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Brooklyn Heights Association collection

Call Number

ARC.148

Dates

1929-2010, inclusive
; 1960s-1970s, bulk

Creator

Brooklyn Heights Association

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet in two manuscript boxes and one oversize folder

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The Brooklyn Heights Association collection includes newsletters, bulletins, bylaws, annual reports, and correspondence that document the Association's activities. The bulk of the material dates to the 1960s-70s.

Historical note

The Brooklyn Heights Association ("BHA") was formed in 1910, and remains the oldest neighborhood association in New York City. Residents and business owners in Brooklyn Heights organized the group to advocate for the improvement and preservation of the neighborhood. The Association formed committees to address issues pertinent to resident and neighborhood concerns, such as civil improvement, police, traffic, parking, trees, and recreation. BHA supported the New York City Landmarks Preservation Law and in 1965, Brooklyn Heights was designated as the first Historic District in New York City. In 2010, BHA celebrated its centennial anniversary and remains an active and influential organization in Brooklyn Heights.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series: Series 1: Documents and ephemera and Series 2: Publications. Within each series, materials are arranged roughly chronologically.

Scope and Contents

Materials in the collection include newsletters, bulletins, bylaws, annual reports, treasurers reports, letters to the general membership, and other correspondence. Newsletters and bulletins constitute a large portion of the collection, detailing the work of the Association and the concerns of members. Topics frequently addressed in newsletters and bulletins include parking, crime, neighborhood appearance, and schools. A significant percentage of the material focuses specifically on the creation of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District in 1965 and historic preservation concerns in the neighborhood in general.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn Heights Association collection, ARC.148, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This is an artificial composite collection and the exact source and date of acquisition for the collection is unknown. Some of the materials were mailed to the Long Island Historical Society directly.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.

Related Materials

Brooklyn Heights Association Records (BCMS.0035)

Robert Vadheim Brooklyn Heights Association collection (1988.051)

Board of Commissioners for the Improvement of Brooklyn Heights records (1974.161)

Brooklyn Heights Garden Club Collection (BCMS.0082)

Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights collection (ARC.127)

Brooklyn Heights publications in the Local Newspapers on Microfilm collection (BCMS.0028)

Books in the CBH collection:

  1. Brooklyn Heights Association. Enjoying Brooklyn Heights : the Brooklyn Heights Association's self-guided neighborhood walking tour. Brooklyn, NY : Brooklyn Heights Association, [2010]. 974.723 E
  2. Furman, Robert. Brooklyn Heights : the rise, fall and rebirth of America's first suburb. Charleston, SC : The History Press, 2015. 974.723 F
  3. Hanson, Jo Ann. Brooklyn Heights : a case study in historic preservation. 1974. F129.B7 H38p
  4. Krogius, Henrik. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Charleston, SC : History Press, [2011]. 974.723 K
  5. Lancaster, Clay. Old Brooklyn Heights : New York's first suburb : including detailed analyses of 619 century-old houses. 1979. 917.4723 L
  6. Langstaff, B. Meredith. Brooklyn Heights : yesterday, today, tomorrow. 1937. F129.B7 L325
  7. Schneider, Martin L. Battling for Brooklyn Heights : the fight for New York's first historic district. Brooklyn, NY : Brooklyn Heights Association, [2010]. 974.723 S

Collection processed by

Weatherly Stephan

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:24:21 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

Originally minimally processed to the collection level, this collection was fully reprocessed to the folder level in July 2023 by Dee Bowers.

Revisions to this Guide

July 2023: Reprocessed by Dee Bowers

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201