-2012), Ivy Removal Photographs (017-2012), Architectural Drawings and Blueprints, c. 1880s-Present (see specifically Series 38: Riley Mausoleum), and Enclosure Removal Photographs (017-2013).
For more information on the Brooklyn dock Explosion of 1956 visit http://theweeklynabe.com/2013/05/15/the-industry-city-brooklyn-fire-and-explosion-1956/
Abandonment of automobiles
Automobiles
black-and-white prints
Blizzards
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)--History
Brooklyn--New York, N.Y.
Bus accidents
Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History
Construction
Crematoriums
diffusion transfer prints
Enclosures
Explosions
Fences, Gates and Railings
Funeral service
Grave digging
Grave Enclosures
Ground Cover Plants
Hit-and-run drivers
Hurricane Damage
Hurricane Donna, 1960
Hurricanes
Ivy
Mausoleums
Plants, Ornamental
Rainstorms
Sepulchral monuments--New York (State)--New York
Sewer-Pipe
Stereoscopic photographs
Traffic accidents
Tree felling
Vandalism
Watchmen
Wind damage
Repository: The Green-Wood Cemetery
Processing Information: Accession #: 020-2013
Other Note:
Preservation Note:
Most of the prints are in good condition; however, many extend beyond their plastic enclosures, exposing them to damage from fingerprints and abrasion. These prints should be rehoused in enclosures that cover the entire object.
Box 1, folder 2 contains strereoviews that are thin and fragile - likely albumen prints. They show signs of fissuring, and are susceptible to further damage from tears and creases, especially if handled often. Alkaline-buffered boards should be added to provide rigid support.
Material of the slide page should be determined. Color slides are best housed in polypropylene slide pages, not PVC, as PVC has shown to deteriorate and damage the slides.
Because this is a relatively small collection, it may not make sense to isolate the more sensitive color photographs, slides and negatives. Handling and exposure of these materials to light should be minimized. Taking into consideration institutional and research value, frequency of use, and cost, digitization of this collection should be considered.
