Author: hiddenheritage

by

Mary Seat of Wisdom, In Constant Service to the St. John’s University Community

Authored by Stephanie Fortino Gonzalez

Mary, Seat of Wisdom statue in the St. Thomas More Church, St John's University Campus

Mary, Seat of Wisdom statue in the St. Thomas More Church, St John’s University Campus

Positioned towards the front of St. Thomas More Church on the St. John’s University campus, a bronze statue of a seated Mary quietly gazes down at the scripture on her lap. The Seat of Wisdom statue, a rare image depicting Mary in the late stages of her life, may seem like a peculiar choice for a youthful college campus. Yet, for the designers of the church, she was the only choice for this space.

Continue reading →

by

Le Tomahawk, the XIX Corps and the 29th Infantry Division in WWII

Authored by Ashley Candreva

'Le Tomahawk,' Newsletter for the XIX Corps, issue No. 1. 1944-06-18. Regarding the invasion of Normandy. Created by Major Ray Craft.

‘Le Tomahawk,’ Newsletter for the XIX Corps, issue No. 1. 1944-06-18. Regarding the invasion of Normandy. Created by Major Ray Craft.

Le Tomahawk is a corps newsletter created by Major Ray Craft [1] for the XIX Corps[2], which at the time this newsletter was written was made up of the 2nd and 3rd armored divisions, and 29th and 30th infantry divisions in WWII [3]. Ray Craft was a newsman from California who was the aide to Major General Charles H. Corlett [4], commanding general of the XIX corps beginning in April 1944. The XIX are most notable for their participation in D-Day, with the 29th infantry division[5] being 1 of 2 of the first divisions to land on the beach in Normandy on Omaha beach [6].

Continue reading →

by

Behind the Numbers: Vietnamese Refugees at Dong Rek Camp

Authored by Marilyn Diliberti

Background Memorandum on Refugee Admissions Program FY 1986

First of four pages summarizing projected refugee admissions for the 1986 fiscal year

More than a decade after Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho shook hands at the Hotel Majestic in Paris and the last weary American troops returned home, Vietnam still held the world’s attention in 1985. The Vietnamese endured economic and social hardship in the years following the official end of the Vietnam War and, with these new challenges, America turned its focus from war to the resettlement of refugees. The number is small; only 1035 Vietnamese refugees from the Dong Rek Camp were accepted for resettlement into the United States in 1985.[1]  Behind the numbers, though, is history that has been all but forgotten, hidden by the lingering shadow of the Vietnam War. Continue reading →

by

Mapping 19th Century London: A Place of Extreme Inequality

Authored by Christina Boyle

A map of London from 1815.

A map of 1815 London, England, published by “G. Jones.” The map is part of the digital collections of The New York Public Library.

This map of London, published in 1815, represents the large, bustling capital of England. Today, London is the metropolitan cultural center of Britain,1 but in the early 19th century, it was a city of the poor working class.2 During this time, renowned authors such as Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Charlotte Bronte were writing, setting their works in the London depicted in this map. The London that they knew was far different from that of today. This map depicts a city rich in history, with still-relevant main streets, docks, and landmarks that currently remain. It also captures the London that has been portrayed by these and other Napoleonic and Victorian writers: a smoggy and sooty city rife with poverty and distress. Continue reading →

An American in Berlin, 1936

Authored by Lindsay Jankovitz

Postcard written by J.J Cole to Edward J. Bartlett’s parents while at the Berlin Olympics, August, 1936 (front)

Postcard written by J.J Cole to Edward J. Bartlett’s parents while at the Berlin Olympics, August, 1936 (front)

This postcard was found among the collection I have been working with during my Academic Service-Learning component for course LIS 203 at Bard College. This collection details the letters of a student, Edward J. Bartlett, to his parents during his time at Bard College from 1936-1940 and while serving in World War II from 1943-1945. This postcard is unique in that it places Bartlett at the Berlin Olympics at a time when most Americans felt strongly about boycotting the event, and when many European scholars and artists were finding refuge at his college, including Hannah Arendt, Stefan Hirsch, and Werner Wolff. This postcard was written to Bartlett’s parents by J. J Cole, whose relationship to Edward J. Bartlett is currently unknown.



 Continue reading →

			

	
	



			
				



	
	


		
					

				 by 			

				
The Ward Brothers, World Champion Rowers

	


		

		
Authored by Kerin Santos


Studio Portrait of the Ward Brothers, Joshua and Gilbert appear seated in front, Henry and Ellis are standing behind.
The Ward Brothers, Winners of the Saratoga International Regatta (Joshua, Henry, Gilbert, Ellis) – From a Photograph by Baker & Record, Saratoga Springs


A group of distinguished athletes – all brothers – lived in the beautiful riverfront town of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York in the mid- to late-1800s (Norsen 1958, p. 20). These Ward Brothers took the world of competitive rowing by storm with their impressive talents. They were five of fourteen children born to Isaac and Winifred Ward. Isaac Ward, originally from Middle Hope outside of Newburgh, was an experienced seaman as a proprietor of fishing vessels, sloops, and “Yankee schooners” and was a hotel-owner as well (Norsen 1958, p.21). Isaac prided himself on teaching his sons to row and sail on the Hudson River from the time they were young and he shared with them everything he knew about the river and boats (Norsen 1958, p.21). From eldest to youngest, the brothers include William Henry (Hank), Charles, Joshua (Josh), Gilbert (Gil), and Ellis.


 Continue reading →

			

	
	



			
				



	
	


		
					

				 by 			

				
The Irondale Ensemble: Making Our World a Better Place

	


		

		
Authored by Yael Bronner


Photo of Irondale Ensemble
Members of Irondale in “Conversations in Exile.” Photo by Gerry Goodstein.


Imagine a theater company on a mission to educate as well as entertain. The Irondale Ensemble does just this, operating as a “performance think tank” and using the theater as a conduit for learning and growth.[1] Irondale delivers performances on thought-provoking topics and works tirelessly to attract the public through its community engagement programs.  The ensemble, located in Brooklyn, New York, was formed in 1983 and is composed of 12 members including actors, directors and designers.[2] It is funded by prominent cultural organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and The New York State Council on the Arts.[3]

 Continue reading →

			

	
	



			
				



	
	


		
					

				 by 			

				
Iceboating: A Local Tradition

	


		

		
Authored by Brittany LaValle


Photograph of an iceboat on the Great South Bay. Mitch Carucci, 2000
Photograph of an iceboat on the Great South Bay. Mitch Carucci, 2000


Bellport is a small town nestled on the south shore of eastern Long Island. Many know it as the waterside summer town that sleeps during the winter months. But during those winter months, a long held tradition comes alive. Residents dust off their coats, hats, and mittens and head towards Bellport Bay. There they gather to begin the long awaited iceboating season. Continue reading →

			

	
	



			
				



	
	


		
					

				 by 			

				
The Development of Borough Park

	


		

		
Authored by Laura Dellova


Part of Ward 30, Section 17; Map bounded by 12th Ave., 49th St., 9th Ave.; Including 37th St., 10th Ave., 39th St.
Part of Ward 30, Section 17; Map bounded by 12th Ave., 49th St., 9th Ave.; Including 37th St., 10th Ave., 39th St.


It has been intriguing to rectify the maps through New York Public Library’s Map Warper Program. As I went forth on this project I immediately chose to work with a map from Brooklyn. This map—made in 1905 in the area we now know as Borough Park—shows an address that is very close to my heart. In 1925 my great-grandparents bought a house on 43rd between 12th and Fort Hamilton Avenue. It is the house where my grandmother spent her childhood years and years later the same house is where my parents lived when they first got married.


This is an important piece of my family history and I wanted to look into the development of this neighborhood. This map was made as a result of the areas suburbanization, transforming the once fertile farmland. In 1905 the twentieth assembly district known as Borough Park, the population was in total of 81,365 inhabitants.[1] 76,214 of those were citizens and the remaining 5,151 were foreigners, telling me that this was a neighborhood that catered more to those who were already citizens. This number was important in my understanding of the history and the social as well as physical growth of Borough Park as a community. Continue reading →

			

	
	



			
				



	
	


		
					

				 by 			

				
Albert Payson Terhune

	


		

		
Authored By Molly Towers


Albert Payson Terhune pictures with wife Anice Terhune and three of their dogs
Courtesy of Emanuel Einstein Memorial Library: Pompton Lakes, New Jersey


Albert Payson Terhune was born on December 21, 1872 in Newark, New Jersey (2003). He is pictured here with his second wife Anice Terhune on the porch of their home on the Sunnybank estate property-now known as a literary landmark (and dog park) (Haggin, 1999). Terhune is an author (best known for his dog stories) with one of his more popular books being “Lad: A Dog” (1999).  He had a love of dogs and his stories made an impact on many of his readers in a profound way-“…in some ineffable way he transmuted his great loves into the hearts of other people so that they loved them almost as intensely as he did” (Irving, 1977: 7).  Continue reading →