Center for Brooklyn History

Center for Brooklyn History The Center for Brooklyn History (CBH) is the most expansive collection of Brooklyn history in the world.
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All reference questions should be directed to [email protected]. Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) is now the Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library. By combining these institutions, the Center for Brooklyn History (CBH) becomes the most expansive collection of Brooklyn history in the world. The Center will democratize access to Brooklyn’s history and be dedicated to ex

panding and diversifying representation of the history of the borough by unifying resources and expertise, and broadening reach and impact throughout Brooklyn and beyond.

He brought Caribbean rhythms to American audiences. He stood fearlessly on the front lines of the civil rights movement....
09/07/2026

He brought Caribbean rhythms to American audiences. He stood fearlessly on the front lines of the civil rights movement. Harry Belafonte was more than an entertainer—he was a force for change. 🌍 ✨

Discover the full story of this extraordinary artist and activist with Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, author of Daylight Come: A Life of Harry Belafonte, joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Salamishah Tillet for an unforgettable conversation.

Monday, September 14, 2026
6:30–8 PM
Center for Brooklyn History

Learn More
🔗 https://bklynlib.org/4gz3RQX

🇫🇮 Hurraa, meillä on Norden! Norden (1979-1994) was a Finnish-language newspaper that provided coverage of news and even...
09/03/2026

🇫🇮 Hurraa, meillä on Norden! Norden (1979-1994) was a Finnish-language newspaper that provided coverage of news and events related to New York City's Finnish population. Norden is part of our Local Newspapers on Microfilm Collection, which consists of 89 Brooklyn-based newspapers on microfilm. Click here to learn more: https://bklynlib.org/47dRqUS
Norden, May 6, 1982

For most Americans, the story of the nation's founding begins and ends with a familiar cast of names: Washington, Jeffer...
09/03/2026

For most Americans, the story of the nation's founding begins and ends with a familiar cast of names: Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison. But what if one of the most influential architects of American democracy has been hiding in plain sight? 🇺🇸 📖

Join journalist Jesse Wegman in conversation with historian Alexis Coe as they discuss Wegman's new book "The Lost Founder."
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
6:30–8 PM
Center for Brooklyn History

Learn More 👈
🔗

For most Americans, the story of the nation's founding begins and ends with a familiar cast of names: Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison. But what if one of the most influential architects of American democracy has been hiding in plain sight?

09/02/2026

We've got a new database for our art and artifacts! Paintings! Baseballs! Surgical kits! Flags! Serving bowls! All the Brooklyn history you want, complete with descriptions, dates, creators, provenance, and MORE. Do yourself a favor and click here: https://bklynlib.org/4digNK3. Why? Because you can start searching RIGHT NOW.

The future demands transformation. But how do we build systems that are both sustainable and just? 🌍 Join us for a vital...
09/02/2026

The future demands transformation. But how do we build systems that are both sustainable and just? 🌍

Join us for a vital conversation with Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, Daniel Aldana Cohen, Keller Easterling, and Billy Fleming as they examine the intersection of climate policy, architecture, planning, and law—and what it will take to create a more equitable tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026
6:30–8 pm
Center for Brooklyn History

Save your spot today! 🔗 https://bklynlib.org/4wUT9u1

This program is presented in partnership with The Architectural League as part of their Architecture, Planning and International Law series, and the Climate and Community Institute.

Sometimes when working on a blog, background research never makes it into the final post. When that research involves tr...
09/01/2026

Sometimes when working on a blog, background research never makes it into the final post. When that research involves traveling across the country and contacting multiple other archives, it’s hard to follow the old, murderous editorial advice. Our latest Brooklynology blog post details research threads followed by the author while working on the three-part Hanging in Brooklyn series, as well as some threads she was unable to follow or would have tugged at if time allowed. Click here for the full story: https://bklynlib.org/4zOva2j
[Collage by author]: [Illustrations and Clippings], Edward Anthony Spitzka and Edward Charles Spitzka papers, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California.; The Boar Hunt, in the style of Jacques Houzeau ,1875-1900, The Huntington Library.

He brought Caribbean rhythms to American audiences. He stood fearlessly on the front lines of the civil rights movement....
09/01/2026

He brought Caribbean rhythms to American audiences. He stood fearlessly on the front lines of the civil rights movement. Harry Belafonte was more than an entertainer—he was a force for change. 🌍 ✨

Discover the full story of this extraordinary artist and activist with Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, author of Daylight Come: A Life of Harry Belafonte, joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Salamishah Tillet for an unforgettable conversation.

Monday, September 14, 2026
6:30–8 PM
Center for Brooklyn History

Learn More
🔗 https://bklynlib.org/4gz3RQX

The Per-Olof Ödman Swedish community photographs document the mostly Swedish-born, working class, and generally retired ...
08/31/2026

The Per-Olof Ödman Swedish community photographs document the mostly Swedish-born, working class, and generally retired Swedish Americans who lived and worked in Boerum Hill along Atlantic Avenue and Bay Ridge in the 1970s, as well as one book of the photographer's work titled De sista svenskarna. The photographs have been digitized and can be viewed by clicking here: https://bklynlib.org/4ixtlRg
[Fred and Mimmi Holmstrom], circa 1974, ODMAN_0012
[Miss Sweden pageant in Vasaparken], circa 1974, ODMAN_0108; [Older man standing on a city street], circa 1974, ODMAN_0001; [Sven, Märta, Karl and Roger Johanson and Oke Olson in Johanson's workshop on 65th Street], circa 1964, ODMAN_0105, Per-Olof Ödman Swedish community photographs

For decades, Rashad Robinson has helped shape some of the most influential social justice campaigns in the United States...
08/31/2026

For decades, Rashad Robinson has helped shape some of the most influential social justice campaigns in the United States. In his new book, From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter—and Win, Robinson draws on more than 20 years of organizing and advocacy to argue that visibility alone is never enough. 💪 ✊

Join him in conversation with acclaimed author and public policy expert Heather McGhee as they explore what it truly takes to create lasting change
Monday, September 28, 2026
6:30–8 PM
Center for Brooklyn History

Learn More
🔗 https://bklynlib.org/4bfZjgx

Address

128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY
11201

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

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+17182224111

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