THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
AND ITS PROGRAMS
YEAR IN REVIEW
JULY 2013 – JUNE 2014
DR. GARY HERMALYN
CEO GARY HERMALYN
DR.
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
MR. DIMITRIS RAPTOPOULOS
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND
MR.
ANTHONY C. GREENE
DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
MRS. TERESA BROWN
SECRETARY
MR. ZACHARY HUDSON
EDUCATION
ASSISTANT
MR. ANGEL HERNANDEZ
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
MS. KATHLEEN A. MCAULEY
MS. KATHLEEN
A. MANAGER
MCAULEY OF
CURATOR
AND
CURATOR / DIRECTOR OF MUSEUMS
EDGAR ALLAN POE COTTAGE
MS. ELIZABETH NICO
DR.
PETER
DERRICK
LIBRARY
ASSOCIATE
MS. CATHERINE PELLICANO
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
MRS. LAURA TOSI
LIBRARIAN
PROF. LLOYD ULTAN
THE BRONX BOROUGH HISTORIAN
The Bronx County Historical Society
3309 Bainbridge Avenue
The Bronx, NY 10467
(718) 881- 8900 / Fax (718) 881- 4827
www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org
Visit us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
© 2014 The Bronx County Historical Society - All Rights Reserved
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. DESCRIPTION OF THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A. Collections of The Bronx County Historical Society
1. Object Collection
2. The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library
2a. Ready Reference Service
2b. Media Collection
2c. Microfilm & Microfiche Collection
2d. Map & Atlas Collection
3. The Bronx County Archives
BCHS Collections Update
B. Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History
C. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
C1. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Audio Tour
C2. Exhibition Captions Translated to Spanish
D. Bronx History Center
II. SCHOOL EDUCATION
A. Historic House Museum School Resource Program
A1. The Valentine-Varian House
A2. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
B. In-School Programs
B1. Audiovisual/PowerPoint Presentations
B2. Audiotapes, Videotapes, CDs, DVDs
C. Neighborhood Walking Tours
D. School Projects and Classroom Aid Packets
D1. Local History Classroom Resource Guide
D2. The South Bronx and the Founding of America: An Activity Book
for Teachers and Students
D3 Edgar Allan Poe at Fordham: An Educator’s Guide
D4. West Farms Curriculum Guide
D5. Annotated Primary Sources: From the Collections of The Bronx
County Historical Society
D6. School Project Consultants
D7. The Satchel of Bronx History Project
D8. Landmarks of The Bronx
D9. Roots of The Republic
D10. Yankee Stadium 1923-2008
E. New York City Department of Education
III. PUBLIC EDUCATION
A. Tours of The Bronx and Environs
B. Lectures
New York Public Library Lecture Series at The New
Bronx Library Center & Bronx Branches
C. Programs for the Physically Challenged
D. Family Programs
E. Yankee Stadium Tours
F. Documentaries, Radio & Television Talk Shows
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
IV. SPECIAL EVENTS
A. Annual Bronx High Schools Valedictorian Awards Reception
B. Gouverneur Morris Visiting Scholars Program
C. Memorial Day Commemoration
D.The Bronx County Historical Society’s Twelfth Annual
Golf Tournament & Dinner
E. Bronx Week
F. Bronx County Centennial
G. Outward Bound at the Valentine-Varian House
H. Bronx Day in Albany
V. EXHIBITIONS
A. Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History
B. Traveling Exhibitions and Long-Term Loans
VI. PUBLICATIONS
A. Periodicals
B. Recent Publications
C. Recent Electronic Publications- Amazon Kindle Format
D. Teacher & Student Workbooks
E. Works-In-Progress
VII. EXPEDITIONS
Parks & Creeks Expedition
VIII. VIDEO DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMS
1. BronxNet – History of Puerto Ricans Documentary
2. BronxNet – The Bronx in New York City History Minutes
3. BronxNet/Bronx Tourism Council - Edgar Allan Poe In The Bronx:
His Life And Times At Poe Cottage
IX. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL
PROJECT: 2007-2014
X. WEBSITE EDUCATION REPORT
XI. THE INTERNET
1. Facebook
2. BCHS Videos on YouTube
3. Twitter
4. Instagram
XII. BRONX CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATION
XIII. THE NEW YORK CITY HISTORY COALITION
XIV. DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE PROGRAM ADVISORY COUNCIL
XV. THE BRONX COUNTY ARCHIVES & RESEARCH LIBRARY
The Bronx Borough Presidents Records Cataloguing Project
XVI. THE BRONX AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY PROJECT
A Partnership of The Bronx County Historical Society & Fordham University
XVII. THE BRONX LATINO HISTORY PROJECT
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I. DESCRIPTION OF THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Bronx County Historical Society, founded in 1955, is a private, non-profit, educational and
cultural institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The Society, the historical
agency for The Bronx, a county of New York State and a borough of the city of New York, is
dedicated to the collection, preservation, documentation and interpretation of the history of The
Bronx and lower Westchester County from its earliest historical references in the 17th century through
the present. The Society disseminates information to the general public, schools, students, historians,
urban planners and staff of other museums and libraries on the historical, social and economic
development of The Bronx. It utilizes its collections in exhibitions, both in-house and traveling,
historical research, oral history projects, production of publications, and educational and cultural
programming. The Society operates a research library, The Bronx County Archives and two national
landmark historic house museums, the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Valentine-Varian
House/Museum of Bronx History.
The Bronx County Historical Society develops and implements programming that addresses the
needs and interests of the borough’s diverse population - the general public, specialized audiences
and schools K-12, colleges and universities, as well as for scholars, staff of other cultural and
educational institutions, the media, business, fraternal associations, and government. School
programming is both outreach and in-house at the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Museum of
Bronx History.
Collections of The Bronx County Historical Society
The Society’s collections allow for intensive examinations of the borough and represent vital sources
of information for the museum visitor and researchers of metropolitan/urban history. Since its
establishment in 1955 as an institution mandated to collect borough documentation and its material
culture, The Society’s collections have remained a vital component of its mission and play an
important, ongoing role in shaping its strategic planning.
The Society’s collections deal with the 17th century to the present. Documentation of ongoing Bronx
history is accomplished through donation, staff photography, news clippings, and collecting on newly
emerging populations, changing demographics and the built environment. Collection materials also
document later 20th century historical and economical developments such as the devastation that
became a national and international symbol of urban blight in the South Bronx. The Bronx Borough’s
revitalization began in the 1990s through grass-roots community advocacy, sweat equity, and timely
funding for urban renewal projects through fruitful governmental, educational institutions, and
business partnerships.
1. Object Collection
The Society owns an object collection of nearly 13,000 items (greatest concentration: 1830-present).
The collection is fully computer catalogued into the overall collections database and classified, using
The Revised Nomenclature, into the major categories of Tools & Equipment for Materials, Science &
Technology and Communication, Distribution & Transportation Artifacts, Personal Artifacts,
Building Furnishings, Recreational Artifacts, and Communication Artifacts. The strongest collections
deal with political, social, economic changes as the area was transformed from a rural village system
into part of New York City (1840s-1914) and modern Bronx (1960-present). Ten percent of the
collection deals with The Bronx's founding families (Ferris, Pell, Morris, etc., 17th - early 19th
centuries). A growing, vital part of the collection is modern life; The Society aggressively collects
documentation relating to life in the latter half of the 20th century, a period of intense change. Active
collecting on newly emerging populations and changing demographics enrich understanding of the
modern urban process on a local level, establishing a continued historical view of the dynamics
involved.
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I. DESCRIPTION OF THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (continued)
2. The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library
The Research Library, housed at 3309 Bainbridge Avenue, is open to the public from 9 AM to 5 PM,
Monday to Friday. The Society's Research Library collection includes over 10,000 books,
manuscripts & pamphlets, newspapers, over 200 atlases and maps (1849-present, also on microfilm)
and over 275,000 ephemeral items documenting communities, demographics, history, architecture,
business & industry, individuals, etc., both past and present. The collection also includes more than
450 audiotapes, and 440 videotapes of lectures, walking tours and museum exhibitions.
Visual documentation includes over 75,000 photographs and slides (1850s-present), a rare glass
negative collection (4,000 images, 1880s-1917, with prints and copy negatives), and 1,500 postcards
and stereocards (1870s-present). The photograph collection documents The Bronx (1856-present)
with extensive image categories, e.g., communities, personalities, the development of street, highway
and parkland systems, the built environment, and events. Approximately 40% of the collection
documents the late 19th- early 20th century period of regional consolidation with the city of New
York. Rapid economic and structural development followed after The Bronx’s parks and parkway
system was established, and the city’s new rapid transit lines were created, which generated a 400%
increase in population with mass migrations of populations coming from such overcrowded areas as
the Lower East Side in Manhattan. The photographic collection represents an important and unique
body of regional documentation spanning over 150 years - an invaluable tool for historical,
geographical, and social study. These images serve as reference materials for borough/regional
studies in a number of disciplines, and have been utilized for exhibitions, programs and publications.
2a. Ready Reference Service
The Ready Reference Service is a valuable feature of the Research Library, offering
information by telephone, mail, and email to researchers. Library staff provides answers to
questions about New York and lower Westchester County history, statistics, or current
topics.
2b. Media Collection
The Research Library is the repository for over 1,000 pieces of documentary materials in
film, audio, video, CD, and DVD formats that record Bronx life since the 1930s. The
Media Collection is available for both on-site Library viewing and duplication for private,
non-profit, and commercial programming.
2c. Microfilm & Microfiche Collection
On-site researchers heavily utilize this collection of almost 400 items. The collection
contains New York City Directories from 1850, the political scrapbooks of former Bronx
Borough President James J. Lyons, the full run of the borough newspaper, The Bronx Home
News (1908-1948), and the map and atlas collection, stored also in microfilm format for
preservation and accessibility.
2d. Map & Atlas Collection
The collection consists of 450 loose sheet maps and 145 atlases listed in the collection
database. These materials date from the 1860s to the present.
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I. DESCRIPTION OF THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (continued)
3. The Bronx County Archives Collection
The Bronx County Archives incorporates the archival collections of The Society, encompassing one
hundred collections totaling 3,225.5 cubic feet, of diverse materials, including 19th- 20th century
material, e.g., the records of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, governmental
records, town and village records from the pre-1898 New York City consolidation period, building
plans, municipal police and fire department records, the records of former Bronx politicians and the
records of major business and industry, as well as leaders of fraternal and hospital associations, to the
present.
These records are a prime source of information on the growth, development and transformation of
The Bronx during the past 125 years. A recent focus of activity has been the survey and acquisition
of records of African Americans and Latinos in The Bronx. The Bronx African American History
Project is a joint collaboration of The Society and Fordham University’s Department of African and
African American Studies. In addition to preserving paper records of African American history in
The Bronx, this project has also conducted 250 oral histories of African Americans in the borough,
produced two museum exhibitions, eight Journal articles, and dozens of walking tours, lectures, and
two Bronx Music celebrations.
BCHS Collections Update
Starting in May of 2013, the BCHS collections stored at the off-site facility at the Huntington Free
Library at Westchester Square were removed and brought over to The Bronx County Archives. This
consolidated the entire archive of the BCHS. Over one hundred fire department ledgers stored at the
HFL were donated to the Fire Department of New York City. Also, a comprehensive inventory of
The Society’s collections was completed.
B. Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History
The historic national landmark Valentine-Varian House, a fieldstone farmhouse built in 1758, is the
second oldest house extant in the borough and stands today in Varian House Park in the Norwood
neighborhood of north-central Bronx. A vestige of colonial New York, the structure is today the
home of the Museum of Bronx History, with long-term and changing exhibitions on the history and
heritage of The Bronx and its peoples. The Valentine-Varian House is owned and operated by The
Bronx County Historical Society and is a member of the Historic House Trust of New York City.
C. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
The year 2012 marked the 200th anniversary of the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, one of New York’s most
celebrated structures. The Bronx County Historical Society honors this iconic writer because Poe was
a Bronxite, spending his last years living in the small cottage in the old village of Fordham. The
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, built in 1812, is a historic national landmark house museum famous as the
final home of the writer. Poe lived in the Fordham cottage from 1846 until his death in October 1849.
During his residence, Poe wrote many poems and tales in Fordham, including "The Bells," "Eureka,"
"Annabel Lee," and “The Cask of Amontillado.” Set in Poe Park on the Grand Concourse, it is the
only house left from the village of Fordham. An 18-minute film, co-produced by the BCHS, on Poe’s
life and literary career in 1840s New York enhances the period room interpretation.
Tours of Poe Cottage provide an intimate portrait of the man and the legend. The Cottage, saved from
destruction in the 1890s by the Shakespeare Society and moved into Poe Park from its original
location on Kingsbridge Road in 1913, preserves a special chapter of New York's literary heritage. It
is owned by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and operated as a museum by The
Bronx County Historical Society since 1975. It is also a member
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I. DESCRIPTION OF THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (continued)
C. Edgar Allan Poe Cottage (continued)
of the Historic House Trust of New York City. This is an exciting time in the history of the Edgar
Allan Poe Cottage. The historic landmark completed an extensive one million dollar restoration, with
the project breathing new life into it to assure its future. A Visitor Center in Poe Park will provide a
program/exhibition space for year-round programming to help interpret Edgar Allan Poe and his
Cottage to visitors from New York, the nation, and the world.
C1. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Audio Tour
The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage is now offering an audio tour that can be accessed by dialing
a telephone number, visiting a web link, or scanning a QR (Quick Response) barcode with
a smart phone that has scanning capabilities. Below you will find some useful information.
Poe Cottage Audio Tour Phone Number - (718) 971-2156
The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage audio tour can be heard by dialing a phone number from a
cellular phone while standing outside or inside the Cottage, or from a home phone. The
phone number is (718) 971-2156. There are 19 stops on the audio tour. Each stop
represents different points of interest pertaining to the cottage. For example: stop #1 will
give the general history of Poe Cottage and stop #2 will provide information about hours
and fees. If one chooses to skip to the next stop, they can press #. Inside the Cottage, there
will be small stop labels placed throughout the house. Visitors can walk up to any of these
labels and access the tour by dialing the audio tour number and choosing the stop number
that corresponds to the stop number on the label. On the exterior, a sign will be placed
below the current signs at Poe Cottage. Both exterior signs will have the audio tour phone
number listed so that visitors can access the tour after normal visiting hours.
Poe Cottage Audio Tour Web link – http://myoncell.mobi/17189712156 - The Poe Cottage
Audio Tour can be accessed by visiting the web link listed above. On this site, you will find
the list of all the stops on the audio tour and also, information about the Cottage and its
location on a Google map, and the option to download the audio tour onto your smart
phone or desktop as an MP3 file. On the audio tour, one can scan the QR barcode with their
smart phone on any of the stop labels. The visitor will be directed to the MP3 sound file on
the web link.
QR (Quick Response) Barcode - A QR barcode will be placed on all interior and exterior
audio tour stop labels. A smart phone that has the ability to download a scanning
application can interact with these QR barcodes. Each stop has its own QR barcode, so
once the visitor scans the QR barcode on a certain stop label, they will be given the chance
to hear the MP3 sound file on that particular stop. Exterior signage will have a QR barcode
that contains the whole audio tour so that visitors can hear the whole tour while The
Cottage is closed to the public. Visitors have to make sure they are close enough to the QR
barcode to get a good reading. This project was made possible by the Historic House Trust
of New York City.
C2. Exhibition Captions Translated to Spanish
All the exhibitions and other items of interest at The Cottage were assigned individual
captions that were affixed near each one. The captions contain the item descriptions printed
in both English and Spanish. As part of the Poe Cottage Bilingual [English/Spanish]
Project, this program addresses the large Latino community surrounding the Cottage. This
project was made possible with funds from the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits
Fund and the Susan Tane Foundation.
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I. DESCRIPTION OF THE BRONX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (continued)
D. The Bronx History Center
To continue our leadership role into the future, The Society embarked on a multi-phase capital
campaign to renovate and expand our facilities, thereby enabling us to meet the demands of our
public and better fulfill our important mission in this new century. The four-phase plan provides for
substantial new spaces for our educational programs and services and preserves and protects the
heritage of our collections. The Center also makes the campus site efficient and more accessible for
the general public. Our ultimate goal is to create a world-class research and educational center for the
21st century, The Bronx History Center.
Phase One: The first phase was the purchase and renovation in 1981-1982 of 3309
Bainbridge Avenue to serve as the home for The Bronx Research Library and
administrative headquarters.
Phase Two: This phase consisted of the purchase and renovation of the Archives building
at 3313 Bainbridge Avenue, December 1996 - October 2001 and construction of the
Archives Storage Center extension onto the facility. Sale of this building to NYC was
completed in 2006.
Phase Three Project - 2008 - 2009: The purchase of 3311 Bainbridge Avenue, located in
between two of The Society’s existing facilities.
Phase Four - 2008 - 2013 - $6 million: The construction of a new three-story 60 foot x
100 foot building to encompass the sites of 3311 and 3309 Bainbridge Avenue to house the
Research Library, Administration, Education departments and a 75-seat
classroom/auditorium.
A well-designed and fully integrated campus plan supports the research programs within the
buildings and provides for activities relating to The Society’s mission. The future of The Bronx
County Historical Society can be assured with the completion and connection of the new Education
and Research Library Building and The Bronx County Archives Building. The BCHS is seeking $8.9
million in capital funding for The Bronx History Center.
II. SCHOOL EDUCATION
The School Resource Program is designed to complement school curricula in The Bronx, New York
City and New York State history, geography, literature and social studies. Programs are conducted in
schools, at historic sites, community and fraternal organizations, libraries, conferences and symposia,
military installations, colleges and universities.
A. Historic House Museum School Resource Program
The Education Coordinator operates The Bronx County Historical Society's Bronx history curriculum
program for private, parochial, and public schools of all grade levels. The Society also conducts
school tours for both the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and the Museum of Bronx History.
A1. The Valentine-Varian House
This c. 1758 fieldstone farmhouse is the home of the Museum of Bronx History. Within
the building are three small public galleries; one is devoted to Bronx Colonial history and
early lifestyle, and two are utilized for changing topical exhibitions. School programs
consist of tours and special projects in the galleries and on the 2/3-acre garden.
A2. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
Edgar Allan Poe lived and worked in this c. 1812 cottage with his family from 1846 until
his death in 1849. Visitors are conducted on a guided tour of the Cottage and shown an
18-minute film presentation. The Cottage attracts visitors from around the world.
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II. SCHOOL EDUCATION (continued)
B. In-School Programs
B1. Audiovisual Presentations
PowerPoint, slide and lecture presentations in both classrooms and auditoriums comprise
an important part of The Society's in-school outreach program. The presentations highlight
aspects of Bronx and New York history.
The following is a partial list of PowerPoint and slide illustrated programs available for
schools and public programs:
African Americans
Antarctica – Land of Peace
Bountiful Bronx
Bronx Architecture
Bronx Buffalo
Bronx Parks in the 21st Century
Edgar Allan Poe and His Cottage
Erie Canal Expedition
Ethnic Migrations
Freedomland Amusement Park
From Doo-Wop to Hip-Hop: The Bittersweet Odyssey of African-Americans
In the South Bronx
Geography and The Bronx
Gouverneur Morris, Penman of the Constitution
Historic Houses of New York City
History of Bronx Parks
History of Writing & Libraries
Hunts Point Food Market
Latinos of The Bronx
Legacy of the Revolution & Restoration of the Valentine-Varian House
The Beautiful Bronx, 1920-1950
The Birth of The Bronx, 1609-1900
The Bronx at the Turn of the Century
The Bronx Goes to Press - Newspapers
The Bronx in the Innocent Years, 1890-1925
The Bronx: Then & Now
The Civil War Comes Home
The Creation of the NYC Public High School System
The Earth, The Poles and New York
The Great Bronx River Expedition
The History of Rapid Transit in New York City Neighborhoods
Time and the Calendar
The Bronx It Was Only Yesterday
Morris High School and the Creation of the New York City High School System
Yankee Stadium
B2. Audiotapes, Videotapes, CDs, DVDs
Digital copies of thousands of Society programs, events, and oral history interviews may
be incorporated into school and public education programs, and are available for viewing
in The Society's Research Library.
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II. SCHOOL EDUCATION (continued)
C. Neighborhood Walking Tours
School groups are conducted on historical, architectural, and geographical walking tours in various
Bronx neighborhoods.
D. School Projects and Classroom Aid Packets
D1. Local History Classroom Resource Guide
Distributed to teachers to provide guidelines for preparation and follow-up lessons for
class participation in Society educational programs. These packets offer supplemental
suggestions and information based on the New York State Board of Regents social
studies curriculum.
D2. The South Bronx and the Founding of America: An Activity Book for Teachers
and Students
This book was written for fourth grade teachers and their students. It gives a clear
account of the South Bronx during the formative years of the republic and includes
material on Lewis Morris, the signer of the Declaration of Independence and Gouverneur
Morris the "penman" of the United States Constitution as well as history lessons on
colonial African Americans.
D3. Edgar Allan Poe at Fordham: An Educator’s Guide
This workbook is an important resource tool for teachers, enhancing the understanding of
local history by exploring the life and times of this great American author who lived in
The Bronx.
D4. West Farms Curriculum Guide
This teacher and student workbook is geared to an area that has great significance in the
history and development of The Bronx.
D5. Annotated Primary Sources: From the Collections of The Bronx County Historical
Society – Volume I
This book provides teachers with rich primary sources, concise annotations and
transcriptions, learning standards and essential questions.
D6. School Project Consultants
The Education Department works with teachers and administrators of elementary, junior
high, and high schools, utilizing The Society's Research Library, The Bronx County
Archives and other resources, to help prepare school programs.
D7. The Satchel of Bronx History Project
This is an ongoing effort to market our educationally focused books to teachers, libraries,
and administrators. The selection of materials is discounted, allowing school personnel
access to materials at an affordable price. The books, journals, and pamphlets of The
Bronx County Historical Society comprise a unique group of teaching aids. Among the
titles provided are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
History in Asphalt: The Origin of Bronx Street and Place Names Encyclopedia, 4th Edition
The Birth of The Bronx: 1609-1900
The Bronx in the Innocent Years: 1890-1925
The Beautiful Bronx: 1920-1950
The Bronx It Was Only Yesterday: 1935-1965
A History of the Riverdale Yacht Club
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II. SCHOOL EDUCATION (continued)
D7. The Satchel of Bronx History Project (continued)
7. Annotated Primary Source Documents: From the Collections of The Bronx County
Historical Society
8. Bronx Views: Postcards of The Bronx
9. By The El: Third Avenue And Its El At Mid-Century
10. Guide to The Bronx County Historical Society Media Collection
11. Legacy of The Revolution: The Valentine-Varian House
12. McNamara’s Old Bronx
13. Morris High School and The Creation of the New York City Public High School System
14. New York City at the Turn of the Century
15. Newspaper Titles of The Bronx
16. Re-Inspired: The Erie Canal, America's First Great Work of Civil Engineering
17. The Bronx: A Struggle for County Government
18. Roots of The Republic: Chief Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court
19. Roots of The Republic: Presidents of the United States
20. Roots of The Republic: The First House of Representatives and The Bill of Rights
21. Roots of The Republic: The First Senate of the United States
22. Roots of The Republic: The Signers of the Constitution of the United States
23. Roots of The Republic: The Signers of the Declaration of Independence
24. The Bronx Cookbook: A Compilation of Kitchen-tested Recipes as Diverse as the
Ethnic Roots of The Bronx
25. The Bronx County Historical Society Journal 2003 Issue
26. The Bronx County Historical Society Journal’s 350th Anniversary of The Bronx
Commemorative Issue
27. The Bronx County Historical Society Journal’s Bicentennial of The United States
Constitution Commemorative Issue
28. The Bronx County Historical Society Journal’s Centennial of The Bronx
29. The Bronx In The Frontier Era: From The Beginning To 1696
30. The Bronx: Then & Now
31. The Greater New York Centennial
32. The Hudson River
33. The New Parks Beyond The Harlem
34. The Northern Borough: A History of The Bronx
35. The Study and Writing of History
36. Yankee Stadium:1923-2008 Images of Baseball
37. Education and Culture in The Bronx: A Research Guide
38. Ethnic Groups in The Bronx: Selected Bibliography
The Society makes the following publications available free or at specially discounted
rates to teachers, schools, libraries, and other relevant organizations.
D8. Landmarks of The Bronx
This work by Dr. Gary Hermalyn and Mr. Robert Kornfeld lists all the present and
possible future landmarks in the borough. This publication is given out free to
schoolteachers.
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II. SCHOOL EDUCATION (continued)
D. School Projects and Classroom Aid Packets (continued)
D9. Roots of The Republic
This six-volume series on the documents of the early republic and the three components
of the United States government was distributed at no cost to all high schools, colleges,
and libraries in New York City.
D10. Yankee Stadium 1923-2008
This multi-component publication project with Arcadia Press includes a postcard project,
an illustrated Yankee Stadium calendar, as well as a photo-book on the history and
heritage of The Bronx’s own Yankee Stadium.
E. New York City Department of Education
The Society has been working as educational consultants to Region 2, including their oral history
committee. Our chief work will be setting up criteria for teachers, arranging curriculum, and
providing after-school programs, writing workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and mentorship. The
BCHS is involved in four separate Teaching America History [TAH] grants. These grants provide
programming funds to allow The Society to host teachers, facilitate professional development
workshops, and place our materials to educators for use in the classrooms.
II. PUBLIC EDUCATION
A. Tours of The Bronx and Environs
The Bronx County Historical Society continues its well-known series of tours of the borough and
environs. These outings by foot, bus, auto, train, canoe and boat, are offered year-round. The Society
personnel conducted walking and bus tours in various parts of the city for teachers, students,
administrators, businesses and the public. The following tours were offered between July 2013 and
June 2014:
“ The Great Bronx Bar Tour,” bus tour, July 13, 2013.
“ St. Mary’s Park Area,” walking tour, August 31, 2013.
“ Belmont,” walking tour, November 10, 2013.
“ Foxhurst to Hunts Point,” walking tour, December 8, 2013.
“ Changing Bronx Neighborhoods,” bus tour, February 3, 2014.
“ Bronx Treasures,” bus tour, February 23, 2014.
“ E.L. Doctorow’s Bronx,” walking tour, April 26, 2014.
“ The Historic Bronx,” bus tour, April 29, 2014.
“ The South Bronx,” walking tour, May 2, 2014.
“ Van Cortlandt Village, ” walking tour, May 3, 2014.
“ Art Deco Delights,” walking tour, May 10, 2014.
“ Marvels of The Bronx,” bus tours, May 17, 2014.
“ Marble Hill,” walking tour, June 21, 2014.
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II. PUBLIC EDUCATION (continued)
B. Lectures
Public Forums are held at The Bronx County Archives, local libraries, associations, and various
institutions. The following lectures were presented:
“ Lungs for the City: The Creation of the Bronx Parks System,” The Bronx County Archives,
August 3, 2013.
“ The History of Yankee Stadium,” The Bronx County Archives, September 14, 2013.
“ History of The Bronx,” Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, September 19, 2013.
“ Poe at Fordham,” Noble Hotel in Lander, Wyoming, October 9, 2013.
“ History of The Bronx Latino,” The Bronx County Archives, October 2, 2013.
“ Poe at Fordham,” St. Margaret’s of Cortona Church, October 18, 2013.
“ Poe at Fordham,” Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT, October 23, 2013.
“ Lost Amusement Parks of New York City,” The Bronx County Archives, October 29, 2013.
“ A Brief Talk about The Bronx,” Hard Rock Café at Yankee Stadium, November 3, 2013.
“ The Life of Edgar Allan Poe,” Teaneck Public Library in Teaneck, NJ, November 15, 2013.
“ The Birth of The Bronx,” Huntington Free Library, November 20, 2013.
“ The Creation of Bronx County,” Mario Merola Bronx County Building,
January 8, 2014.
“ Happy Birthday Poe,” The Bronx County Archives, January 15, 2014.
“ Blacks in the Colonial Bronx,” The Bronx County Archives, February 15, 2014.
“ The History of the Bronx Parks,” Bronx Parks Speak Up Conference at Lehman College,
February 22, 2014.
“ Bronx History and Tourism Opportunities,” Big Apple Greeters at the New York City
Municipal Building, February 25, 2014.
“ Celebrating Black History Month,” Barnes and Noble at Bay Plaza, Co-op City,
February 27, 2014.
“ Portals to the Bronx Past,” Poe Park Visitors’ Center, March 1, 2014.
“ The History of The Bronx Latino,” Metropolitan College of New York, March 11, 2014.
“ The Life of Edgar Allan Poe,” American Bank Note Company, Bronx, March 11, 2014.
“ Irish Immigration in NYC,” Local 237 International Brotherhood of Teamsters, NYC,
March 28, 2014.
“ The Birth of The Bronx,” The Bronx County Archives, March 29, 2014.
“ History of Jews in The Bronx,” Pelham Parkway Jewish Center, March 30, 2014.
“ Poe at Fordham,” Riverdale YM-YWHA, April 2, 2014.
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III. PUBLIC EDUCATION (continued)
B. Lectures (continued)
“ The Irish and the Hundredth Anniversary of Bronx County,” Bronx Council of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians, Yonkers, NY, April 6, 2014.
“ The Life an Times of Edgar Allan Poe,” Explorer’s Club NYC, April 9, 2014.
“ People vs. Boyd: The Murder Trial that Nearly Redrew the Map of NYC, The Bronx County
Archives, April 12, 2014.
“ Hunts Point and the African-American Burial Ground,” Joseph Rodman Drake
Park, Bronx, NY, May 17, 2014.
“ My Old Neighborhood Remembered,” The Bronx County Archives, June 7, 2014.
“ History of Bronx Parks,” The New York Botanical Garden, June 21, 2014.
New York Public Library Lecture Series at The Bronx Library Center & Bronx Library
Branches:
“ The Birth of The Bronx,” City Island Branch, January 11, 2014.
“ Edgar Allan Poe at Fordham,” Bronx Library Center, April 16, 2014.
“ Highlights of The Bronx,” Bronx Library Center, May 12, 2014.
C. Programs for the Physically Challenged
Articles from The Bronx County Historical Society Journal and The Society newsletter, The Bronx
Historian, are audiotaped, upon request for visually impaired individuals. The Society’s collections
are available for research through on-site study at the accessible Bronx County Archives facility. The
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage and The Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History has a visually
impaired program through a company called New York Beyond Sight. Here are the web pages where
those with visual disabilities can hear or download an audio description of both historic houses:
http://www.nybeyondsight.org/valentine-varian-house.shtml
http://www.nybeyondsight.org/the-edgar-allen-poe-cottage.shtml
D. Family Programs
The Bronx County Historical Society participated in the 11th annual openhousenewyork (OHNY)
Weekend and the Historic House Trust of New York City Festival, October 12 & 13, 2013. Both
historic house museums will participate in the 12th annual openhousenewyork weekend October 11 &
12, 2014.
E. Yankee Stadium Tours
The Society’s Executive Director co-wrote and directed this successful tour of the old Yankee
Stadium. Over 75,000 people tour the stadium each year. The Society receives one special tour a year
for fundraising purposes. On June 14, 2014, The Bronx County Historical Society hosted a special
tour of the new Yankee Stadium.
F. Documentaries, Radio & Television Talk Shows
The Bronx County Historical Society participated in radio and television talk shows, and
documentary production, utilizing The Society’s facilities, collections, and the historical expertise of
staff and volunteers such as Bronx Borough Historian Prof. Lloyd Ultan and Archivist Emeritus Dr.
Peter Derrick, and Educator, Mr. Angel Hernandez on such venues as News Channel 12, BronxNet,
WCBS-TV, National Public Radio, and WVOX.
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III. PUBLIC EDUCATION (continued)
F. Documentaries, Radio & Television Talk Shows (continued)
1. “The Bronx County Historical Society Presents.” BronxNet, The Bronx’s cable television news
and entertainment company on Cablevision, and The Bronx County Historical Society have joined
together to produce cable programs utilizing our large collection of videotapes. These videos include
Society programming, such as lectures, walking tours, seminars, tributes and conferences.
2. “The Puerto Rican Experience.” The Bronx County Historical Society is a co-sponsor of this longawaited documentary by BronxNet.
3. The Bronx County Historical Society has acted as consultants and contributors to a new
documentary being filmed in the Highbridge neighborhood. The BCHS will serve as primary
historical consultants and provide material and expertise to produce a curriculum based on the work.
4. “Edgar Allan Poe In The Bronx: His Life And Times At Poe Cottage.” This 18-mintue
documentary of the writer’s experience living in The Bronx was produced by BronxNet and the
BCHS, with the support from NYC & Co. and The Bronx Tourism Council. The purpose was to give
visitors an opportunity to learn about the writer while Poe Cottage was closed due to the restoration.
This video is available at the Museum of Bronx History and in our online bookstore.
IV. SPECIAL EVENTS
A. Annual Bronx High Schools Valedictorian Awards Reception
The Bronx County Historical Society celebrated its annual reception at the Museum of Bronx History
on Sunday, June 1, 2014. After tours of the museum and The Bronx County Archives, honored
guests were treated to refreshments and musical entertainment. Following these festivities came the
presentation to the Bronx High Schools Valedictorians of their gifts of Society books, Encyclopedias
from World Book, and certificates. In addition to the Valedictorian awards, the co-recipients of the
John McNamara Trustees Award of Distinction were given to Mr. Anthony Ramirez and Mr. Paul
Ramirez of Mainland Media and The Bronx Beer Hall. Honors were also extended to the Elias
Karmon Bronx Business Leader of the Year, Mr. Greg Gonzalez of Manhattan Parking Group. The
Poe Award was presented to artist and playwright Mr. Marco Greco, and The Educator of the Year
Award went to Mr. Brian Carlin of the NYC Department of Education and the TAH Project.
B. Gouverneur Morris Visiting Scholars Program – 23rd Annual
The Society’s most prestigious visiting scholars program. The following is the list of Gouverneur
Morris programs presented in honor of The Bronx Signer and Penman of the United States
Constitution:
2013 - Mr. Daniel Hauben – “ A Retrospect of Bronx Imagery”
2012 - Mr. Angel Hernandez – “The Bronx: Then and Now”
2011 - Mr. Douglas Keister - “ Stories in Stone: Bronx Cemetery Monuments”
2010 - Mr. Angel Hernandez - “ The History of The Bronx Latino”
2009 - Mr. Russ Currie - Original Opera “The Cask of Amontillado”
2008 - Dr. Gary Hermalyn - “ Edgar Allan Poe At Fordham”
2007 - Prof. Lloyd Rogler - “ Fordham University’s Hispanic Research Center”
2006 - Prof. Jim Wunsch - “ Live from The Bronx- Radio in the Golden Age”
2005 - Dr. Brian Purnell - “ Bronx Civil Rights Protests of 1963”
2004 - Prof. Evelyn Gonzalez – “ The South Bronx”
2003 - Prof. Mark Naison – “ From Doo-Wop To Hip Hop: The Bittersweet
Odyssey of African Americans in the South Bronx”
2002 - Mr. Joseph Cunningham – “ New York Power”
2001 - Prof. Elizabeth Beirne – “ The Good Life in 19th Century Bronx: Ethics in Business”
2000 - Prof. Allan S. Gilbert – “ Archaeology in The Bronx”
1999 - Prof. Roger Wines – “ The Bronx River Parkway”
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IV. SPECIAL EVENTS (continued)
B. Gouverneur Morris Visiting Scholars Program – 23rd Annual (continued)
1998 - Dr. Peter Derrick – “ Centennial of The Bronx”
1997 - Mr. Edward Schneider – “ Newspapers in The Bronx”
1996 - Dr. Gary Hermalyn – “ Morris High School and the Creation of the
New York City Public High School System”
1995 - Prof. Lloyd Ultan – “ Gouverneur Morris and the Creation of the American
Constitution”
1994 - Rear Admiral Thomas A. King, USMS Retired – “ The Last Convoy, The 50th
Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion”
1993 - Prof. George Lankevich – “ The Creation of the United States
Supreme Court”
1992 - Prof. Lloyd Ultan – “ Gouverneur Morris, Through Word and Speech”
1991 - Judge Dominic Massaro – “Gouverneur Morris”
C. Memorial Day Commemoration
The annual Memorial Day rededication of the Valentine-Varian House Park, sponsored by the Bronx
Jewish War Veterans, was held on Monday, May 26, 2014.
D. Bronx County Historical Society Thirteenth Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner
The Bronx County Historical Society celebrated the 112- year old Pelham Bay Golf Course in
Pelham Bay Park, followed by an awards dinner at the newly refurbished Club House on September
26, 2013. The next golf outing is scheduled for September 17, 2014.
E. Bronx Week
The Society played its usual advisory role during the 43rd Annual Bronx Week that was celebrated
May 8-18, 2014. The Society joined in these events celebrating The Bronx and its people by:
1. Conducting “Marvels of The Bronx” bus tours, one in the morning and one in the
afternoon, on May 17, 2014. These tours showcased all the original parks in The Bronx.
2. A lecture titled “Highlights of The Bronx” was presented at the Bronx Library Center.
The Bronx Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan gave a speech about the borough’s important
moments throughout its history. This lecture was given on May 12, 2014.
3. The “Art Deco Delights” historic walking tour of the lower portion of the Grand
Concourse lead by the Bronx Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan also took place on May 10,
2014, as an official 2012 Bronx Week event.
F. Bronx County Centennial
The year 2014 marks 100 years of the creation of Bronx County. The Bronx County Historical
Society was appointed to the Bronx County Centennial committee, created by The Bronx Borough
President Ruben Diaz, Jr., to help create events throughout the yearlong celebration. The following
events by the BCHS will be included in the Bronx Centennial event calendar:
1. An exhibition titled Bronx County - 100 Years at the Museum of Bronx History opening
with a reception on April 9th from 4:30-7:00PM. The exhibition will run until October 19,
2014.
2. "The Grand Concourse Historic District– Art Deco Delights" Walking Tour Saturday, May 10, 2014 – 1:00 PM
The Bronx Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan lead a tour through one of The Bronx’s noted
designated historic districts – the Grand Concourse. This grand boulevard was a reminder of
the days when The Bronx was part of New York County and the thoroughfare connected it
to the rest of the world.
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IV. SPECIAL EVENTS (continued)
F. Bronx County Centennial (continued)
3. “E. L. Doctorow’s Bronx” Walking Tour - Saturday, April 26, 2014 - 11:00 AM
BCHS guest tour guide Jean Arrington lead an exploration of the Mt. Eden neighborhood on
the Grand Concourse where Doctorow grew up.
4. “Birth of The Bronx” Free Public Lecture - Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 1:00 PM
BCHS Educator Angel Hernandez presented an illustrated show on the early history of The
Bronx to its achieving county status, making it the last county in New York State. This
event corresponds with the 2014 Bronx Centennial celebration and is free to the public.
5. Bronx High School Valedictorian Awards Program - Sunday, June 1, 2014 - 1:00
PM – 3:00 PM
This special event served as an educational component to the Bronx County Centennial year
celebration. The Bronx Borough President was at hand to help give out certificates and
Society history books to the valedictorians. The program also offered refreshments, hors
d'oeuvres, and tours of the Museum of Bronx History.
Note: More events celebrating the Bronx County centennial year will be scheduled.
6. On January 9, 2014, the Bronx Borough President’s office hosted a Bronx County
Centennial kick-off celebration event inside the rotunda of the Bronx County building. The
BCHS was given the honor to present from our collection an 1868 bible belonging to the
colonial Ferris family of Westchester for the swearing-in of the Borough President. The
event brought in a little over 300 people, with Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker
Melissa Mark-Viverito, and the rest of the Bronx City Council delegation in attendance.
This event was covered by a variety of media outlets, giving the BCHS a great deal of
coverage. A BCHS table was set up inside the corridor of the courthouse and books were
sold as well.
G. Outward Bound at the Valentine-Varian House
On April 3, 2014 The BCHS hosted its third sleepover at the Valentine-Varian House. Partnering
with Project Discovery, a high school satellite program of Outward Bound. The school group
consisted of 12 high school students of The Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports who
explore different cultural aspects in an urban environment. This year, the trip involved a tour of the
Bronx County Archives then a night tour of the Valentine-Varian House, where the students slept
over. The next morning, students helped clean the grounds of the museum and its adjacent parking
lot. The education coordinator was present throughout the program.
H. Bronx Day in Albany
For the past two years, The Bronx County Historical Society attended Bronx Day in Albany where
Bronx organizations and elected officials partook in various activities in regards to Bronx pride. This
year, The Society received an award for community recognition and historic preservation. Society
literature was given out and books were sold as well.
V. EXHIBITIONS
The exhibition program of The Bronx County Historical Society that is developed and implemented
by Curator, Kathleen McAuley, provides a vehicle for the interpretation of Bronx and NYC history as
well as current social issues.
A. Museum of Bronx History / Valentine - Varian House
The following exhibitions were on view at the Museum of Bronx History/Valentine-Varian from July
2013 through June 2014:
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V. EXHIBITIONS (continued)
A. Museum of Bronx History / Valentine - Varian House (continued)
A1. The Stories A House Can Tell – This ongoing exhibition highlights the historic
landmark Valentine-Varian House’s history within the context of New York and national
history. Incorporated into the timeline’s graphics and text is a group of reproduction objects
that staff can share with visitors, particularly schoolchildren. The interpretive exhibition was
funded by a grant from the Historic House Trust and is part of ongoing interpretive planning
and development at the museum.
A2. Pastimes & Pleasures, Having Fun in The Bronx – April 18 – October 20, 2013
The serious business of having fun in The Bronx – with its history of large amusement
parks, beer gardens, excursion venues, traveling circuses, world-class racecourses, landmark
movie palaces, and an internationally renowned zoo and botanical garden, is looked at
through the centuries.
A3. History Woven in Cloth - Selections from the Textile Collection of The Bronx County
Historical Society – October 23, 2013 – April 6, 2014
A look at society through its fashions, revealing lifestyles and status, customs and traditions,
evolving fashions and changing times.
A4. Bronx 100 – Celebrating 100 Years of Bronx County’s Growth & Development –
April 9, 2014 – October 19, 2014
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of Bronx County, the last county created in
the State of New York. The year is dedicated by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.
to many events and new initiatives that will help mark and celebrate this milestone.
B. Traveling Exhibitions and Long-Term Loans
Traveling exhibitions are displayed at several Bronx locations, including hospitals, banks, and
government offices. Long-term loan exhibitions include the following:
B1. “Poe Cottage – A Cultural Destination.” Ongoing exhibition installed at the Poe Park
Visitor’s Center to assist in the museum’s interpretation to park visitors.
B2. "Borough Presidents of The Bronx." In the reception area of the Office of The Bronx
Borough President, Bronx County Building on 161st Street.
B3. New York City At The Turn of The Century prints at The Bronx District Attorney's
office. Grand Concourse prints at Bronx Surrogate Judge’s office.
B4. “The Bronx - It Was Only Yesterday” at CUNY on The Concourse Building.
B5. “Kingsbridge,” Citibank, Broadway Branch, 5660 Broadway, Bronx, NY. Photographs
of the Kingsbridge/Marble Hill community during the late 19th century.
VI. PUBLICATIONS
The Bronx County Historical Society is the only historical, cultural and educational institution that
documents, researches, writes, and publishes scholarly and popular materials relating to the history
and heritage of The Bronx and lower Westchester County. By doing so we help fulfill our mandate to
disseminate information and to promote pride in The Bronx and its people. All publications are the
culmination of research utilizing the collections of The Society’s Research Library and Bronx County
Archives. The following is an abbreviated list of Society publications of use in our educational
programs:
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VI. PUBLICATIONS (continued)
A. Periodicals
1. The Bronx County Historical Society Journal
The Journal is the only regularly published periodical dedicated to the history and
development of The Bronx and New York City. It is now in its fiftieth year of publication.
2. The Bronx Historian
The newsletter of The Society is produced three times a year. It includes articles and
photographs on aspects of Bronx history as well as notes and schedules of Society events.
3. Library News
News of the collections and acquisitions of The Society’s Kazimiroff Research Library and
The Bronx County Archives is presented twice yearly in Library News.
B. Recent Publications
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Blacks in the Colonial Bronx: A Documentary History by Prof. Lloyd Ultan
The Northern Borough: A History of The Bronx by Prof. Lloyd Ultan
The Bronx: Then & Now by Dr. G. Hermalyn and Ms. Kathleen A. McAuley
The Study and Writing of History by Dr. G. Hermalyn
Media Collection – The Audio & Video Collections of The Bronx County
Historical Society Research Library by Mrs. Laura Tosi and Dr. G. Hermalyn
6. Guide to the Collections of The Bronx County Archives, Second Edition by Ms. Kathleen
A. McAuley, Dr. Peter Derrick and Dr. Dorthea Sartain.
7. Annotated Primary Source Documents: From the Collections of The Bronx
County Historical Society, Volume I by Mr. Anthony Greene
8. Newspapers of The Bronx by Mr. Mark Sgambettera
9. A Tribute to Arthur Crier, Jr., Pioneering Bronx Vocalist, Songwriter &
Community Activist by the Bronx African American History Project
10. Bronx Views - Postcards of The Bronx by Dr. G. Hermalyn
11. The Birth of The Bronx by Prof. Lloyd Ultan and Dr. G. Hermalyn
12. The Bronx Cookbook edited by Dr. Peter Derrick and Dr. G. Hermalyn
13. The Bronx In Print co-sponsored with The New York Public Library
14. Morris High School and The Creation Of The New York City Public High School System
by Dr. G. Hermalyn
15. The Centennial of The Bronx edited by Dr. Peter Derrick & Dr. G. Hermalyn
16. Elected Public Officials of The Bronx Since 1898 by Mrs. Laura Tosi and
Dr. G. Hermalyn
17. The Greater New York Centennial edited by Dr. Elizabeth Beirne
18. The Hudson River: Inspiration and Challenge by Dr. E. Beirne
19. McNamara's Old Bronx by Mr. John McNamara. Second edition
20. New York City at The Turn Of The Century, Dr. Elizabeth Beirne
21. Yankee Stadium, 1923-2008. Dr. G. Hermalyn and Anthony Greene
22. Poems & Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Fordham, Dr. Elizabeth Beirne
23. Presidents of the United States by Prof. Lloyd Ultan
24. Publications of The Bronx County Historical Society: 1955-2000
25. Signers of the Declaration of Independence by Brother C. Edward Quinn
26. Tunneling to the Future - The Story of the Great Subway Expansion
That Saved New York by Dr. Peter Derrick
27. Map and Atlas Collections Catalogue by Mrs. Laura Tosi and Dr. G. Hermalyn
28. Roots of the Republic Series, Dr. G. Hermalyn, Project Editor
29. History in Asphalt: The Origin Of Bronx Street And Place Names Encyclopedia by John
McNamara. Fourth edition
30. Ethnic Groups in The Bronx: Selected Bibliographies
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VI. PUBLICATIONS (continued)
C. Recent Electronic Publications- Amazon Kindle Format
1. History in Asphalt: The origins of Bronx Street And Place Names Encyclopedia by John
McNamara. 4th Edition
2. The Northern Borough: A History of The Bronx History by Lloyd Ultan
3. New Parks Beyond The Harlem by John Mullaly
4. McNamara’s Old Bronx by John McNamara
D. Teacher & Student Workbooks
The Bronx County Historical Society, working in cooperation with the New York City
Department of Education, distributes booklets and articles at no charge to Bronx public
school children and teachers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Genealogy in The Bronx
The American Constitution Bicentennial School Project
Latin Bicentennial
Puerto Ricans of The Bronx
Blacks in The Colonial Era
E. Works-In-Progress
1. Archaeology in The Bronx edited by Prof. Allan Gilbert, Fordham
University
2. Exhibition Booklet Series by Ms. Kathleen A. McAuley
3. The Earth, The Poles and New York by Dr. G. Hermalyn
4. Baseball – The New York Game by Mr. Anthony Morante
5. Time & The Calendar by Dr. G. Hermalyn and Dr. Elizabeth Beirne
6. Blacks in the Colonial Bronx by Prof. Lloyd Ultan
7. From Doo-Wop to Hip-Hop by Prof. Mark Naison
8. Bronx By Blocks: The Neighborhoods of the Northern Borough
9. Annotated Primary Source Materials – Volume II by Mr. Angel Hernandez, Ms.
Kathleen A. McAuley, and Mr. Dimitris Raptopoulos
VII. EXPEDITIONS
Parks & Creeks Expeditions
The Bronx County Historical Society sponsors expeditions to study the Harlem, Hudson, and East
rivers from the Bronx River to the Bronx Kill, utilizing kayaks, canoes, and row-boats. These
expeditions are part of an ongoing exploration series titled “Exploration of Bygone Waterways and
Pathways in New York City and Environs” sponsored by The Bronx County Historical Society, New
York City Department of Parks & Recreation and Rocking The Boat, Inc., which trains and develops
New York City high school students in boatbuilding. Students are instructed in boating skills,
navigation, video documentation, and the history of New York City’s waterways and its historic
waterfront.
Society events are videotaped for the reference collection in our Research Library and for
incorporation into future audiovisual presentations. The Society plans to continue augmenting this
important historical resource through independent video producers. The Society with BronxNet is
utilizing its large collection of videotaped lectures, exhibition gallery tours, commemorations, and
other educational programs.
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VIII. VIDEO DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM
1. BronxNet - History of Puerto Ricans Documentary
The Bronx County Historical Society is a consultant and co-sponsor of two 1-hour documentaries on
the history and heritage of Puerto Ricans from the early migration movements of the 1950s-1960s,
utilizing the David M. Carp collection of Latino music and the resources of The Bronx County
Archives.
2. BronxNet - The Bronx in New York City History Minutes
The Bronx County Historical Society is researching, writing and co-producing a series of “The Bronx
in New York City History” minutes to be aired on Cablevision’s BronxNet channels.
3. BronxNet/Bronx Tourism Council - Edgar Allan Poe In The Bronx: His Life And Times At
Poe Cottage
This 18-mintue documentary of the writer’s experience living in The Bronx was produced to give
visitors an opportunity to learn about the writer while Poe Cottage is closed due to the restoration.
This video is available at the Museum of Bronx History and on-line at
http://bronxhistoricalsociety.org/poecottage.html.
IX. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT: 2007-2014
The Society continued its collaboration with the History & Anthropology Departments at Fordham
University to unearth remains of the late 18th - early 19th century Corsa family estate situated on
Fordham University’s Bronx campus. We had been successful in soliciting enthusiastic participation
from patient and caring amateurs in annual archaeological workshop sessions since 1986. The
seventeenth and final season of excavations was completed by late July 2002 at Rose Hill manor.
From 2005-2013, work was conducted on excavated materials in a laboratory environment.
Participating students gained an understanding of archaeological interpretation through an
examination of excavated materials found in situ on the Rose Hill campus at the Manor site. In
addition, The Society is a consultant to the Fordham University Brick History Collection.
X. WEBSITE EDUCATION REPORT - www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org
The Bronx County Historical Society website is continuously updated with educational events and
programs. At present it is composed of over 450 pages, making it one of the largest cultural
institution education sites. The website includes education programs, tours and lectures, research
library, The Bronx County Archives description of collections, featured articles on The Bronx and
New York City, The Bronx Historian Newsletter, The Bronx in Print, notable Bronxites, and The
Society bookstore. There have been new additions to the website this year:
1. The BCHS Education department and the Historic House Trust of NYC (HHT) are
creating a web link that describes all four historic house museums in The Bronx in the
English and Spanish language. The page is titled “The Historic House Museums of The
Bronx / Las Casas Historicas del Bronx.” This web link will give Spanish speakers an
opportunity to consult online information about the historic heritage of the borough. Each
historic house is showcased with important information such as visiting hours, directions,
and website information. This link will be made available at the BCHS homepage, HHT
website, and the BCHS Facebook and Twitter accounts. There will also be an advertising
campaign using local and citywide newspaper outlets and e-mail blasts.
2. The web link for The Bronx Latino History Project is currently being revamped. The
web link will become a home page for other projects and components that pertains to the
subject. The home page will have five web links:
2a. One web link will lead into the newly created “The Historic House
Museums of The Bronx / Las Casas Historicas del Bronx” page.
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X. WEBSITE EDUCATION REPORT - www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org (continued)
2b.The second link will lead into a series of BCHS journal articles about the
Latinos experience in The Bronx. This web link will also give potential
writers a set of guidelines and rules for journal submissions.
2c.The third link will lead into a general and detailed description of The
Bronx Latino History Project. This web link will have contact information
and will include a list of past contributors and financial donors.
2d.The fourth link will contain various education programs that the BCHS
offers and will also include a list of videos and photos of past lectures and
walking tours.
2e.The fifth link will lead you to a brief power point presentation on the
History of Bronx Latinos. This presentation is an online interactive tool that
education institutions can use, and also, could entice potential donors.
2f.The sixth link will lead to a BCHS Latino ethnic group bibliography and
other resources on the subject.
3. A web link titled “The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Endowment Campaign” was developed
and uploaded onto the BCHS home page. It describes the fundraising campaign for the
historic house museum and it also offers naming rights options for potential contributors. The
ultimate goal for this fundraising venture is $2 million dollars which would fund the staff,
equipment, and the ongoing operation of this international literary tourist attraction and
community focal point. The web page address for the Poe Cottage endowment is
http://bronxhistoricalsociety.org/poecottage.endowment.html.
4. Another web link that was developed and placed on the BCHS homepage pertains to the
funding of the BCHS’ ongoing mission. The link announces a challenge grant that was
presented for $25,000 toward the operational costs of fulfilling The Society’s mission to
stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the history of The Bronx by continuing our
tradition of diverse and dynamic educational programs for Bronxites. Contributors have the
opportunity to have their donation matched up to $25,000. The web page address is
http://bronxhistoricalsociety.org/EducationDonation.html.
5. Bronx History Radio - Over the past year, the BCHS has produced MP3 voice recordings
to be uploaded onto the website as podcasts. It will consist of readings of selected articles
from the BCHS Journal and other BCHS publications.
XI. THE INTERNET
1. Facebook
The BCHS Facebook account was created in January of 2010 in an effort to increase our following
and to produce a surge in interest and memberships. Currently, the BCHS Facebook page showcases
all BCHS publications, photos and videos of past events such as walking tours and lectures, and all
event postings. In March of 2011, a Poe Cottage and Valentine-Varian House Facebook account has
been created as well. These accounts will appeal to those who have particular interest either in Edgar
Alan Poe and the American Revolution in The Bronx. Also, store museum items will be showcased
from each respective historic house on these Facebook accounts in an effort to sell more items. The
following list is the web links for each account:
BCHS Facebook Page link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bronx-County-Historical-Society/158177394957
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XI. THE INTERNET (continued)
1. Facebook (continued)
Poe Cottage on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bronx-NY/Poe-Cottage-at-Fordham/115246718497999
VV House / Museum of Bronx History on Facebook (page under construction):
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bronx-NY/The-Museum-of-Bronx History/115962588432260
2. BCHS Videos on YouTube
The BCHS now has five videos on YouTube; a 2002 lecture titled the “History of Writing” by Dr. G.
Hermalyn, a 1986 Mott Haven walking tour led by Prof. Lloyd Ultan, a 1997 Pelham Bay walking
tour led by Bill Twomey and John McNamara, a 1990 John McNamara lecture on his book History in
Asphalt, and a 2002 upper Grand Concourse walking tour led by Prof. Lloyd Ultan. Links to BCHS
content on Youtube has been posted on both the BCHS website
homepage and Facebook account. This will give people an opportunity to experience BCHS activities
such as walking tours, lectures and other programs. As time progresses, more events will be
videotaped and immediately posted on Youtube. To see BCHS videos, do a search for user
bronck1639 on www.youtube.com.
3. Twitter
In April of 2010, The Bronx County Historical Society has made its first appearance on Twitter. As
another push in public outreach using the Internet, creating a Twitter account enables the BCHS to
post updates on upcoming events and the latest news pertaining to the Society and its historic house
museums. The link to the BCHS page on Twitter is http://twitter.com/bronxhistory.
4. Instagram
In November 2013, The Bronx County Historical Society’s account on Instagram was created. This
program, owned by Facebook, offers a photo documentary that serves as an online networking tool. It
gives the BCHS an opportunity to share photographs and instant images where captions can be
included. This method keeps the BCHS in the loop with the cutting edge innovations of online
networking and media. User name on Instagram is Bronxhistorian.
XII. BRONX CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATION
The Bronx Cultural Institutions Association is composed of Bronx cultural institutions - The Bronx
County Historical Society, Wave Hill, Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society, New York
Botanical Garden, Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York Public Library, Lehman College for the
Performing Arts, and The Bronx Council on the Arts. The consortium of Bronx cultural institutions
meets to foster joint programming to serve The Bronx and its citizens through joint cultural and
education projects.
XIII. THE NEW YORK CITY HISTORY COALITION
The Bronx County Historical Society is the Chair of this historical group - Staten Island Historical
Society, Queens Historical Society, Brooklyn Historical Society, The New-York Historical Society,
South Street Seaport, and Museum of the City of New York. Joint projects, such as the New York
City Council Social Studies Initiative, were instituted.
XIV. DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE PROGRAM ADVISORY COUNCIL
In April 2006, BCHS prepared a proposal for an Archival Survey of the Records of African
Americans in The Bronx. This was in response to an RFP issued by the Documentary Heritage
Program Advisory Council of The Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO). This was a
competitive process, under which the DHP Advisory Council decided that BCHS had submitted the
best proposal. The grant was awarded on June 9, 2006, for $55,000. The Bronx African American
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XIV. DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE PROGRAM ADVISORY COUNCIL (continued)
Archival Survey aims to document what records on African Americans in The Bronx exist at
churches, community and social organizations, businesses, political clubs, cultural groups, etc., or are
held by individuals, so that these records may become available to researchers of every type. The
work was being directed by then BCHS Archivist Dr. Peter Derrick, assisted by Dr. Brian Purnell,
former Research Director of the Bronx African American History Project and Assistant Professor in
the Department of African and African American Studies at Fordham University in The Bronx. There
is also a Project Advisory Committee composed of community leaders and other interested parties.
Since August 23, 2006, the Project Archivist has been working on this project. Numerous
organizations and individuals have been contacted as part of a broad survey of record collections
pertaining to African Americans in The Bronx. From this broad survey, a smaller number of groups
and individuals were surveyed in detail regarding their record collections. The Archivist did most of
this work, and has been writing up the surveys for posting on the website of The Bronx African
American Archival Survey, which will be a component of the website for The Bronx African
American History Project. Information about the following organizations and individuals will be
posted on the web:
• Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
• Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation
• South Bronx Churches (a civic organization active in schools and housing)
• Southeast Bronx Neighborhood Center (SEBNC)/Forest Neighborhood House
• Elias Karmon (an important Bronx business leader who provided support to
many African-American politicians and civic groups)
• East Side House (a settlement house in The Bronx)
• St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church
• St. David’s Episcopal Church
• Episcopal Diocese of New York
• Bronx Museum of the Arts
• Morris High School Museum
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
XV. THE BRONX COUNTY ARCHIVES & RESEARCH LIBRARY
The Bronx Borough Presidents Records Cataloguing Project
Since 2002, The Bronx County Historical Society has been working on a long-term project to
arrange, catalogue, and describe the records of former Bronx Borough Presidents. This work is
essential to making these records accessible to the public. This is a cooperative effort between The
Society, the Bronx Borough President, and the New York City Municipal Archives, with funding
provided by the New York State Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund.
Currently, Borough President records processing is ongoing with continued funding for the project.
In this project, the staff of The Society does the work on the grant application for the Borough
President’s offices, oversees the work of the archivists hired by the grant funds, and does much of the
necessary administrative paperwork. Under the supervision of Dr. Derrick and Leonora Gidlund,
Director of the Municipal Archives, the Bronx Borough President records are arranged and described.
This includes putting the records into new archival storage boxes and file folders, cleaning out the
records, arranging the records into final series, preparing file folder listings and listings of all press
releases, and writing descriptive material about the overall collection and the individual series. All of
this information is entered into a computer database at the Municipal Archives. Printed finding aids
have been prepared under each of the completed grants.
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XVI. THE BRONX AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY PROJECT
A Partnership of The Bronx County Historical Society & Fordham University
There are now over a half million people of African descent living in The Bronx, well over a third of
The Bronx's population. Blacks have been an integral part of the history of The Bronx since colonial
times, have contributed greatly to the borough's cultural and political history, and have recently
played a major role in the borough's revitalization, but there has been almost nothing written about
this large and diverse population other than isolated passages in books about the burning of The
Bronx, the rise of hip-hop, and the crack epidemic. From the little that has been written, no one would
know that many Blacks in The Bronx have been upwardly mobile and have lived in stable
communities. The major overview of the history of Blacks in New York City, "The Black New
Yorkers: The Schomburg Illustrated Chronology," contains only three pages dealing with Black life
in The Bronx, and there are no historical works dealing in depth with the development of the Bronx's
Black neighborhoods. One of the major reasons for the absence of writing about Bronx African
American history is an absence of primary source material. There has been no systematic collection
of the records of Black churches, business, community groups, political and civic leaders, or of the
publications of community organizations in the Bronx's Black neighborhoods. As a result, powerful
and important stories have been overlooked, among them, migration of upwardly mobile black
families from Harlem to The Bronx in the 1930s and 1940s, development of a rich, diverse Bronx
musical culture fusing jazz, rhythm and blues, Latin music and calypso; the rise of a Black political
leadership in The Bronx; the migration of West Indians and West Africans to the borough.
To fill this gap in the historical record, and respond to the growing demand for information about
African Americans in The Bronx from schools, churches and community organizations, The Bronx
County Historical Society and Fordham's Department of African and African American Studies
launched The Bronx African American History Project. The goal of this project is to create and
collect the resources necessary to tell the story of African Americans in The Bronx, and then get the
story out to the public through lectures, media appearances, books and articles, public exhibitions,
and documentary films. We began a little more than six years ago with an oral history project and
have received a groundswell of interest in our work from community residents, the media and the
academic community.
At the end of ten years, the oral history project produced three hundred transcripts of interviews,
along with three hundred audio and videotapes, and deposited them in two locations: Fordham
University's Walsh Library and The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library. It also
produced several books, sponsor numerous public exhibitions, participated in radio and television
broadcasts, and gave scores of lectures to schools, community organizations, churches, and academic
conferences inside and outside The Bronx.
The Bronx African American History Project (BAAHP) has completed 182 oral histories; 142 have
been transcribed, 85 summarized, and then cataloged at The Bronx County Historical Society, and
made available for use by the public through the assistance of college interns. The BAAHP has also
accessioned archival records relating to blacks in the borough, including the records of former Bronx
City Councilman Wendell Foster and copies of the earliest African American newspaper in The
Bronx (from the late 1930s), donated by Jesse Davidson. In addition, the BAAHP was responsible
for the donation of one of the largest record collections relating to Latino music in New York City,
and of the interaction of African American and Latino musicians at clubs in The Bronx and Harlem
from the 1940s to the 1960s. This collection was donated by musicologist David Carp, and includes
interviews (audiocassettes and transcripts of them) with over 200 Latino musicians. In June 2007,
The Bronx County Archives received the Maxine Sullivan Collection, pertaining to her musical
career.
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XVII. THE BRONX LATINO HISTORY PROJECT
The Bronx Latino History Project highlights Latinos who lived or contributed to The Bronx
throughout its history. Latinos are among the largest and fastest growing ethnic groups in the borough
since the mid-20th century. According to the U.S. census survey from 2006-2008, of the entire
nation’s counties with a population of 500,000, The Bronx comes in fourth as a county whose
businesses are predominantly owned by Latinos. Although Puerto Ricans were the first major Latinos
to settle in the borough, today The Bronx is home to Latinos from all over Central and South America
and the Caribbean. The Society’s education department is in the process of increasing the BCHS’s
collections to reflect The Bronx’s current population diversity. With the assistance of community
organizations and certain devoted individuals, the BCHS will continue to fulfill its mission to
preserve and share information that highlights major turning points in Bronx history.
At the beginning of the 20th century, The Bronx had become an urban epicenter with new affordable
housing and a reliable public transit system. Various immigrant groups migrated from the
overcrowded slums of lower Manhattan into The Bronx, seeking an opportunity to live and prosper in
a rapidly evolving borough. Although The Society currently has an impressive archive collection of
the people of The Bronx from the frontier era up until the first half of the 20th century, there is a
wealth of new information to be collected on the Latino population in The Bronx today. The purpose
of this project is to address and highlight the numerous achievements and contributions Latinos have
given to The Bronx. A person of Latino descent may come from any of the various cultures found in
Latin America and it is this explosion of culture that makes The Bronx an exceptional place. There
will be four major themes that will explain the Bronx Latino experience:
1. Music - As the Puerto Rican and Cuban populations in New York City began to increase during
the 1940s and 1950s, a new and innovative sound was introduced to the city’s nightlife. While
Cubans brought Mambo and other Afro-centric rhythms, Puerto Ricans brought music forms of a
more folk genre like Plena and Jibaro. These musical forms began to gain popularity in places like El
Barrio (East Harlem), East New York in Brooklyn and in the South Bronx. Presently, The Bronx is
home to a plethora of Latino music genres, representing almost every Latino nation in the Caribbean,
Central America, and South America.
2. Sports - As a mode of recreation, sports have played a major role in the development of the urban
community. In The Bronx, popular sporting activities such as baseball, football, basketball, boxing,
and other sporting activities, were the choices of play for most Latinos. This project will offer the
opportunity for Latinos to share their athletic experiences in The Bronx. Whether it is a professional
athlete or neighborhood stickball champion, this project will highlight Latinos who’ve made their
contribution to Bronx history through sports.
3. Food - One of the most identifiable traits of a particular Latino culture is the traditional cuisine.
Foods from all over Latin America can come in many variations, yet, there are many similarities. To
explore this cultural diffusion of Latino foods in The Bronx, project assistants will interview ethnic
Latino restaurants owners and chefs. A presentation of the many dishes of Latin America will be
showcased and made available for research.
4. Community Organization - As the major waves of Latino migration began to settle in various
Bronx communities, primarily Puerto Ricans and Cubans during the 1940s-1950s, many of them
started to get involved with neighborhood organizing. However, it was not until the mid 1960s that
community organizing became a common practice to address the beginning stages of the deterioration
of The Bronx. This project will discuss the affects and achievements of these Latino-based
community organizations.
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XVII. THE BRONX LATINO HISTORY PROJECT (continued)
Results
As the results from the interviews and research become available, educational programming will be
implemented to express the findings of the project. The programming will consist of six components:
1. Lecture Series - Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, “The Bronx Latino” lecture
made its debut at The Bronx Library Center on October 4, 2010 with an audience of 75 people. The
lecture, in a power point presentation with photographs from the BCHS collection, was given high
praise. The images showed various Bronx connections to Latino culture. The lecture is an ongoing
project as new research unearths new information. In addition, an artifact retrieval campaign has been
implemented to encourage the Latino community to contribute items such as photographs and other
materials that can be used by the BCHS for educational purposes.
2. Journal Articles - Narratives, stories, and oral histories from Bronxites of different Latino
backgrounds are a great source for research. Having access to personal vignettes and accounts are an
ideal way to get in-depth information. There are currently a number of Latino articles that have made
their way into the BCHS Journals over the years, but this project will encompasses all Latinos, not
just the Puerto Rican and Dominican populations. Articles in Spanish and other indigenous languages
(such as those of the indigenous people of Mexico) are very important in reflecting the diverse
populations of Latinos living in The Bronx today.
3. Exhibitions - In order to make the general public aware of our newly assembled Latino collection,
an exhibition was created and showcased at the Museum of Bronx History for the annual National
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). This exhibition will also be loaned out to Latino
politicians, museums and social institutions. Having a partnership with Latino cultural institutions
like El Museo del Barrio, City Lore, and Lehman College would further strengthen the BCHS’s
position as a research history center for New York City Bronx Latinos.
4. Publications - The BCHS is planning a publication highlighting Latinos in The Bronx. With the
collection of lecture material, photographs, journal articles, and interviews, The Society will have
information to produce materials for print, media, and on the web.
5. School Outreach - The information collected from all components will be utilized to create an
educational curriculum that will involve power point presentations, neighborhood tours, and visits to
the Museum of Bronx History to view The Bronx Latino History exhibition. These programs will be
available for schools and the general public. School contests involving interpretive art and essay
writing and oral history internships will also be featured.
6. Musical performances and poetry sessions - Because there are major cultural themes associated
with Latinos and their experience in The Bronx, performances will be implemented to share the
varieties of Latino culture. Musical and poetry concepts can be used interchangeably and the content
can reflect various cultures of Latin America. There are other possibilities in which the information of
the project can be conveyed. Partnerships with Bronx schools and community organizations are
always welcome to contribute their own renditions of The Bronx Latino History Project.
A Model For Future Research on Bronx Ethnic Groups
The Bronx Latino History Project is very organic in its approach. Based on the success of our Bronx
African American History Project, The Bronx County Historical Society continues to seek out
information through family oral histories on the subject for many years. As The Bronx is home to
dozens of major ethnic groups, The Society has the framework to study and collect the records of all
such groups. All the records of the Bronx Latino History project and future research projects will be
stored and catalogued in The Bronx County Archives and will be made available to the public.
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