New-York Historical Society audiovisual media records
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Abstract
The New-York Historical Society audiovisual media records primarily include videocassettes and audiocassettes from the late 1980s to early 1990s. N-YHS's lectures, panel discussions and concerts organized around the "Why History?" theme (1990-92) and programs connected to the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution (1987) are especially well-documented, though many other presentations in video or audio format are also included. Audiotapes include training for docents and N-YHS education staff concerning particular N-YHS exhibitions and gallery installations. The record group is currently restricted because of the lack of appropriate playback equipment and the fragility of the tapes.
Arrangement Note
The record group is organized in three series:
Series I. Moving Images
Series II. Audiotapes
Series III. Digital Media
Scope and Contents Note
The record group includes audiovisual formats, primarily videocassettes and audiocassettes, that were found in the archive as standalone objects. (Audiovisual formats found in exhibition or other files remain in those files in other record groups.) These formats date principally from the late 1980s to early 1990s, though there are some into the early 2000s. The subject matter of the videotapes includes mostly public programs, especially the "Why History?" lectures and panel discussions of 1990-1992. Educational programs, public service announcements, exhibition openings, and some History Makers award events have videos. Audiotapes also include programs, such as "Why History?," but also have a broader range of topics, including docent and education staff training for exhibitions and gallery installations. Programs related to the exhibition Government by Choice: Inventing the U.S. Constitution and other initiatives connected to the bicentennial of the Constitution in 1987 are well-represented in the record group. The record group is currently restricted because of the lack of appropriate playback equipment and the fragility of the tapes.
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Access Restrictions
The record group is restricted. The record group includes audiovisual formats that are too fragile to play. Access requires special arrangements/reformatting of the media. The materials are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Preferred Citation Note
This record group should be cited as New-York Historical Society audiovisual media records (NYHS-RG 28), The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Accruals Note
Further accruals to the record group are expected over time.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
Most of the material in the record group was compiled and boxed at some point, likely in the early 2000s. In December 2016, project archivist Margaret Kaczorowski processed additional material into the record group, inventoried all the content at the item level, and described the whole in this finding aid. None of the media were played during processing; all of the description of the subject matter is based on information from the labels on the media.