Customer Reviews

New York in the Thirties (New York City)

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If you can't afford the recent huge hardback Changing New York but still love elegant black and white photos that offer a peephole into the New York city of the Depression, than you should not hesitate to get this wonderful volume. It's well bound too.

This book and similar ones for other decades are a wonderful trip through history by the use of photography and words that supplement what we read, hear about or have experienced. As a native New Yorker, looking through this book (that was originally a WPA project (Works Progress Administration)), it brings back memories of places that either still existed when I was young or are no longer present. In any event, it is worth it to see these photos for anyone who has any sense of or interest in history. Looking at this decade, the 1930's (mid to late), one can see how rapidly New York City and its surroundings grew over a few short decades. There is one photograph of a downtown sea plane landing area for wealthier commuters to the financial district that is interesting.The few little buildings across the street from this East River landing spot not but a few decades later would be 111 Wall Street that was a Citi Bank, now CitiCorp banking building. It is also near the Seaport Museum.
In the lobby area of the building there was (still is?) a small area dedicated to objects dating back to Colonial New York City, even a tri-corner hat, shoes, etc.)

WOnderful overview gives good idea about what 1930s was like--I think lots of set designers would look at this to see how things looked!

Great for people who have been there or are there now. Good capture.