Librarian for New York City

For general questions related to New York City, please call or visit the Social Sciences and Humanities Reference Center on the 1st floor of the library.
Phone: 212.998.2500
Or send a question via email to our Ask-a-Librarian Service.

For questions related to New York City History, please contact:

Andrew Lee
Librarian for History
Phone: 212.998.2633
Email: andrew.lee@nyu.edu

NYU Links

• Library's Collection Development Policy For History
• Newspaper Backfiles
• NYC Newspapers at Bobst
• US Newspapers at Bobst
• African American Newspapers and Journals through 1970 at Bobst
• 19th Century Newsmagazines at Bobst
• Microform Sets for US History
• NYU Department Website

Related Subject Guides

• U.S. History

• Primary Sources in U.S. History

• U.S. Government Documents

• Finding 18th and 19th Century Periodical Articles and Literature

• Historical News Resources

• United Nations Resources

• English and American Literature

Research Assistance

• Getting Started with Historical Research
• Primary Sources in History Podcast [iTunes MPEG-4]
• NYU Libraries Tutorial: How to Find a Book
• NYU Libraries Tutorial: How to Find an Article

Internet Links

• H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online
  "H-Net is an international interdisciplinary organization of scholars and teachers dedicated to the enormous educational potential of the Internet and the World Wide Web."
• History Cooperative
• The American Historical Association (AHA)
• The Organization of American Historians
• Repositories of Primary Sources
• Ready, Net, Go: Archival Internet Resources
• Making of America
• American Memory: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library
• Historical Census Data Browser
• National Register of Historic Places
• Historical Maps of the United States
  From the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, the University of Texas at Austin
• Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1775-2000
• Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States

Searching Bobcat

One way to search Bobcat for items on New York City is to use Library of Congress subject headings. Subject headings are specific vocabulary or sets of search terms that will help you locate items on your topic. You may browse subject headings alphabetically, by doing a phrase search in Bobcat, or consult the red Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes, which can be found at reference desks.

A simple New York City subject heading is:

  New York (N.Y.)

You may wish to locate information on specific geographic areas within New York City.

For neighborhoods, use these subject headings:

  Coney Island (New York, N.Y.)
  East Harlem (New York, N.Y.)

Many sources, particularly guidebooks, focus on Manhattan. To search for information relating to other boroughs use:

  Bronx (New York, N.Y.)
  Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
  Queens (New York, N.Y.)
  Staten Island (New York, N.Y.)

Searches involving sub-topics, such as the history of New York City, should accompany the terms New York (N.Y.). For history, use:

  New York (N.Y.) -- History

For some sub-topics, however, the search should be structured with the sub-topic preceding the terms New York (N.Y.). Check the Library of Congress Subject Headings for the correct search strategy for your sub-topic. For example:

  Theater -- New York (N.Y.)
  Motion Picture Industry -- New York (N.Y.)

In the following sections are recommended sources on various topics relating to New York City. These are just a few of the many selections available to you. Therefore, search strategies for finding additional sources available at Bobst Library are noted. There are many collections beyond Bobst of potential interest to researchers seeking information on NYC. Some of those collections, and suggestions for locating additional collections in New York City, are also noted.

Guidebooks

Recommended subject headings:

New York (N.Y.) -- Description -- Guidebooks
New York (N.Y.) -- Description and Travel
New York (N.Y.) -- Guidebooks

Guidebooks to Contemporary New York

• Wright, Carol von P. New York. (Blue Guide). London: Black, 1991. 2nd. ed.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.18.W94 1991

  An excellent source of useful information for those wanting to experience New York City. Information offered includes hotels, restaurants, sight-seeing services, tipping, and tours. For information on the highlights, permanent collections, directions, hours, fees, facilities, and programs of 150 NYC museums and galleries there is also: Wright, Carol von P. Blue Guide: Museums and Galleries. 1997. Bobst Ref1 AM13.N5 W75 1997

• Leapman, Michael. The Companion Guide to New York. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. Rev. ed.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk F128.18.L38 1991

  A good companion to the Blue Guide, this guide provides walking tours filled with background information on the sites and neighborhoods featured, but it is not the source for details on hotels, restaurants, etc.

Guidebooks for NYU's Neighborhood

• Miller, Terry. Greenwich Village and How It Got That Way. New York: Crown Publishers, 1990.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.68.G8 M55 1990

  Explores the history and evolution of Greenwich Village with in-depth looks at different neighborhoods. With photographs and illustrations, this guide can be enjoyed with or without the walking tours.

• Around the Square, 1830-1890: Essays on Life, Letters and Architecture in Greenwich Village. New York: New York University, 1982.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.68.G8 A76

  Early urban development and the cultural, religious, and commercial life of Washington Square are explored in essays written from the perspective of architecture, history, literature, and music.

Literary, Movie, and Performing Arts Guidebooks

• Edminston, Susan. Literary New York: A History and Guide. Salt Lake City: Peregrine & Smith Books, 1991. Rev. ed.
  Bobst Ref1 PS144.N4 E3 1991

  This entertaining guide explores NYC's influence on literature and presents walking tours featuring literary settings and the homes and haunts of many major writers.

• Alleman, Richard. The Movie Lover's Guide to New York. New York: Perennial Library, 1988.
  Bobst Ref1 PN1993.5.U77 A44 1988

  The NYC sites offered in this tour guide include scenes of movies, actors' homes, studios, and other places where movie history was made.

• Leon, Ruth. Applause: New York's Guide to the Performing Arts. New York: Applause Books, 1991.
  Bobst Ref1 PN2277.N5 L377 1991

  Information on 1,000 companies and performance spaces for theater, music, dance, opera, performance art, and seasonal and children's events in NYC.

Architecture Guidebooks

• White, Norval and Elliot Willensky, eds. AIA Guide to New York City. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988. 3rd. ed.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk NA735.N5A78 1988

  A dense and encyclopedic reference work and guide to architectural sites in all boroughs of NYC Includes walking and motor tours.

• Morrone, Francis. The Architectural Guidebook to New York City. Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith, 1994.
  Bobst Ref1 NA735.N5M64 1994

  Not as comprehensive as AIA, but offering more cultural and historical background, this guide focuses on 600 sites in Manhattan organized by neighborhoods to facilitate walking tours.

• Wolfe, Gerard R. New York: A Guide to the Metropolis. Walking Tours of Architecture and History. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988. Rev. ed.
  Bobst Ref1 NA735.N5W64 1988

  With 2-5 hour walking tours that follow the City's development from lower Manhattan northward, and including tours in Brooklyn and Queens, this guide provides historical information along with excellent archival photographs. Compare to a similar guide: Goldberger, Paul. The City Observed: New York, a Guide to the Architecture of Manhattan. 1979. Bobst Ref1 NA735.N5G64

Guidebooks to New York City History

• Cooke, Hope. Seeing New York: History Walks for Armchair and Footloose Travelers. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1995.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.18.C66 1995

  An entertaining guide to NYC history providing serveral walks about 2 hours in length. With its illustrations and descriptions, this guide can be enjoyed without the walks.

• Plumb, Stephen W. The Streets Where They Lived: A Walking Guide to the Residences of Famous New Yorkers. St. Paul, Minn.: MarLor Press, 1989.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.18.P58 1989

  The house in which Theodore Dreiser wrote Sister Carrie, or the neighborhood in which the Marx Brothers played as children, are examples of some of the 500 houses and haunts of famous people from the arts, politics, and business noted in this guide.

• Roth, Andrew. Infamous Manhattan: A Colorful Walking Tour of New York's Most Infamous Crime Sites. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing Group, 1996.
  Bobst Ref1 HV6795.M32.R67 1996

  Notorious crimes and criminals of New York City between the years 1638-1995 are explored in walking tours around Manhattan.

• Browning, Judith. New York City, Yesterday and Today. Stamford: Cosair Publications, 1990.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.18.B77 1990

  A look at the history of firefighting in NYC with a tour of the New York City Fire Museum is the type of entry that makes this guide a bit different than other historical guidebooks.

Guidebooks to Ethnic New York

• Bailey, Peter A. Harlem Today: A Cultural and Visitors Guide. New York: Gumbs & Thomas, 1986.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.68.H3B3

  This guidebook provides a brief history of Harlem and lists Harlem's landmarks, theaters, restaurants, places of worship, parks, and annual events and activities.

• Israelowitz, Oscar. Guide to Jewish New York City: A Guide for the Sophisticated Traveler. Brooklyn, NY: Israelowitz Publishing, 1990.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.9.J5I84

  Aimed at the tourist interested in the Jewish experience in New York City. Kosher restaurants, synagogues, and Yiddish theaters are noted along with Jewish connections to many historic sites and landmarks in NYC.

• Sietsema, Robert. Good & Cheap Ethnic Eats in NewYork City. New York: City & Co., 1997.
  Bobst TX907.3.N72 N483

New York City History

• Jackson, Kenneth ed. The Encyclopedia of NewYork City. NY: New-York Historical Society, 1995.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk F 128.3 E75 1995 and Ref6

  With 4,300 entries, this reference work will answer many questions, basic or arcane.

• The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. 6 volumes. New York: Arno Press, 1967.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.3 S776

  An extensive reference work that includes a detailed chronology of political, cultural, and social happenings in New York City up to 1909, citing primary source materials including city records, contemporary newspapers, and other sources.

• King, Moses ed. King's Handbook of New York City, 1893. New York: B. Blom, 1972. 2nd. enlarged edition.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.18.K52

  A history and description of NYC first published in 1893, examines a variety of topics including government, transportation, and street life. Includes historical statistics about the city and 1,000 illustrations.

• Homberger, Eric. The Historical Atlas of New York City. New York: H. Holt and Co., 1994.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.3 H65 1994

  A basic source offering an overview of the history and evolution of the city.

• New York City Newspapers in Bobst on Microfilm
  Bobst Ref1, ask at the Reference Desk.

  A chronological index of Bobst's holdings of New York City newspapers from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Some examples include: issues of The New-York Gazette dating to 1725 and the New-York Journal from 1766. Long-run NYC newspapers include the Commercial Advertiser (1797-1889 some gaps), the New York Evening Post (1801-1939), the New York Tribune (1841-1924).

Beyond Bobst

There are several collections in New York City that could be of interest to researchers pursuing information on the city's history. For a comprehensive list and for additional information concerning access consult: Bobst and Beyond (see below).

• Miller, Doris, et al. Bobst and Beyond: A Guide to Graduate Research in New York City. New York: New York University Graduate School of Arts & Science, 1994.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk Z675.R45 B63 1994

  Collections of interest in addition to those listed below include: the Bronx County Historical Society, the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Staten Island Historical Society and, at the New York Public Library: the collections of the U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy Division and the National Archives--Northeast Region.

• The Municipal Archives of The City of New York

  Archives: New York City government records 1647-present. Library: Best source of published or printed information by or about New York City government; biographies of city and state officials; mayoral committee and commission reports and publications; neighborhood files; city history; city agency rules and regulations; serial publications on topics such as finance, laws, ordinances, statutes, legislative and quasi-legislative bodies, parks and recreation, public safety, sanitation, social services, civil service collection.

• New York Historical Society

  Main Library: Extensive collection of early American newspapers. Manuscript Department: History of U.S. in general, New York City and State in particular; 17th through early 20th century with particular strengths in Colonial, Revolutionary, Federal and Civil War eras; strong mercantile, political, legal, religious, military, naval, social history documentation; formats include correspondence, diaries, account books, proceedings. For further information relating to the collections of the New-York Historical Society see: A Guide to the Manuscript Collections of the New-York Historical Society, 2 vols.
  Bobst Ref1 CD3409.N5 B74.

Ethnic New York City

To locate materials in Bobcat about immigrant or ethnic groups in New York City, use subject headings such as:

African Americans -- New York (N.Y.)

For works addressing immigration use:

New York (N.Y.) -- Emigration and immigration

• Ethnic NewsWatch: A History(Covers 1960-1989)

or


• Ethnic NewsWatch(Covers 1990-present)

Online: http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles.html


An excellent source on the immigrant or ethnic experience in New York City, provides full-text access to newspapers and periodicals published by the ethnic and minority press in the US. The full text database includes English and Spanish language publications and can be searched in either language.

Some of the NYC related publications in this database include:

• African-American community:
  [New York] Amsterdam News, Big Red News, New York Voice, New York Beacon, Black Enterprise
• Asian-American community:
  Filipino Reporter, New India, India Abroad
• European-American community:
  Armenian Reporter, Irish American, Irish Voice, Polish - American Journal
• Hispanic community:
  El Diario - La Prensa, Impacto Latin News
• Jewish community:
  Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jewish Week
• Middle Eastern community:
  New Lebanese American Journal
• The Newest New Yorkers, 1990-1994: An Analysis of Immigration to NYC in the Early 1990's. New York: City of New York, Department of City Planning, 1996.
  Bobst Ref6 Desk JV7048.N492 1996

  Immigration trends in New York City between 1990-1994 are examined including characteristics of immigrants, the impact of immigration law, settlement patterns, and demographic impact.

• Shea, Ann M. The Irish Experience in New York City: A Select Bibliography. New York: New York Irish History Roundtable, 1995.
  Bobst Ref1 Z1318.N5 S54 1995

  Lists published and unpublished works including dissertations, books, and audio-visual materials pertaining to the Irish experience in NYC.

• Thernstrom, Stephan, ed. Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1980.
  Bobst Ref1 and Ref6 E184.A1 H35

  Detailed articles addressing key factors of ethnicity for all American ethnic groups. Bibliographies included.

• Buenker, John D. And Lorman A. Ratner, eds. Multiculturalism in the US: A Comparative Guide to Acculturation and Ethnicity. New York.: Greenwood Press, 1992.
  Bobst Ref1 E184.A1 M85 1992

  Not as comprehensiveas the Harvard Encyclopedia, but a useful update that compares acculturation and adaptation of ethnic groups from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

  Beyond Bobst

  In addition to materials available at Bobst, there are many collections in NYC that relate to specific ethnic groups. A few examples are listed below. For a comprehensive list of these collections and access to them consult: Bobst and Beyond (see below).

• Miller, Doris, et al. Bobst and Beyond: A Guide to Graduate Research in New York City. New York: New York University Graduate School of Arts & Science, 1994.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk Z675.R45 B63 1994

  Includes descriptions of collections related to ethnic groups in New York City. Collections of interest in addition to those listed below include: the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, the Center for Migration Studies (Italian-American), Sephardic Archives, American-Irish Historical Society and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (NYPL).

• The Black Heritage Reference Center, The Langston Hughes Community Library, The Queens Borough Public Library

  Black heritage materials, the African-American experience; monographs, journals, newspapers, pamphlets, theses, reprints, conference proceedings, and translations, archival materials, maps, oral histories, photographs, slides, records, tapes, films, filmstrips, pictures, posters, art works.

• Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños Library and Archives, Hunter College of the City of New York

  Special collection of Puerto Rican studies, history of Puerto Rican community in New York; original documents, personal papers, photographs, institutional records, dissertations, masters theses, vertical file on current topics.

• Chinatown History Museum

  Library/Archives: Photographs, personal papers, institutional records, local business-related objects, Cantonese Opera collection, and other materials.

New York City Architecture

Recommended subject heading:
Architecture -- New York (N.Y.)

• Diamonstein, Barbaralee. The Landmarks of New York. New York: H.N. Abrams. 2 vols., 1988 & 1993.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.7.D55 1988

  Brief entries offer pictures, history, and discussion of the significance of the properties designated as landmarks in New York City as of December, 1992. Includes an appendix of historical district maps. For lengthier discussion some of these landmarks, see Diamonstein's Landmarks: Eighteen Wonders of the New York World. 1992. Bobst Ref1 NA735.N5D5 1992

• Gray, Christopher. Changing New York: The Architectural Scene. N Y: Dover Publications, 1992.
  Bobst Ref1 NA735.N5G73 1992

  Insightful essays and good archival photographs characterize this work. The culture and history of New York City architecture are explored by examining ' little buildings' rather than tour bus monuments.

• Reynolds, Donald M. Architecture of New York City: Histories and Views of Important Structures, Sites and Symbols. New York: Macmillan, 1994.
  Bobst Ref1 NA735.N5R49 1994

  An excellent source focusing on 120 NYC structures, sites, and symbols from the 17th century to the present. Also by Reynolds, see: Monuments and Masterpieces: Histories and Views of Public Sculpture in New York City. 1988. Bobst Ref1 NA9350.N5R49 1988

• White, Norval and Eliiot Willensky, eds. AIA Guide to New York City. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988. 3rd ed.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk NA735.N5A78 1988

  A dense and encyclopedic reference source to architectural sites throughout NYC, from the American Institute of Architects.

New York City Government and Directories

Recommended subject headings:

New York (N.Y.) -- Politics and government
New York (N.Y.) -- Directories
Social Services -- New York (N.Y.) -- Directories

The following represents a limited list of what is available at Bobst relating to New York City government. For additional information, please consult a librarian in the Bobst Social Science, Business & Documents Reference Center, 6th floor.

• Directory of Community Services/Directorio de Servicios Para la Comunidad. New York: New York Public Library, 1994.
  Bobst Ref6 Desk HV99.N59N57n

  New York Public Library's guide to not-for-profit organizations offering programs and services to the public at the neighborhood level in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Includes educational, cultural, recreational community and citizen groups; social service agencies; descriptions of supplemental information available at local branch libraries. English and Spanish language editions are in the same volume.

• Directory of N.Y.C. Women's Organizations. New York: N.Y.C. Commission on the Status of Women, 1993/94.
  Bobst Ref1 HQ1906.N5W66 and Ref6 Desk

  Directory of not-for-profit organizations and community groups organized to reflect issues pertinent to NYC's women's organizations.

• The Green Book: Official Directory of the City of New York. New York: City Record, 1995/1995.
  Bobst Ref1 Desk JS1222.A3, and Ref6

  Information about city, state, and federal agencies; voter information; listings of foreign government offices in NYC; frequently needed phone numbers; agency officials; NYC courts information.

• The Source Book 1992-1993: Social & Health Services in the Greater New York Area. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1996.
  Bobst Ref6 Desk HV99.N59S68

  Directory of health and human services providing information on 2,000 agencies and 5,400 service sites in the New York City area. Includes phone numbers of emergency and other useful services; agency profiles with mission and key personnel; program and personnel indexes.

• The New York State Directory. San Mateo, CA: Walkers Research, LLC, 1997/98.
  Bobst Ref6 Desk JK3401.N49

  Listing of a wide range of government officials with potential to influence and regulate public policy in New York State. Includes individuals from NYS executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; federal and state agencies; the private sector.

• New York City Charter and Administrative Code. Guilderland, NY: New York Legal Publishing Corp., 1993.
  Bobst Ref6 KFX2003.A4

  An annotated text of the New York City Charter and Administrative Code with amendments and court decisions from the time of enactment of the code and charter.

Picture Sources

Recommended subject headings:

New York (N.Y.) -- Description -- Views
New York (N.Y.) -- History -- Pictoral Works

There are several collections of photographs (and other picture sources) in NYC that may be of interest to researchers. To find a list of those collections, look under 'picture sources' in the index of Library Resources in New York City Bobst Ref1 Z732.N75 M3, or consult Bobst and Beyond: A Guide to Graduate Research in New York City Bobst Ref1 Desk Z675.R45 B63 1994.

Sources available at Bobst include:

• Abbott, Berenice. New York in the Thirties . New York: Dover Publications, 1973.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.37.A23 1973

  97 impressive photographs documenting New York City in the 1930's. Also of interest is Andreas Feininger's New York in the Forties.(1978). Bobst Ref1 F128.37.F457

• Black, Mary. Old New York in Early Photographs, 1853-1901; 196 Prints from the New-York Historical Society. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1976. 2nd rev. ed.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.37.N7 1976

  Views of Manhattan are presented with photographs from the collections of the New-York Historical Society that includes some of the earliest recovered photographs of New York City.

• Fried, William. New York in Aerial Views. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1980.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.37.F78 1980

  Aerial photographs taken between the 1940's and the 1970's depict the changing city.

• Kouwenhoven, John A. The Columbia Historical Portrait of New York. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1953.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.3.K6

  An interesting work in which illustrations, maps, plans, paintings, photographs, and other picture sources from 1614-1953 are depicted to show the evolution of NYC and how that evolution was perceived.

• Watson, Edward B. New York Then and Now: 83 Manhattan Sites Photographed in the Past and in the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1976.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.37.W37

  Photographs taken between 1864-1938 presented along side photographs taken from similar vantage points of the same sites in 1974 and 1975, provide a visual account of the city's evolution.

• An Index to the Microfiche Edition of Photographic View of New York City, 1870s-1970s, from the Collections of the New York Public Library. 3 vols. Ann Arbor, Mich: University Microfilms, International, 1981.
  Bobst Ref1 F128.37.P44

  I: Street Index. II: Building Index. III: Subject Index. The photographs are available only at the New York Public Library at 42nd Street.