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Cross & Brown Company architectural photograph collection

Call Number

PR 111

Date

[1970]-1991, inclusive

Creator

Cross & Brown Company

Extent

4.2 Linear feet (11 boxes)

Language of Materials

This collection is primarily visual. Any text is likely to be in English.

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.

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

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Cross & Brown Company, 1991.

Related Materials

A greater portion of Cross & Brown Company records, including such items as brochures, floor plans, renderings, photographs, and data sheets for specific buildings, are available in the New-York Historical Society Library.

Collection processed by

Ricky Hunter and Jennifer Lewis

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:50:19 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from crossbrown.xml

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024