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Explore New York’s past through over 250,000 objects from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York.
Jacob A. Riis
Danish-born Jacob Riis (1849-1914) was a journalist, social reformer, and social documentary photographer. He is best known for his 1890 book How the Other Half Lives, which brought public attention to New York's squalid housing, sweatshops, bars, and alleys. The...
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Samuel H. Gottscho
As a young man, Samuel Gottscho (1875-1971) recorded the nighttime glories of Coney Island's early 20th-century amusement parks, but he became a professional success with the establishment of his own architectural photography firm in 1925. He received numerous...
Fans
The City Museum holds an exceptional collection of hand fans, which comprises more than 700 objects dating from the 18th century through the 1920s and includes examples of painted, printed, brisé, and folding feather fans, as well as hand screens. This selection...
Wurts Bros.
Thanks to generous grants from the Leon Levy Foundation, the Wurts Brothers Collection is now available online. This collection gives visual life to the growth of New York’s built environment in the 20th century. The studio, founded by brothers Norman and Lionel...
J. Clarence Davies Collection
Bronx real estate mogul J. Clarence Davies (1868-1934) assembled his collection of New York City imagery over a forty year period, collecting voraciously and comprehensively. In 1929 he gave his collection to the City Museum. At the time, the gift was valued at...
Yiddish Theater
The City Museum holds a major collection related to theatrical productions performed or originated on New York's Yiddish stage. Highlights include works translated into Yiddish and performances of works originally written in Yiddish but translated into English....
Posters and Patriotism
This selection of images from the World War I poster collection donated to the Museum by railroad executive and financier John W. Campbell (1880-1957) in 1943, is representative of many shown in Posters and Patriotism: Selling World War I in New York. When the...
Mid-20th Century Women's Garments
The Museum holds a striking collection of mid-20th century garments worn by notable New York women and created by celebrated designers. The women's costumes, ranging from jumpsuits to evening gowns, document the city’s arrival as a fashion capital, and date from...
1939 World's Fair
The 1939 New York World’s Fair was a significant marker in New York City history and American culture. It contributed to the physical development of the city through major infrastructure projects, but equally importantly, it captured the spirit of its era. The...
Federal Art Project
The Work Projects Administration (WPA) was created in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, to provide work relief for the unemployed. Under the auspices of the WPA, the Federal Art Project (FAP) was created specifically to aid visual artists by...
Sophie Tucker Collection
Singer, comedian, and actress, Sophie Tucker was one of the most well-known entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Making her professional stage debut in 1907, Tucker’s big voice and even bigger stage presence were a hit on the vaudeville and burlesque...
Byron Company
For half a century, the Byron Company (1892-1942) was one of New York City's preeminent commercial photography studios. Two major areas of specialization - stage and ship photography - provided steady work for the firm while it pursued thousands of other commissions....