#nyuspecialcollections

by Michael Grant

This week we published a piece on our special collections blog, The Back Table, detailing our work on a collection of hundreds of short actuality films of New York City c. 1952.  Shot in stunning black and white by Richard Leacock for an NYU promotional film (titled simply New York University) by Willard Van Dyke, the films present surprising, candid, often delightful views of the city at mid-century.

Read more about the project, and enjoy some of the films below!

https://wp.nyu.edu/specialcollections/2020/04/28/scenes-of-the-city-the-production-and-preservation-history-of-films-from-the-george-amberg-and-robert-gessner-papers/

These films are part of the George Amberg and Robert Gessner Papers (MC.199), held by NYU Special Collections.

“Spaghetti Joint” (MC.199, ref642-198)

“Polish & Sweep” (MC.199, ref578 & ref680-313)

Pedestrians crossing the street (MC.199, ref563-081)

Traffic on FDR Drive (MC.199, ref661)