Photography Collections

The Photography Collection documents the built environment of Brooklyn and Long Island from the 1870s to the present and contains an indexed portrait collection; family portraits and candid photographs; and documents notable events and activities.

Amateur photographers feature prominently in the Photography Collections. Their depictions of people and places in the borough create one of the Collections’ main strengths. These works include the artistic interpretations of Flatbush by Lucille Fornasieri-Gold; the gritty observations of Coney Island by Anders Goldfarb; the building of the Brooklyn Bridge from the East River by John Jay Pierrepont; Jewish weddings and Bar Mitzvahs by Harry Kalmus; the Blackout of 1977 in Bushwick; the construction of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank; and the unique and sundry Faces of Brooklyn by Nora Herting.

Access
The Photography Collections are open to everyone without an appointment during our research hours. Our image database is available for searching the collection with the assistance of knowledgeable Collection staff. To search a portion of the Collection online, please visit our online gallery. For additional questions, please fill out our online form.

Photographs for Reproduction
Our image usage policy is available here.

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