Morris Slotkin collection of Eugene L. Armbruster photographs of Williamsburg
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Abstract
The photographs primarily document architecture in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, circa 1920 to 1930. Included are views of streets, ferry terminals, church buildings, schools, wooden-frame houses, and elevated train track and stations, among others.
Biographical note
Eugene L. Armbruster (1865-1943) was a resident of the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn and worked at a cigar box manufacturing company in Brooklyn. He was born in Baden-Baden, Germany in 1865, immigrated to the United States in 1882, and settled in Brooklyn. Armbruster was also an amateur historian and photographer. As an amateur historian, he published several books and pamphlets including The Eastern District of Brooklyn; Long Island: It's Early Days and Development; and The Wallabout Prison-Ships, 1776-1783. As an amateur photographer, Armbruster focused on documenting locations throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada, though his dominant subject was the New York City area, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, as well as areas of Long Island. His subjects were often street scenes, houses, and churches, among others. He also extensively photographed Coney Island, circa 1910. Armbruster was married and had two children. He died on September 21, 1943 and is buried at Lutheran Cemetery in Queens.
Morris Slotkin was born in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn on January 16, 1911. His parents were Isadore and Ida Slotkin who emigrated from Russia. Morris Slotkin's father, whose original surname was Pustulof (or a variation of it), was informally adopted by the Slotkin family after immigrating to Brooklyn. Morris Slotkin was active in the Brooklyn-based Boy Scout Troop 26 from 1923 to 1953. After graduating high school, he worked as a librarian at the New York Public Library until the Second World War (WWII). Following the war, he returned to Brooklyn and worked for the federal government. The Slotkin family moved to Lancaster, PA in 1953 and then to St. Louis, MO in 1955. Morris Slotkin remained active in the Troop 26 Alumni Association until his death in 1990.
Sources:
- New-York Historical Society. "Guide to the Eugene L. Armbruster Photograph Collection, 1894-1939." Accessed October 25, 2011. http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/armbruster.html
- Queens Library. "Guide to the Eugene L. Armbruster Literary Manuscripts, 1909-1929." Accessed October 25, 2011. http://www.queenslibrary.org/ext/central/longisland/manuscripts/index.asp?f=a-2.xml&tt=Eugene+L.+Armbruster+Literary+Manuscripts+
Scope and Contents
The Morris Slotkin collection of Eugene L. Armbruster photographs of Williamsburg consist of 127 3.5 x 4.5 inch black-and-white photographic prints taken by Eugene L. Armbruster. The photographs primarily document architecture in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, circa 1920 to 1930. Included are views of streets, ferry terminals, church buildings, schools, wooden-frame houses, and elevated train track and stations, among others. Many streets from which the photographs were taken are identified including Bedford Avenue, Wythe Avenue, and Kent Avenue.
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction rights for the photographs have not been evaluated. For information on securing rights to publish or reproduce, please see the Brooklyn Historical Society Reproduction Rights Policy.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Morris Slotkin collection of Eugene L. Armbruster photographs of Williamsburg, V1991.106, Box number, Object ID number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ira Slotkin, 1991.
Custodial History
Ira Slotkin donated this photograph collection to the Brooklyn Historical Society after it was found in the personal belongings of his father, Morris Slotkin, following his death in 1990. It is unknown how Morris Slotkin acquired this collection.
Other Finding Aids
Item level description and digital versions of images from the collection are available for searching via the image database in the library. Please consult library staff for more information.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Fully processed to the item level.