The Unusual Gentlemen's Library

History and oddities I've stumbled upon as an archivist-in-training in New York City.

[onceuponatown]

New York. Decoration day, Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn 1899

[gentlemenslibrary]

The Midnight Archive, courtesy of the Morbid Anatomy Library, presents the fantastically creepy automaton in its various forms of glory in the Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum in New Jersey.

[gentlemenslibrary]

"You want to photograph me eating chicken?" "Yep." "Well, if I let you, I need you to help me deliver a message." "What’s that?" "I work at this library. And before that, I was coming here for twenty years. It’s my favorite place in the world. As many people know, the main reading room of this library is supported by seven floors of books, which contain one of the greatest research collections in the world. Recently, the library administration has decided to rip out this collection, send the books to New Jersey, and use the space for a lending library. As part of the consolidation, they are going to close down the Mid-Manhattan Library Branch as well as the Science, Industry, and Business Library. When everything is finished, one of the greatest research libraries in the world will become a glorified internet cafe. Now read that back to me."

This HONY post garnered so much attention to the NYPL debate that the NYPL reached out to clarify a few important points:

*The man says "I work at this Library." Ends up, he doesn't "work" for the library in the sense of being an employee. He is probably doing his work at the library (millions do each year!). We fear the confusion might make people think he is offering his opinion as an employee. *The vast majority of research books will remain on the site (in far superior storage conditions) *None of the public spaces he and others enjoy will change, and we'll be returning a circulating collection to this main library (it had one for its first 70 years). *This plan will be greatly expanding access to the library. The renovation will allow all New Yorkers–scholars, students, educators, immigrants, job-seekers– to take advantage of this beautiful building and its world-class collections. Obviously the issue is more complex than soundbites from either side, so feel free to educate yourself further and form your own opinion:  http://lmgtfy.com/?q=NYPL+renovation+debate

[gentlemenslibrary]

Operating room at Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, 1900

Source

[gentlemenslibrary]

Teacher's College, New York, NY, 1898

Source

[gentlemenslibrary]

Going to a Fire, 1910-1915

"Photo shows horse drawn fire vehicle at intersection of West 43rd Street and Broadway, New York City"

Photo found in the Library of Congress LOT 10870 collection depicting FDNY response throughout NYC in the early 1900's -- one of which could be considered disturbing. *warning*

[gentlemenslibrary]

One of 14 "Motion Picture Etiquette: Lantern Slides" from 1912, courtesy of the Library of Congress and Click Americana. 

The Library of Congress, who own the original lantern slide prints, describe them as text “superimposed on humorous photograph, and the whole shown in a fancy carved frame.” These images were created by Scott & Van Altena (John D Scott and Edward Van Altena), who were considered some of the leading slide makers of the era.

Should you wish to brush up on your lantern slide trivia, here's one article and here's another one available through archive.org, which is a great site that provides open access to complete books and articles. Should you feel like learning leisurely, the website is capable of reading the texts aloud, albeit somewhat robotically.   

[indypendenthistory]

Original Caption: A box-bed is a bed enclosed in furniture that looks like a cupboard, half-opened or not.The box-bed is closed on all sides by panels of wood. One enters it by removing curtains, opening a door hinge or sliding doors on one or two slides. In front of the box-bed was often a large oaken chest, with the same length as the bed. This was the ‘seat of honour,’ and served also as a step for climbing into the bed. It was also used to store clothing, underwear and bedding the rest of the time

[gentlemenslibrary]

Here's a little more information on the box bed, which was recurrently popular for hundreds of years. Most interestingly, in my opinion, box-beds were built somewhat shorter during the 16th and 17th centuries because "lying down was associated with death, and therefore sleeping was done in a half-upright position."

[gentlemenslibrary]

"Less Sentimental" New Yorkers Say No Thanks to Valentine's Day. In 1871.

[gentlemenslibrary]

Apparently the Holland Tunnel used to have this mini cop trolley back in 1954.

Read the 1955 article on this bizarre vehicle here!

Thanks for the tip, Peach.

[gentlemenslibrary]

A Century-Old Prosthesis So Advanced Even an Expert Thought It Was Fake

Two experts dig through history to determine whether these amazing legs are real or fake

[nyhistory]

A Blizzard Scene in New York: Looking West on 14th Street toward Sixth Avenue, March 12, 1888. New-York Historical Society # 73109

[gentlemenslibrary]

Looks familiar

[gentlemenslibrary]

Vintage street sweeper, no date

Courtesy of the New York City Municipal Archives

The Atlantic  provides a great collection of unwatermarked images

[gentlemenslibrary]

Cub and living mascot aboard the U.S.S. Texas, 1915

Courtesy of the New York State Archives WWI collection

[gentlemenslibrary]

The icy aftermath of a fight against a building fire some time around 1895-1910.

Courtesy of the New York State Archives

[onceuponatown]

New York. Lower East Side, circa 1890

[gentlemenslibrary]

More endearing child labor

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1890, [cabinet card, portrait of dancer Miss Murdock, in a lovely costume], Moreno & Lopez of New York

via Luminous Lint, courtesy of Ohio State University, Jerome  University Library, Charles H. McCaghy Collection of Exotic Dance from Burlesque to Clubs

[gentlemenslibrary]

Just in time for Valentine's Day