Scope and arrangement
The collection consists of a scrapbook (1 volume, disbound), dated 1931-1963, containing watercolor drawings and pasted photographs and clippings depicting activities at the Hamilton Fish Park Branch Library, accompanied by some loose items and personal correspondence of Gertrude Finkel, dated 1940-1970. Content focuses on reader services and community programs at the Branch, mainly during the 1930s and 1940s, evoking the ethnic makeup of the Lower East Side, especially its Jewish heritage. A few later staff photos mark the transition from the "old HF" to the new location. The creator and artist (possibly the same person) are not identified, but the scrapbook is attributed to Gertrude Finkel based on the correspondence found with it and her association with the Library.
The scrapbook was designed with an illustrated title page, showing the Library's entrance at 388 E. Houston Street, and thematic headings for pasted photographs and clippings: The Staff, The Children, Holidays, Drama, The Mothers, and The Neighborhood. Watercolor and ink vignettes illustrating neighborhood scenes and patrons of the Library are found throughout. Photographs are chiefly black and white; many illustrate theatrical productions for Jewish holidays.
There are 30 leaves of acidic mounting paper, consisting of a blank leaf bearing a dealer's notation and 26 leaves including the title-page, followed by 3 blank leaves. Of the 26 leaves, 10 contain only vignettes. The front cover is lacking.
Loose items, 1940-1970, comprise a loose page, apparently from a different scrapbook, with three photographs of a puppet show captioned "Scenes from the play 'Joseph and his brethren;'" two black and white photographs, identical or similar to images of performances pictured in the scrapbook; an undated watercolor Christmas card from the Hamilton Park Branch Staff, showing neighborhood children skating; and some personal notes, cards and letters addressed to Gertrude Finkel or Sharcoff from former colleagues. A four-page pencilled note to her, date-stamped September 3, 1940, contains a cartoon drawing of Miss Finkel rushing 'back from the country' with her belongings in hand.