1. July 27, 1906: “I saw the hippopotamus yesterday. The heat did not bother him. He was taking a bath. Your Father.”  #CuteThingsDadsSendTheirKids From the Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection.

    July 27, 1906: “I saw the hippopotamus yesterday. The heat did not bother him. He was taking a bath. Your Father.” 

    #CuteThingsDadsSendTheirKids

    From the Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection.

  2. On March 8, 1877, in the Church of St. Francis Xavier on 16th Street, “the shriek of an hysterical woman in one of the galleries, and a heedless cry of fire which followed it, created a panic.” (NYT, 3/8/1877) Seven people were killed in the ensuing chaos. This newspaper clipping from our Picture Collection attempts to illustrate the scene in an era before news photography.

    On March 8, 1877, in the Church of St. Francis Xavier on 16th Street, “the shriek of an hysterical woman in one of the galleries, and a heedless cry of fire which followed it, created a panic.” (NYT, 3/8/1877) Seven people were killed in the ensuing chaos. This newspaper clipping from our Picture Collection attempts to illustrate the scene in an era before news photography.

  3. Neither Washington nor Lincoln have mustaches, alas, so we’ll have to celebrate this President’s Day Mustache Monday with some of the other men who’ve held the post over the years.

  4. In 1909, Frank from Lansing, Michigan received this Valentine’s Day postcard with the following question: “Are you still on the fence, Frank?”  Sadly, we will never know the answer, but oh! The possibilities! (The number of valentine’s day cards in the picture collection is also full of possibilities.. and fun! Rifle through it online, it’s the perfect treat for today’s lovely holiday)

    In 1909, Frank from Lansing, Michigan received this Valentine’s Day postcard with the following question: “Are you still on the fence, Frank?” 

    Sadly, we will never know the answer, but oh! The possibilities! (The number of valentine’s day cards in the picture collection is also full of possibilities.. and fun! Rifle through it online, it’s the perfect treat for today’s lovely holiday)

  5. Here’s one for our times: this Vogue article from 1916 promises “smart fashions for limited incomes.” According to the author, ”It need take only a little new material, a little wit, and a seamstress to join smart fashion and limited income together.” A couple of bon mots that still hold true today: “A formal suit is something the limited income is most of all in need of, for it will carry a woman anywhere.” “The dark brown velvet or satin suit of last year may become the chemise coat-dress of this year.” “For the formal evening gown, the limited income can choose nothing better than black.”

    Here’s one for our times: this Vogue article from 1916 promises “smart fashions for limited incomes.” According to the author, ”It need take only a little new material, a little wit, and a seamstress to join smart fashion and limited income together.”

    A couple of bon mots that still hold true today:

    “A formal suit is something the limited income is most of all in need of, for it will carry a woman anywhere.”

    “The dark brown velvet or satin suit of last year may become the chemise coat-dress of this year.”

    “For the formal evening gown, the limited income can choose nothing better than black.”

  6. Tada! We present to you the second of our Design NYPL/Anti-Prom videos! The High School of Fashion Industries students visit the Library’s Picture Collection (located at the Mid-Manhattan Library) and the Art & Architecture Collection (located at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building). If you watch the video, you’ll get to hear about some of the students’ ideas about their designs. And if you attend Anti-Prom this Friday, you will see the final result in a fashion show!