LPC Launches a Treasure Trove of Digitized Designation Photos Online
In a boon to New York City architecture and history enthusiasts, a collection of photographs documenting the city’s individual landmarks and historic districts has been digitized.
The Commandant’s House at the Brooklyn Navy Yard photographed in 1965 is just one of the newly digitized images. Photo via the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission
In a boon to New York City architecture and history enthusiasts, a collection of photographs documenting the city’s individual landmarks and historic districts has been digitized.
The New York Landmarks Preservation Commission scanned their collection of prints, slides and negatives and have made them accessible via a searchable database. The online resource includes images taken by staff as well as those submitted by preservation advocates. Images taken after the transition to digital photography in 2004 are included as well, and in a press release LPC noted that the LPC Designation Photo Collection will continue to be updated with more materials.
A quick search for Brooklyn photographs turns up 1960s shots of the Wyckoff House from the early days of documentation and designation, street views of historic districts such as Carroll Gardens in the 1970s, numerous shots of the Hunterfly Road houses of Weeksville and photos of some of the most recent designations like the Harriet and Thomas Truesdell House at 227 Duffield Street. It also revealed that not all historic districts are represented yet, so hunters will need to have some patience.
In addition to providing information for researchers, students and history buffs, the collection will be an important tool for property owners, enabling them to easily check the appearance of their building around the time of designation. Photos can be downloaded for free directly from the site with the caveat that any reproduction must include credit to the LPC.
Search instructions are available on the website, but LPC will also be offering a virtual webinar on using the collection on Tuesday, September 20 at 6 p.m. Registration for the free event is available online.
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