Series 1: Periodicals, Documents & Objects, 1940 - 1977
Scope and Contents
The Harvey Mordetsky Collection comprises approximately 5,000 photographs of street railway and trolley lines operative in the New York metropolitan area, including Long Island and Staten Island, as well as other areas of the United States, and select foreign locations. Approximately 1,700 35-mm color slides showing trolley lines in Canada, Europe, and the United States is an additional feature of the collection. Footage of these same services is additionally captured in a series of moving image artifacts. Non-photographic materials include 282 BMT and NYCT trolley and bus transfers, trolley and transit periodicals, and personal effects/memorabilia belonging to Mordetsky.
Dates
- 1940 - 1977
Creator
- Mordetsky, Harvey (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Extent
2.3 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Series Outline
Series 1: Periodicals, Documents & Objects
- 1.1: Annual Reports
- 1.2: Guidebooks and Maps
- 1.3: Periodicals
- 1.3.1: Roll Sign
- 1.3.2: General Historical Publications
- 1.3.3: North American Publications
- 1.3.4: International Publications
- 1.3.5: Electric Railroaders Association Publications
- 1.5: Objects
- 1.6: Personal Memorabilia
Series Description
The Periodicals, Documents & Objects series contains printed materials collected by Harvey Mordetsky, including maps of the various trolley systems pictured in later series in the collection. While none of the subseries is comprehensive, each represents the materials Harvey Mordetsky had collected alongside the vast photographic contents comprising the remainder of the series. Series 1 is subdivided by document format and scope, and includes reports, guidebooks, service maps, and transit-related ephemera. The last subseries, comprising personal memorabilia, affords the collection’s only glimpse into Mordetsky’s private life, and contains a vinyl record, a vestige of his vast audio collection, and some correspondence addressed to him at his office of employment.
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Reading Room Repository