Featuring the Largest Collection of Brooklyn History in the World
and
Introducing Brooklyn Is…
A New Exhibition Celebrating Brooklyn’s People and Neighborhoods
(Images here. Credit: Gregg Richards)
Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced the grand re-opening of the Center for Brooklyn History (CBH) on Thursday, the largest collection of Brooklyn history in the world. After an extensive renovation and the introduction of a new exhibition titled Brooklyn Is…, New Yorkers will have free and open access to the space and its varied collections. And they are invited to contribute their own memories, photos, and words to this inspiring showcase of Brooklyn's past and present.
"Today, as we launch the next chapter of the Center for Brooklyn History, we are not just reopening a building; we are reopening the door to our shared past, illuminating the path to our future, and welcoming every Brooklynite to contribute their voice to the ever-evolving story of our borough," said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library.
Marble Fairbanks renovated the first floor which includes an open and welcoming space where visitors will be able to stop by to read, study, work or enjoy an exhibition. The first floor also includes a shop with a wide range of merchandise for patrons; all proceeds will be used to support BPL. Moreover, in the magnificent Othmer Library, patrons are welcome to work, study or take a selfie without an appointment. (Appointments are recommended to use items in the collection.)
Through expanded collections, educational resources, and programming, CBH aims to further democratize the exploration of Brooklyn’s history to reflect the borough’s many diverse communities, starting with Brooklyn Is... The new exhibition creates a tapestry of the borough, capturing the essence of Brooklyn through the eyes and voices of its people. It combines photographs, maps and other items from the collection with the memories, stories and photos of community members.
The collection of photos and memories is ongoing, and submissions will be accepted throughout the run of the exhibition. The public can contribute through an online form available on the Brooklyn Public Library website. In addition, library branches across the borough are available to assist with scanning materials for those who prefer in-person assistance and support.
In addition to the new exhibition, CBH houses a world-renowned special collections library on the second floor of its landmark building on Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights. The Othmer Library’s magnificent two-story reading room with its stained-glass windows and carved wooden columns transports the visitor to an earlier era, and connects them to over 36,000 books, 1,650 archival collections, 1,200 oral history interviews, 325,000 photographs, 2,000 maps, 5,700 artifacts, and 300 paintings that document the commercial, residential, community, and civic development of the borough.
“Learning about the past, and understanding its challenges and triumphs, does so much to affect the way we live,” said Dominique Jean-Louis, Chief Historian, Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library. “It is our hope that through our extensive archives and connection to Brooklyn’s communities, we can use history to inspire change, further knowledge, and add richness to people’s daily lives. The Center for Brooklyn History welcomes any and everybody to join us in expanding our collection, using our archives for research, art, and storytelling, and connecting with one another.”
In 2020, the Brooklyn Historical Society became a part of Brooklyn Public Library under a new name: Center for Brooklyn History (CBH). CBH combines materials collected over the past 157 years by the Brooklyn Historical Society with BPL's Brooklyn Collection, creating the most comprehensive catalog of Brooklyn's history in the world.
“With the grand re-opening of the Center for Brooklyn History, we pledge to democratize history, to be radically inclusive, and to reflect the voices and experiences of Brooklynites from every generation and every walk of life,” said Heather Malin, Director, Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library. “We welcome you to sit and study in the newly renovated Grand Hall, visit the historic Othmer Library, attend a salon or speaker series, or contribute your own memories to Brooklyn Is... Together, we are creating a place for all public history to thrive.”
Refreshments for the ribbon cutting ceremony were generously provided by Junior’s. Serving Brooklynites for almost 75 years, Junior’s has been an important part of many family celebrations and of Brooklyn history itself.
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