Finding Aid for Aguilar Branch records, 1912-1996

• Descriptive Summary
• Historical note
• Scope and Content Note
• Series Descriptions and Container List
  • Aguilar Branch Records, 1912-1996

Source

Transferred from Aguilar Branch Library

Access

Apply in the Special Collections Office for admission to the Manuscripts and Archives Division.

Preferred Citation

Aguilar Branch Records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

The Aguilar Branch of The New York Public Library traces its origins to The Aguilar Free Library Society, an institution founded in 1896 to provide reading material to Jewish immigrants. It was named for Grace Aguilar, a Sephardic Jewish author. In 1905, the institution merged with The New York Public Library and moved into a new building on East 110th Street, designed by architects Herts and Tallant and built with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. At this location the branch served Jewish and Italian immigrant populations. After World War II, an influx of Puerto Rican and other Spanish-speaking newcomers led to the creation of an extensive collection of materials in Spanish. Aguilar was renovated in 1996 as part of the Library's Adopt-A-Branch program. Program and collections include a Language Learning Center for adults, small collections of books in French, Chinese, Arabic, and Urdu, and a Community Information Service Collection.

Aguilar Branch Records include brochures, clippings and program information documenting branch activities from 1912-1996.