Wurts Bros. Architectural photographs

id
11958
origination
Wurts Bros. (New York, N.Y.)
date statement
1924-1985 [bulk 1924-1940s]
key date
1924
identifier (local_mss)
188342
org unit
Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy
call number
AZ 25-8
b-number
b23792342
total components
54
total series
0
max depth
4
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2025-12-19 22:04:00 UTC
updated
2025-12-19 22:04:29 UTC
status note
(missing)

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"188342", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"AZ 25-8", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b23792342", "type"=>"local_b"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1924-1985", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1924/1985"}
{"value"=>"1924-1940s", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1924/1949"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Wurts Bros. Architectural photographs"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2.29 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy</span>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"The Wurts Bros. was a professional photography studio that specialized in architectural photography in New York City. The studio mostly photographed the exteriors and interiors of buildings, houses, and stores. The collection, dating from 1924 to 1985 (bulk dates 1924-1940s) holds the studio's prints, copy negatives, and exhibitions information."}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
origination
{"value"=>"Wurts Bros. (New York, N.Y.)", "type"=>"corpname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Wurts Bros. was a commercial photography studio best known for its photographs of New York City's architectural facades. The studio was a partnership of brothers Norman Wurts (circa 1871-1944) and Lionel Wurts (circa 1874-1957), later joined by Lionel's son, Richard Wurts (1905-1995). The Wurts Bros. studio was established in 1894 and operated in various locations, first in Huntington, New York, and later in different parts of New York City.</p> <p>Generally known for their pictures of skyscrapers, the brothers also made series on post offices, banks, department stores, hospitals, classrooms, and factories. Other contract work includes documenting a co-operative farm, metal signs, weathervanes, and birds.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Wurts Bros. Architectural photographs, dating from the 1930s to the 1940s, contains photographs created by the studio that primarily depict New York City buildings and interiors. There are also some images from other locations present, including Philadelphia, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, and Washington, DC. The bulk of the images are black and white prints, but some copy negatives and exhibition descriptions are also present.</p> <p>Most of the photographs in the collection depict skyscrapers in New York City, but the Wurts Bros. were also particularly interested in interiors of churches, department stores, hospitals, and restaurants. The studio also shot other smaller documentary series on Quakers, a work camp, and a cooperative living group.</p> <p>Some photographs have been stamped with the Wurts Bros. studio information and occasionally include descriptive titles or the image's location. The majority of the photographs were taken in New York City, but a \"Not New York\" file contains pictures of other locations. Norman Wurts took most of the photographs in the collection, with some pictures attributed to Richard Wurts.</p> <p>In addition to the company's stamp, some photographs were later stamped by the New York Public Library Picture Collection, who also assigned topical subject terms for filing.</p> <p>The collection holds some copy negatives from 1984 that were sent to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum for an exhibition called <span class=\"title\">Manhattan Skyline</span>. Also present is a press release for the exhibit, <span class=\"title\">Wurts Brothers: New York Architectural Photographs 1895-1960</span> held at the Museum of the City of New York in 1985.</p>"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>Arranged by format into Prints, Copy Negatives, and Exhibition Texts. Prints are arranged alphabetically.</p>"}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Acquisition details unknown.</p>"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Emily P. Dunne</span> in <span class=\"date\">2025</span>.</p>"}
date_start
1924
keydate
1924
date_end
1985
date_inclusive_start
1924
date_inclusive_end
1985
date_bulk_start
1924
date_bulk_end
1949
extent_statement
2.29 linear feet (6 boxes)
prefercite
{"value"=>"Wurts Bros. Architectural photographs, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library"}

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