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Creator
Armbruster, Eugene L., 1865-1943
Call number
AZ 25-6
Physical description
0.21 linear feet (1 box)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Eugene L. Armbruster photographs, Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library
Repository
Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy
Access to materials
Request a research appointment: https://www.nypl.org/locations/schwarzman/milstein

The Eugene L. Armbruster photographs hold approximately 100 black and white snapshots of houses and buildings on Long Island, New York. Dated 1922 to 1932, the collection illustrates the western end of Long Island just before the housing boom at the end of the 1920s.

Biographical/historical information

Eugene L. Armbruster (1865-1943), was born in Baden-Baden, Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1882, settling in Brooklyn, New York. Armbruster photographed across New York including Long Island City, Newton, Flushing, and other locations along the Long Island Rail Road.

These images of historic houses, churches, streetscapes, and buildings throughout New York City were then used to illustrate pamphlets he wrote about the local history of the area. One pamphlet, Long Island : Its Early Days and Development was published by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and contained Armbruster's photographs, illustrations, and writing about the developments in the city.

Scope and arrangement

The Eugene L. Armbruster photographs contain various postcard sized photographs, likely shot with a Brownie or other commercially available amateur camera. Most of the photographs are dated 1923 or 1924, but some images are undated and there are some images from 1934.

Most images are of the western end of Long Island, noteably Newtown, Long Island City, and Flushing. The photographs were taken just before the major housing boom that took place at the end of the 1920s. The backs of the photographs have Armbruster's handwritten notes about the subject, location, and date of each image. In many cases there are extensive annotations of the history and occupants of buildings, churches, and dwellings.

There are some additional photographs of buildings in Brooklyn and Massachusetts that are undated, and do not contain significant annotations. There are also some unidentified locations.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by location.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Source of aquisition is unknown.

Processing information

Processed by Emily P. Dunne in 2025.

Related Material

The Eugene L. Armbruster collection of Long Island photographic views, held by the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy.

Using the collection

Location

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
First Floor, Room 121

Access to materials

Request a research appointment: https://www.nypl.org/locations/schwarzman/milstein