Richman, Jeffrey I. Collection of Magic Lantern Slides, 1866-1953 | Historical Collections

By Fiora Watts, Pratt School of Information Intern

Collection Overview

Title: Richman, Jeffrey I. Collection of Magic Lantern Slides, 1866-1953

Predominant Dates:1870-1925

Extent: 13.0 Boxes

Arrangement: The collection is divided into subject categories, which are the individual series. These are arranged alphabetically and housed in 13 boxes. Several of these series also contain sub-series.

Abstract

This collection consists of approximately 850 glass lantern slides. The majority of these focus on images of New York City and feature subject matter such as street scenes, people, buildings, construction, panoramic views, and other images of city life. Although the earliest slide can be dated to approximately 1866 and the latest to 1953, the majority of images range from the 1870s through the 1920s. Within the collection, there is also a Miscellaneous series featuring non-New York City related imagery such as artwork, medical subject matter, portraits of nurses, imagery related to the Civil War, and photographic slides of upstate New York, Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts, and Jerusalem.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Jeffrey I. Richman Collection of Magic Lantern Slides consists of approximately 850 glass lantern slides measuring 4 x 3.25 and 3 x 3 inches, the majority of which are images of and relating to New York City. These images, the earliest of which dates to approximately 1866 and the latest to 1953, are predominately of Manhattan. Brooklyn is featured in views of the Brooklyn Bridge and in subway construction in Brooklyn Heights. The collection offers a glimpse at street life, transportation, buildings, people, signage, specific locales, and other views of urban life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in New York City. The years between the 1870s and the 1920s are particularly well-represented. Other subject categories include bridges, Broadway, Central Park, children, churches, and panoramas. Most of the slides were made by well-known New York commercial lantern slide manufacturers and studios, including T.H. McAllister-Keller and Co., Charles Beseler Lantern Slide Co., and Edward Van Altena Studios. Manufacturers outside New York include Edward Kempf of San Francsico, and the McIntosh Stereopticon Company of Chicago. The Miscellaneous series includes artwork, Civil War-related prints and imagery, medical-related slides, and portraits of nurses. It also features images made outside of New York City and State, including several of Colorado and Jerusalem.

Administrative Information

Repository: Historical Collections

Original/Copies Note: For more information please see http://www.magiclanterns.weebly.com/.

Related Materials: For more information please see http://www.magiclanterns.weebly.com/.

Processing Information: Accession #: 008-2016

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Aerial Views],
[Series 2: Battery Park],
[Series 3: Bowling Green],
[Series 4: Bridges],
[Series 5: Broadway],
[Series 6: Buildings],
[Series 7: Central Park],
[Series 8: Charts],
[Series 9: Children],
[Series 10: Churches/Temples],
[Series 11: City Hall],
[Series 12: Columbus Circle],
[Series 13: Coney Island],
[Series 14: Construction],
[Series 15: Cultural Institutions],
[Series 16: Currier & Ives],
[Series 17: Dockside],
[Series 18: Early Prints],
[Series 19: Early Street Views],
[Series 20: Elevated Railroad],
[Series 21: Ellis Island],
[Series 22: Ellis Island],
[Series 23: Famous People],
[Series 24: Fifth Avenue],
[Series 25: Fires/Disasters],
[Series 26: Grand Central Station],
[Series 27: Grant's Tomb],
[Series 28: Harbor Views],
[Series 29: Herald Square],
[Series 30: Historic Houses],
[Series 31: Hospitals],
[Series 32: Hotels],
[Series 33: Madison Square Park Area],
[Series 34: Maps],
[Series 35: Markers],
[Series 36: Markets],
[Series 37: Miscellaneous],
[Series 38: Monuments],
[Series 39: Museums],
[Series 40: Panoramas],
[Series 41: Parades],
[Series 42: Park Row],
[Series 43: Pennsylvania Station],
[Series 44: People],
[Series 45: Post Office],
[Series 46: Rivers],
[Series 47: Schools/Colleges],
[Series 48: Skylines],
[Series 49: Statue of Liberty],
[Series 50: Statues],
[Series 51: Stores],
[Series 52: Street Scenes],
[Series 53: Times Square],
[Series 54: Transportation],
[Series 55: Undeveloped Land],
[Series 56: Union Square],
[Series 57: Wall Street],
[Series 58: War],
[All]

Series 12: Columbus Circle: Views of 8^th Avenue and Broadway, street scenes showing businesses and transportation. This series is located in Box 4.