1. Hey New Yorkers: Can you tell us who was the first mayor of New York City in 1898 after all five boroughs were consolidated? I’ll give you a hint…He’s the man with the mustache! You’ve guessed right, it’s Robert Anderson Van Wyck, an attorney turned politician, who served as mayor of NYC from 1898 to 1901.  Want to learn more about the mayors of New York City? Check out ‘Part II: The Mayors of Greater New York From 1898’ at NYPL to get the scoop on Mr. Van Wyck and those who followed him! (Image: NYPL Digital Gallery.)

    Hey New Yorkers: Can you tell us who was the first mayor of New York City in 1898 after all five boroughs were consolidated? I’ll give you a hint…He’s the man with the mustache!

    You’ve guessed right, it’s Robert Anderson Van Wyck, an attorney turned politician, who served as mayor of NYC from 1898 to 1901. 

    Want to learn more about the mayors of New York City? Check out ‘Part II: The Mayors of Greater New York From 1898’ at NYPL to get the scoop on Mr. Van Wyck and those who followed him!

    (Image: NYPL Digital Gallery.)

  2. In honor of President’s Day, check out these stamps from our Rare Books Division featuring President Lincoln (we also have Jefferson and Monroe stamps). The three-cent stamps from 1925 are the inspiration for a very cool DIY project from our friends over at Design*Sponge. So shout out to them, and shout out to NYPL’s eBooks - we’re closed today for the holiday, but you can still download something to read from your home.

    In honor of President’s Day, check out these stamps from our Rare Books Division featuring President Lincoln (we also have Jefferson and Monroe stamps). The three-cent stamps from 1925 are the inspiration for a very cool DIY project from our friends over at Design*Sponge. So shout out to them, and shout out to NYPL’s eBooks - we’re closed today for the holiday, but you can still download something to read from your home.

  3. Happy 111th birthday to the legendary American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. At The New York Public Library you can find ample Langston Hughes information, including photos (the one featured here is from our Manuscripts and Archives Division), papers , books, and films. Of course, you can also go over to the NYPL’s great Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and visit the Langston Hughes Auditorium.

    Happy 111th birthday to the legendary American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. At The New York Public Library you can find ample Langston Hughes information, including photos (the one featured here is from our Manuscripts and Archives Division), papers , books, and films. Of course, you can also go over to the NYPL’s great Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and visit the Langston Hughes Auditorium.

  4. Race and American Politics →

    Honoring tonight’s Robert B. Silvers lecture with Darryl Pinckney about “Blacks in Democracy,” NYPL - courtesy of our Huffington Post page - conducts a Q&A with the Cullman Center alumnus and shares the civic insight of the Schomburg Center’s Junior Scholars regarding the 2012 election.

  5. Last night, residents and library users gathered in the Schomburg Center’s packed Langston Hughes auditorium to watch the election coverage. Discussing the evening’s events between election announcements and projections were a panel of experts— Dr. Khalil Muhammad, Grace Ali, William Jelani Cobb, Dorian Warren, Monifa Bandele, and Michaela angela Davis. Photo: Patrons await election results during Election Night Watch Party at the Schomburg Center. Courtesy: Terrence Jennings.

    Last night, residents and library users gathered in the Schomburg Center’s packed Langston Hughes auditorium to watch the election coverage. Discussing the evening’s events between election announcements and projections were a panel of experts— Dr. Khalil Muhammad, Grace Ali, William Jelani Cobb, Dorian Warren, Monifa Bandele, and Michaela angela Davis.

    Photo: Patrons await election results during Election Night Watch Party at the Schomburg Center. Courtesy: Terrence Jennings.

  6. It’s Election Day - vote for a Schmuck! That’s the message in this early 20th Century political poster, which asks New Yorkers to vote for “good and able” Democrat Peter Schmuck for city court judge. The quirky poster is just one of thousands of items in the Library’s little-known collection of political ephemera, located in our Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy. It includes material from 1900 to the present — although we’re a little short on material from this year’s election (contact us if you’re interested in donating). Meanwhile, get to the polls and vote today! For those in NYC, check out the city’s polling site locator. If you have time before or after, head to one of our branches - all but four are open today after Hurricane Sandy. Check out our website for the latest. 

    It’s Election Day - vote for a Schmuck! That’s the message in this early 20th Century political poster, which asks New Yorkers to vote for “good and able” Democrat Peter Schmuck for city court judge. The quirky poster is just one of thousands of items in the Library’s little-known collection of political ephemera, located in our Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy. It includes material from 1900 to the present — although we’re a little short on material from this year’s election (contact us if you’re interested in donating). Meanwhile, get to the polls and vote today! For those in NYC, check out the city’s polling site locator. If you have time before or after, head to one of our branches - all but four are open today after Hurricane Sandy. Check out our website for the latest. 

  7. Head to the polls and vote for a Schmuck! That’s the message in this undated political ad for New York City Judge Peter Schmuck, a Tammany guy who served from the early 1900s until the forties or fifties — and was apparently “good and able.” The ad is one of thousands of items in a little-know NYPL collection of political campaign ephemera from 1900 to 2010. The collection includes pamphlets, ads, oddball items (like an Obama condom) and other campaign-related goodies. In honor of Election Day, we thought we’d share some of the collection, so click on the Schmuck and check out some of our favorite items, all chosen by Maira Liriano, manager of the Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy where the collection is housed. 

    Head to the polls and vote for a Schmuck! That’s the message in this undated political ad for New York City Judge Peter Schmuck, a Tammany guy who served from the early 1900s until the forties or fifties — and was apparently “good and able.” The ad is one of thousands of items in a little-know NYPL collection of political campaign ephemera from 1900 to 2010. The collection includes pamphlets, ads, oddball items (like an Obama condom) and other campaign-related goodies. In honor of Election Day, we thought we’d share some of the collection, so click on the Schmuck and check out some of our favorite items, all chosen by Maira Liriano, manager of the Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History and Genealogy where the collection is housed.