Arthur Weindorf subway collection
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Abstract
Photographs and clippings related to the New York City subway system, collected by subway engineer Arthur Weindorf. Photostats of subway posters and maps are included.
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.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in seven series:
Series I. Drawings and Illustrations
Series II. Models and Exhibits
Series III. Subway Maps and Posters
Series IV. Clippings
Series V. Subway Construction Photographs
Series VI. Miscellaneous Materials
Series VII. Negatives
Scope and Content Note
The Arthur Weindorf Subway Collection spans the period from 1903-1974 and primarily contains photographs and photostats of drawings, models, and maps created by Arthur Weindorf during his tenure at the Public Service Commission. Also included are photographs taken by Public Service Commission photographers during the construction of the New York City subway system. The collection is divided into seven series: Drawings and Illustrations; Models and Exhibits; Subway Maps and Posters; Clippings; Subway Construction Photographs; Miscellaneous Materials; and Negatives.
After Arthur Weindorf's death, his daughter gave 259 items to the New-York Historical Society, all of which were numbered by the staff with Weindorf's initials; i.e. "AW17." Several newspaper clippings and eighteen negatives, which came with the same gift, were not numbered. Many of the numbered items were dispersed into other collections in the Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections; ten of these numbered items remain dispersed among other collections. As the numbering system did not appear to correspond to any sort of organization of the materials, the material was rearranged at the time of processing. An original numbered list is available in the department's Collection File.
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Access Restrictions
For more information on making arrangements to consult the collection, 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 Arthur Weindorf Subway Collection, PR 127, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Mabel Davidson, June 1979.