Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection

id
517
origination
New York Public Library.
date statement
ca. 1896-2001
key date
1896
identifier (local_mss)
5949
org unit
New York Public Library Archives
call number
(missing)
b-number
(missing)
total components
28
total series
0
max depth
1
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 14:58:56 UTC
updated
2026-06-26 18:20:18 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitdate
{"value"=>"ca. 1896-2001", "type"=>"inclusive", "certainty"=>"approximate", "normal"=>"1896/2001"}
date_inclusive_start
1896
date_inclusive_end
2001
keydate
1896
unittitle
{"value"=>"The New York Public Library Archives Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"18 linear feet (24 boxes)"}
repository
{"value"=>"The <span class=\"corpname\">New York Public Library Archives.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, New York 10018-2788</span></div>"}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Record Group 12, The New York Public Library Archives, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.</p>"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>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.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>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.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
accessrestrict
{"value"=>"<p>Access to the collection is restricted to qualified scholars and researchers through the Office of Special Collections, Room 316.</p>"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Jim Moske; machine-readable finding aid created by Jim Moske.</p>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"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.", "generated"=>true}
date_start
1896
date_end
2001
origination
{"type"=>"persname", "role"=>"creator", "value"=>"New York Public Library."}

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Repository Assets

38ef6e90-fd0b-0138-4370-0242ac110003  (1) a7411270-fd0b-0138-ca76-0242ac110003  (2)

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Child components TOP

  1. Beacons used during the Centennial Ceremony
  2. Textiles - T-shirts, Local 1930 AIDS Walk
  3. Textiles - Handkerchiefs with Image of Central Building
  4. Textiles - Banner, Adopt-A-Branch
  5. Textiles - Banner, Yorkville Branch Library
  6. Printing blocks
  7. Microfilm camera
  8. Drinking glass with image of Central Building
  9. Buttons from NYPL advertising and publicity campaigns
  10. Central Building construction - Fragment of plaster from Main Reading Room, signed by workman Peter Comandini
  11. Wood block placeholder for volume missing from stacks
  12. Central Building construction - Facsimile of decorative plaster heads in Main Reading Room
  13. Seal of The New York Public Library
  14. Signage from miscellaneous Branch Libraries and Research Library divisions
  15. Signage from miscellaneous Branch Libraries and Research Library divisions
  16. Branch Libraries flag
  17. New York Public Library Medal Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street
  18. New York Public Library paper tape roll
  19. United States Postal Service 10 cent stamp with New York Public Library Lion
  20. Pewter Cup - Salisbury Pewter cup given to The Library by the Manuscripts Society
  21. Research Libraries - Humanities and Social Sciences Library - Berg Collection hand fan
  22. Bailey Myers Collection of Americana metal plaque
  23. Rotary telephone - last phone in use in NYPL system (ca. 2002) from a Staten Island Branch
  24. Central Building construction - Ceremonial trowel presented by Carrere & Hastings to Mayor Seth Low for laying of the cornerstone
  25. Central Building construction - Core drilling samples for foundation of building, "Giles Drilling Corporation for Bloche & Hesse"
  26. Branch Libraries - Hunt's Point Branch coffee can telephone
  27. Central Building - wooden flooring block from courtyard
  28. Textiles - Throg's Neck Branch banner