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The Astor Dynasty: Rag Street to Broadway, A Waldorf Tale of New York

October 24, 2021 by Jaap Harskamp Leave a Comment

Holywell and Wych StreetIn 1780, a young man traveled from his provincial hometown in Baden-Württemberg to London to meet his elder brother who had settled there two years previously as a wooden instrument maker. The many small states that constituted Germany at the time had a reputation for developing and producing musical instruments. The export of technology was an important feature of German design and many craftsmen had migrated to London (and eventually to New York and other American cities).

The seedy location of his brother’s workshop must have come as a shock to the youngster and he was eager to better himself. Four years later he left the capital for the docks of Southampton, carrying few belongings and a number of flutes with him, and set sail for America. Half a century later he owned large parts of Manhattan.

This remarkable tale could have served as one of the “rags to riches” stories that made Horatio Alger such a popular author in America during the later decades of the nineteenth century. [Read more…] about The Astor Dynasty: Rag Street to Broadway, A Waldorf Tale of New York

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: fur trade, Knickerbocker Hotel, Literature, Manhattan, Musical History, New York City, nypl, Rhinebeck, science fiction, Titanic, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

Exhibit: The African-American Migration Experience

February 21, 2017 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

The Albany Institute of History & Art is partnering with the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, the Capital District Black Chamber of Commerce, and the JAFJR Community Foundation to host a traveling panel exhibition created and curated by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at The New York Public Library.

This panel exhibition will be displayed in a public space on the third floor atrium of the Albany Institute of History & Art through March 25, 2017. There is no admission fee to see this exhibition. [Read more…] about Exhibit: The African-American Migration Experience

Filed Under: History, New Exhibits Tagged With: African American Cultural Center, Albany Institute For History and Art, Black History, Civil Rights, New York Public Library, nypl, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Early NY and NYPL’s Digitized Manuscript Materials

November 9, 2016 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

ny public libraryTo coincide with New York History month, the New York Public Library (NYPL) will host a class on researching early New York history using digitally available NYPL manuscript materials.

The class will take place on November 29th, from 5-7 pm, in Room 217 of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (the Library’s main branch), located at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. [Read more…] about Early NY and NYPL’s Digitized Manuscript Materials

Filed Under: Events, History Tagged With: New York Public Library, nypl, Online Resources

Applicants Sought For NYPL Fellowships

December 16, 2014 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New-York-Public-Library-NYPLThe New York Public Library is seeking applications for Short Term Research Fellowships to support scholars from outside the New York metropolitan area engaged in graduate-level, post-doctoral, and independent research.

Individuals needing to conduct on-site research in the Library’s special collections to support projects in the arts and humanities are welcome to apply. Preference is given to scholars whose work is based on materials in the NYPL research and special collections, especially when those materials are unique. Fellowships are normally not granted to scholars who live within commuting distance of the library. [Read more…] about Applicants Sought For NYPL Fellowships

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Academia, New York Public Library, nypl

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