Biographical Note

Born in Long Island City, Arthur Weindorf (1885- 1979)was a practicing cartoonist in his early years. From 1908 to 1944 he worked as an architectural designer and engineer for the City of New York's Public Service Commission (the precursor to today's New York City Transit Authority.) During his tenure at the Public Service Commission, Weindorf collected drawings, clippings, maps, posters, and photographs of the New York City subway. In 1916 he built the first New York City subway model; his later models were displayed at the 1939-40 World's Fair. In addition to models, Weindorf also created illustrations, maps, certificates, and paintings for the Commission. Weindorf's non-subway-related artistic work was widely exhibited during his lifetime.