Center for Brooklyn History Education

The Brian Purnell civil rights in Brooklyn research collection includes research notes and photocopies of records of the Brooklyn branch of the NAACP and the Brooklyn chapter of CORE: bklynlib.org/4sUcoTz . . . [Dr. Purnell speaking at Ebbets Field MS], 2016 (@purnellamaez)

Happy National Beer Day! This day marks the passing of the Cullen-Harrison Act in 1933, which made the sale of low alcohol beer legal during prohibition. Learn more in our POTW bklynlib.org/41SyzgN . . . East Flatbush, circa 1985, SHBZ_0039; Jamel Shabazz photograph collection

"Rattle his bones over the stones / He's only a murderer, / Whom nobody owns." Click here to read the third and final chapter of A Hanging in Brooklyn, documenting the trial and execution of Alexander Jefferson: bklynlib.org/4m2eQEU

In the months following World War II, thousands of GIs returned home with serviceable weapons kept as souvenirs. The Alcohol Tax Unit for the Eastern District launched a campaign to collect these guns and render them non-serviceable: bklynlib.org/4byjINi . . 1946, CRIM_0019

March is Women's History Month. Today we're highlighting an oral history interview with Lucille Kolkin (1919-1997), who worked as a tack welder in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II: bklynlib.org/4u2STJk . . . Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 14, 1942

New collection alert: the Eberhard Faber, Inc. records chronicle the famous pencil company's history from its beginnings as a subsidiary of A.W. Faber Company to being its own entity. Click here for the full collection guide: bklynlib.org/4beOkmT

Check out our new salon wall, installed by @uovo.art, which highlights all sorts of different materials you can find in our collections: photographs, paintings, broadsides, artifacts, and more. Stop by and see it for yourself!

Our latest Brooklynology blog post highlighted some great images from our Brooklyn location scouting photographs collecton, including this one at Dean Street and Franklin Avenue. . . . "S" Line Subway Stops, Dean Street, Franklin Avenue Shuttle [Cropped], circa 1990

Did you know that the Franklin Avenue Shuttle was once in danger of shutting down due to low ridership and overwhelming renovation costs? Learn more here: bklynlib.org/4c6GBct . . . [Save Franklin Avenue Shuttle meeting flyer], 1982; Eastern Parkway Coalition records

Crack a can and swipe for "three borough tapstreses" photographed by the Eagle for articles concerning Assemblyman Lama's move to abolish women serving in bars. . . [Bobby, Lee, and Loretta], 1950, WORK 0647, 0648, 0649; Brooklyn Daily Eagle photographs, Brooklyn Public Library

In 1950, Assemblyman Alfred Lama introduced an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law that would have outlawed women from serving behind a bar. The Eagle asked readers "Would you rather be served by barman or a barmaid?" 🍸 . . . Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 5, 1950

Happy Birthday to Louis Comfort Tiffany, who was born on this day in 1848. Did you know that the Girls High School library included Tiffany windows? Students are seen here reading and chatting under the gaze of a masterpiece. . . Girls High School library, circa 1940, SCHL_0917

Ramadan Mubarak to our family, friends and neighbors! Did you know that our Muslims in Brooklyn oral history project has an accompanying website? Click here for more stories, photographs, and a history of the Muslim community in Brooklyn: bklynlib.org/3BYrVKo ☪️

Happy Year of the Horse! Today’s Photo of the Week features a woman wearing an elaborate Chinese costume standing in front of exhibition cases at Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library: bklynlib.org/3M9fP8T 🐎 . . . [Woman wearing Chinese costume], circa 1955, CBPL_0574

The Center for Brooklyn History is closed today in observance of Presidents' Day. . . . [Boy looking at painting in Brooklyn Museum], circa 1965, HERZ_0266; Irving I. Herzberg photograph collection, Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History

❤️ Happy Valentine's Day from the Center for Brooklyn History! This sweet photo shows Laura Fitzpatrick and Ernest Evans cheek to cheek on their wedding day.❤️ . . . [Laura Fitzpatrick and Ernest Evans], 1951, FITZ_0420; Laura Fitzpatrick photograph collection

If you think Friday the 13th is scary, try curling your hair with one of these! 🔥 . . . [Curling iron], circa 1920, M1986.28.1; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History

This survey of Bushwick Township, dated 1797, is oriented with north to the upper left and covers modern-day Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick. Visit our Maps Portal here: bklynlib.org/3k2sXw6 . . . Survey of Bushwick Township in Kings County, 1797, B A-1797.Fl.RA

Here he is, Beecher the preacher, all side part and lapels. Ladies, ladies please contain yourselves. . . . [Henry Ward Beecher], Portrait collection; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History

This mill was built on the Vanderveer farm in Flatbush between 1801 and 1804. During the 1863 New York Draft Riots, Black community members took refuge in the mill, fearing that the violence across the river would spill into Kings County. . . . circa 1870s, V1974.7.4