New York City History Day: Historians on the Job: NYC Historians discuss their work

Date and Time
April 5, 2014
Event Details
Aerial view - Park Avenue - looking south

Join us for a series of presentations on the work of some of the library's favorite New York City historians. Learn about the work they have undertaken in bringing the history of our city to their readers and the importance of engaging educators and the general public in the business of doing history.

Presentations by:

Betsy Blackmar, professor of urban and social history at Columbia University, former Cullman Center fellow, and author of The Park and the People: A History of Central Park, and Manhattan for Rent, 1785-1850

David Jaffee, teaches American Material Culture at the Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture, where he is also the Head of New Media Research. His current research is the visual experience and spectacle of the city in the 19th century, with a focus on the lithographs, stereoviews, popular sculpture and parlor furntiture produced by five key urban manufacturers. An award-winning author, Professor Jaffee has also written many articles on art and artisans in the Early Republic and has directed several NEH projects on the teaching and learning of American history.

Michael Miscione, the Manhattan Borough Historian since 2006, is a native New Yorker, a professional tour guide, and a historical activist. Apart from being the the borough's official history booster and a prolific contributor of articles and essays on NYC history, Mr. Miscione has worked to bring overdue recognition to the forgotten career of the eminent 19th century New York reformer and urban planner Andrew H. Green.

The discussion will moderated by Betsy Bradley, author of Knickerbocker:The myth behind New York and articles on New York City history for the New York Times and other publications. She is also the editor of the Penguin Classics edition of Washington Irving's A History of New York and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories.

Following the discussion, stay and continue the conversation in the South Court Auditorium atrium. Light refreshments will be served.