Found 159 collections.

In 1895, the Astor Library and the Lenox Library were consolidated with the Tilden Trust to form the New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. The Astor Library was a public reference library begun in 1839 and incorporated ten years later under the will of John Jacob Astor (1763-1848). The Lenox Library, founded in 1870, was made up of the collections of rare books and manuscripts, especially Bibles, early printing, Americana, and voyages and travels formed by James Lenox (1800-1880). To this was added a $2 million endowment and 15,000 volumes from the trust of political leader Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886). While the New York Public Library is a private corporation its charter stipulates it to be both free and open to all. The Library is organized into 4 groups: the Board of Trustees, Central Administration, Research Libraries, and Branch Libraries. The directors of both the Research and Branch Libraries report to the Central Administration which is headed by the Director of the Library who reports to the President and the Board of Trustees. After consolidation, both the Astor and Lenox Libraries continued to operate separately until the opening of the Central Building in 1911. Initially, John Shaw Billings (the Library's first Director) handled many of the functions which would become the responsibility of the director of the Research Libraries. Between 1901 and 1906, 14 already extant free circulating libraries (including the Aguilar Free Library, Cathedral Library, and the New York Free Circulating Library) were united to form the nucleus of the branch libraries. Andrew Carnegie's 1901 gift established the financial foundation of the branch system which serves three of the five New York City Boroughs: the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. NYPL Archives Record Group 12 contains artifacts and memorabilia that document NYPL activities, programs and special events. Materials include Library signage, promotional buttons, artifacts of the construction of The Library's Central Building and a variety of commemorative objects such as medals and plaques. less

The Executive Committee, one of the original standing committees of the Board of Trustees, takes general charge of the administration of the affairs of the N.Y.P.L. Corporation. It is empowered to act on behalf of the Board of Trustees in between Board meetings. Records of the Executive Committee consist of handwritten, typewritten and printed documents as well as photographs and architectural drawings. Minutes are records of the meetings of the Executive Committee. To 1949 they are bound in volumes and early volumes include photographs of the Carnegie sites under construction. From 1967 the minutes are typewritten and loose. There are no minutes for the period 1950 to 1966. The Letterbooks consist of three volumes, 1902-1903, 1903-1906, and 1912-1928, of official letters written by the Executive Committee. Many of the letters are signed by John Shaw Billings or Edwin H. Anderson, who as Directors of the Library also served as Secretary to the Executive Committee. The bulk of Letters Received concern library construction and finances. The General Files are arranged alphabetically by subject. They relate to various Library matters but especially the construction of the Carnegie branch libraries and the Central Building, operations of the Circulation and Reference Departments, and finances. Central Building Files relate to the design, construction and maintenance of the Central Building, which were overseen primarily by the Executive Committee. Assorted Records include correspondence regarding the appointment of John Shaw Billings, as well as printed agreements between the City of New York and the Library regarding a pension plan for employees. less

The Finance Committee, one of the original standing committees of the Board of Trustees, has general direction of the N.Y.P.L. Corporation's finances, particularly the investment of funds. It consists of no fewer than three trustees, the Treasurer being ex-officio a member of the committee. Records consist of minutes, reports, correspondence and other materials that document the activities of the Finance Committee. Minutes are bound in volumes for each year and are records of Finance Committee meetings. Reports are printed summaries of finances issued annually by the committee. Correspondence & Other Records include some Treasurer's Reports, estimates for appropriations, and vouchers. Roland L. Redmond Files are correspondence retained by Redmond, who was a trustee from 1938 to 1969. The bulk of it is Finance Committee related correspondence between Redmond and the Board's Assistant Treasurer, the United States Trust Company. Copies of Board of Trustees Resolutions, arranged chronologically in three letterbooks, were presumably retained by the Finance Committee because of their stipulations regarding appropriations. less

The Jefferson Market Branch of The New York Public Library, located in Greenwich Village, opened in 1967. The library occupies a New York City landmark building designed by architects Frederick Clark Withers and Calvert Vaux and was constructed during the years 1875-1876. It served as a courthouse from 1876-1945 and housed various city agencies from 1946-1958. Community members, led by Margot Gayle and Philip Wittenberg, rallied to save the building from demolition. In 1961 Mayor Robert F. Wagner announced that it would be preserved and converted into a public library. The redesign was by architect Giorgio Cavaglieri. Reports, administrative records and publicity materials documenting operations of the Jefferson Market Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The Jackson Square Branch of The New York Public Library originated in 1888 as a branch of The New York Free Circulating Library, which merged with NYPL in 1901. George W. Vanderbilt provided funds to build and furnish the Jackson Square building at 251 West 13th Street in Manhattan. The architect was Richard Morris Hunt, who had also designed the Lenox Library. Throughout its history the branch counted a large number of writers, artists and theater people among its users. During the 1940s the branch built up its Spanish language book collection to meet the needs of a growing Hispanic population. The Jackson Square Branch was closed in 1967, and many of its services were transferred to the nearby Jefferson Market Branch. Administrative records and news clippings documenting operations of the Jackson Square Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The Grand Concourse Branch of The New York Public Library, located on 173rd Street in the Bronx, opened in 1958. Reports, administrative records and publicity material documenting the operations of the Grand Concourse Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The Great Kills Branch of The New York Public Library originated as a small "sub-branch", with limited hours and collections, in 1925. In 1954 it was expanded into a branch and moved into its current building on Giffords Lane in Staten Island. Reports, administrative records and publicity material documenting operations of the Great Kills Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The High Bridge Branch of The New York Public Library originated in 1901 as the High Bridge Free Library. In 1908 it was incorporated into The New York Public Library and moved to its present location at West 168th Street between Woodycrest and Shakespeare Avenues. In 1975, the original building was demolished and rebuilt, and the library reopened to the public on October 25, 1976. Reports, administrative records and publicity material documenting operations of the High Bridge Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The Hudson Park Branch of The New York Public Library opened in 1906 in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. The library building was designed by the architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings, and was constructed with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. Reports, publicity material and administrative records documenting the operations of the Hudson Park Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The Hamilton grange Branch of The New York Public Library opened in 1907 on West 145th Street in upper Manhattan. Designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White in the style of an Italian palazzo, the library was constructed with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. Declared a landmark in 1970, the branch today houses a variety of collections that serve an ethnically diverse community. Reports, administrative records and publicity material documenting operations of the Hamilton Grange Branch of The New York Public Library. less

The Harlem Branch of The New York Public Library, located on West 124th Street in Manhattan, originated in 1825 as the Harlem Library. This institution merged with NYPL in 1903. The current branch building, opened in 1909, was designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White and was constructed with funds provided by Andrew Carnegie. The library was fully renovated in 2004. Publicity materials and correspondence documenting operations of Harlem Branch of The New York Public Library. less

Harry Miller Lydenberg (1874-1960) started at the Lenox Library, then served as administrative assistant to John Shaw Billings from 1899 to 1908, helping to plan the Central Building for the newly consolidated New York Public Library. He was the first Chief Reference Librarian from 1908 to 1927, and in 1928 became Assistant Director under Edwin H. Anderson, assuming the directorship in 1934. Records consist of 1921 Census of Books. Other Lydenberg records are included in Central Administration collections. less

Records of the first Director of The New York Public Library. John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) served as Director of NYPL from its founding in 1895 until 1913. He helped create NYPL by combining the Astor and Lenox Libraries into a public research library and building a branch library system for three of the boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx.) He also planned and oversaw the construction of the NYPL Central Building which was opened to the public in 1911. less