Rochester subway construction photographs collection

File — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2018-026

Staff Only

Content Description

Photographic archive of the construction of the subway in the City of Rochester from 1923 to 1925. The collection also includes a photographic album of Rochester, England's cathedral, a memorial book created for the widow of Mayor Van Zandt, a book of concepts and plans from 1925 for a proposed civic center for Rochester, a number of loose photos from the subway construction, and the spade used by Mayor Van Zandt to ceremonially begin the construction of the subway.

Dates

Creation: 1909 - 1926

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Extent

1.8 Cubic Feet (49 total items: 10 photographic albums, 1 book of plans, 1 boxed book, 1 scrapbook, 2 framed photographs, 33 loose photographs, and 1 ceremonial spade.) : Includes ceremonial spade used to initiate construction of the subway.

1.0 Cubic Feet

.5 Cubic Feet

0.44 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This is a collection of photographic albums and other materials primarily regarding the construction of the Rochester subway system, under the direction of Mayor Clarence D. Van Zandt. A few items are related to Van Zandt's personal and political life. The materials date between 1909 and 1925.

Arrangement

This collection consists of 13 boxes into two series.

Series I: Rochester Subway Construction Photographic Volumes, 1922-1925

Sub-series A: Bound Subway Construction Photographic Volumes

Sub-series B: Loose Subway Contruction Photographs and Materials

Series II: Rochester Cathedral Bound Photo Album, undated

Series III: Clarence Van Zandt Scrapbook, 1909-1921

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased by the Rochester Public Library as a collection from the Simco Galleria antiques store in Canandaigua. The materials came to Simco after being discovered in the building of the Anderson Van Horn Insurance Company on South Main Street, Canandaigua. How they came to be in this building is unknown, though it is suspected that they may have been brought there by Mayor Van Zandt's son, who was connected with the insurance company.[Accession number 2016.004] The scrapbook on the career of Mayor Van Zandt was transferred to the Rochester Public Library on August 28, 2019 from the Ontario County Historical Society. This scrapbook was found in trash being removed from the Anderson Van Horn building. [Accession number 2019.041]

Condition Description

Good.

Subjects

Geographic

Temporal

Van Zandt, Clarence D.,1853-1926

Topical

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: A guide to the Rochester subway construction photographs collection
Status: Completed
Author: Kayla Jackson
Date: 2018-11-17
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: Undetermined
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: English

Purchase: Rochester subway construction photographs collection
Transfer: Mayor Clarence Van Zandt scrapbook