It is as if time stood still in New York City. On any given day between 1939 and 1941 photographers were capturing city buildings on film for the Department of Taxes (now the Department of Finance). A photograph of every building in the five boroughs of New York City was taken for valuation of real property, and these pictures can now be viewed and copied at the Municipal Archives.
For example, if you know your family once lived at 614 59th Street, Brooklyn, in the Bay Ridge section, you can see what the building at that address looked like in 1940. First, you will translate the address into block and lot numbers with easy-to-use maps. 614 59th Street was in block 857, lot 73. Second, you will find the tax film number that corresponds to the block and lot. Block 857, lot 73 is on Department of Taxes film #J-2877. A few minutes later you can see the 1940 photograph of the house on the microfilm reader-printer, and you can make a photocopy for 25 cents.
The photographs were not always taken on the best photographic days, and the quality varies. If the photocopy print from the microfilm is poor, a photograph which is much truer in detail can be ordered, for a fee. If you prefer, you can order a photograph from the Archives by mail (an order form is available online). They will need at least the street address and description of the property (e.g., house, hotel, office building). The cost is $25.00 for an 8x10 print; $35.00 for an 11x14 print; plus $2.00 postage if mailed. It takes about three weeks for a photographic print to be made.
The Municipal Archives, part of the New York City Department of Records & Information Services, is at 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007; phone 212 788-8580; hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Checks should be made payable to NYC Dept. of Records & Information Services. Note that photographic prints are for personal use only and may not be transferred to another individual or institution, or published or duplicated without permission from the Department.
by Suzanne McVetty, CG
Originally published in The NYG&B Newsletter, Summer 1998
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