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Kill Van Kull Bridge construction photographs

Call Number

PR 441

Date

1929-1931, inclusive

Creator

Extent

1 Linear feet in 1 box (1 volume)

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are primarily photographic, but captions are in English.

Abstract

One photograph album depicting the 1929-1931 construction of the Bayonne Bridge, then referred to as the Kill Van Kull Bridge. The album holds 23 silver gelatin photographs. Most of the photos show the erection of the bridge's arches at various stages in 1930 and the bridge's piers; some are aerial views, most at eye level. A few photos from 1929 show the bottom of the cofferdam and later 1931 photos show the nearly completed bridge from various angles. Only a couple photos include the laborers; one depicts the workers positioning a steel panel during arch erection.

Biographical / Historical

The Bayonne Bridge, referred to originally as the Kill Van Kull Bridge after the waterway it spans, reaches from Bayonne, New Jersey, across to Staten Island, New York. It is an arch bridge that carries vehicular traffic. Designed by Othmar Ammann and Cass Gilbert, construction began in 1928 and was completed in 1931. At the time, it was the world's longest arch bridge.

(The above note was derived from the Bayonne Bridge's entry on Wikipedia.)

Scope and Contents

One photograph album depicting the 1929-1931 construction of the Bayonne Bridge, then referred to as the Kill Van Kull Bridge. The album holds 23 silver gelatin photographs. Most of the photos show the erection of the bridge's arches at various stages in 1930 and the bridge's piers; some are aerial views, most at eye level. A few photos from 1929 show the bottom of the cofferdam and later 1931 photos show the nearly completed bridge from various angles. Only a couple photos include the laborers; one depicts the workers positioning a steel panel during arch erection.

Although the photographs seem clearly to have been taken on behalf of the Port Authority, the compiler of this particular album is unknown. The album cover is embossed only with the initials R.T.R., with a title "Kill Van Kull Bridge: Staten Island Approach Piers." One photo showing the length of the bridge is attributed to photographer Eric J. Baker of Elizabeth, N.J. Three aerials are attributed to Airmap Corporation (1) and Fairchild Aerial Surveys (2). The others are unattributed.

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

The collection should be cited as: Kill Van Kull Bridge construction photographs, PR 441, 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 Karen Cullinen, September 2021.

Related Materials

N-YHS holds several other items regarding the Kill Van Kull / Bayonne Bridge that can be found with a keyword search in the on-line catalog, Bobcat, and in the discovery portal for full-text searches of all N-YHS finding aids. Included in the latter is N-YHS's collection of Cass Gilbert papers and architectural drawings (PR 21), which has the architect's drawings for the bridge (under the name Kill Van Kull Bridge, not Bayonne Bridge).

Collection processed by

Larry Weimer

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:48:23 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

The album was processed in April 2022 by archivist Larry Weimer.

Repository

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