Cross & Brown Company architectural photograph collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The Cross & Brown Company architectural photograph collection consists of photographs, negatives, slides, pamphlets, correspondence, and other documents describing or depicting buildings in New York City, New York State, and New Jersey, created by the Cross & Brown Company real estate firm.
Historical Note
Cross & Brown Company was a large New York real estate company that had a "total service" approach to the business. Beginning in 1910 as a real estate brokerage, the company expanded throughout the twentieth century into real estate management, appraisals, consultations, industrial surveys, and other special services. Cross & Brown's headquarters was located in Manhattan from its formation until its acquisition by Insignia Douglas Elliman in 1991. The company's final address was 522 Fifth Avenue. Branch offices were located at 63 Wall Street, and in Long Island City, White Plains (New York), Springfield (New Jersey), and Westport (Connecticut). Cross & Brown was also affiliated with real estate companies across the United States and in Canada. In Manhattan, the company predominantly leased commercial and office buildings, while outside the city the firm concentrated on industrial projects and large commercial ventures.
Arrangement
This collection is organized in four series based on format:
Series I: Photographs
Series II: Negatives
Series III: Slides
Series IV: Documents
Scope and Contents
The Cross & Brown Company Architectural Photograph Collection spans the period from circa 1970 through 1991 and contains photographs, negatives, slides, and documents relating to the company's real estate business. The collection is divided into four series: Photographs; Negatives; Slides; and Documents.
Materials relate primarily to properties in New York City and State, and primarily depict or otherwise describe large buildings. Attractive architectural views of such recognizable structures as the MetLife Tower, the RCA Building, the Pan Am Building (now the MetLife Building), the World Trade Center, and the Plaza Hotel are included. Materials used by Cross & Brown for the development of brochures and other marketing and promotional tools can be found throughout the collection, from photographs and negatives used for illustrations, to slides and notes for presentations. Materials have been arranged into series based on housing and preservation needs, so researchers should check each series for materials relating to a given property.
Subjects
Topics
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as Cross & Brown Company Architectural Photograph Collection, PR 111, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Cross & Brown Company, 1991.