Here at the Center for Brooklyn History, we collect anything and everything related to Brooklyn history. That includes materials related to our borough's many schools, such as yearbooks and high school newspapers, documenting Brooklyn's long educational history. But did you know we also have artifacts from Brooklyn schools? Brooklynites have shown their school pride in all kinds of ways through the generations, and we collect and document it all, from our broad composite Brooklyn schools collection to collections of material from specific schools or individuals. In honor of Back to School season, here's a look at some of the school artifacts we have here at CBH.
Pins and buttons
By far the largest category of artifacts in our school collections is pins and buttons, including many round printed buttons like these relatively simple ones from Erasmus Hall High School and the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing, respectively.
Erasmus Hall High School pins, circa early 1940s; Box 1, Folder 21, Erasmus Hall collection, ARC.230. LICHSON 100th anniversary badge, 1983; Box 30, Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records, 2014.006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
The first school to be chartered by New York State, Erasmus Hall Academy was founded as a private school in 1786 by Dutch settlers in the town of Flatbush in Kings County (the present-day borough of Brooklyn). The Academy's original building was built on land donated by the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church the following year. The Academy was deeded to the City of Brooklyn in 1896, after which it became a public high school named Erasmus Hall High School.
The Long Island College Hospital (LICH) was founded in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn in 1858. The LICH Training School for Nurses, popularly known as the LICH School of Nursing or LICHSON, was established in 1883.
Here's another example of a button from Erasmus, highlighting the tenure of Harriet Oxman, Erasmus's first female principal. Oxman had started as a teacher at Erasmus in 1957, and became assistant principal in 1964 and then principal in 1972, a position she held until 1981. She was the fifth principal of Erasmus, and its only female principal. CBH holds a collection of her papers and memorabilia from her time at the school.
Harriet Oxman photograph button, circa 1980s; Box 4, Harriet Oxman Erasmus Hall High School collection, CBHM.0012. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Here's another round button from the Oxman collection: "It's Best in Brooklyn: Brooklyn Public High Schools."
"It's Best in Brooklyn" button, circa 1980s; Box 4, Harriet Oxman Erasmus Hall High School collection, CBHM.0012. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
But did you know that many schools produced intricate metal pins for students to show their school pride? Here are some examples from Thomas Jefferson High School in East New York, LICHSON, and Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights.
Thomas Jefferson High School metal pendent, 1944; Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
LICH pin, circa early 20th century. School of Nursing pin, circa 1960s-1990s. Box 30, Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records, 2014.006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Packer pin with P on chain, circa 1900s-1940s; Box 555, Folder 32. Class of 1890 pin that belonged to B. Eddy, 1890; Box 555, Folder 10. Packer Collegiate Institute records, 2014.009. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Class of 1886 pin, 1886; Box 555, Folder 7. Class of 1873 "Corona" pin, 1873; Box 555, Folder 3. "Resona" pin, circa 1872; Box 555, Folder 2. Packer Collegiate Institute records, 2014.009. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
We hold the records of the Packer Collegiate Institute at CBH, which include materials dating from approximately 1780 to 2020. The school was first established as the Brooklyn Female Academy in 1845. The school burned down on New Years' Day, 1853, and reopened in 1854 with the assistance of funds from Mrs. Harriet Packer. One condition of Packer's donation was her request for the dissolution of the Brooklyn Female Academy Corporation, which became the Packer Collegiate Institute. Prominent Brooklyn architect Minard LaFever designed the Gothic Revival building, presently known as Founders Hall. The school became co-educational in 1972 and is still in operation today.
Students also had pins to show off their affiliations with various student groups, such as these two: one for the sorority Lambda Epsilon Phi at Packer and one for the Radiology program at the Long Island College Hospital.
Lambda Epsilon Phi sorority pin that belonged to Markwald, circa 1902; Packer Collegiate Institute records, 2014.009. LICH Radiology pin, 1992; Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records, 2014.006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Patches
We also hold fabric patches, of which these are two examples. One is a uniform badge from LICH, and the other is a letterman badge from James Madison High School. These fabric letters were awarded to student athletes who participated on varsity teams. James Madison High School was founded in Midwood in 1925, and has had many famous graduates, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Judge Judy Sheindlin, and Senators Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer.
LICH uniform patch, circa 1980s-1990s; Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records, 2014.006. James Madison High School "M" fabric patch, circa mid-20th century; Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Pennants
Of course a classic way to show school spirit is with a felt pennant. This one is from Bay Ridge High School, as the initials indicate. The school's colors were also the title of its literary magazine: "Maroon and White." This school no longer exists, but its building is now home to the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology. The second pennant shown here is not the traditional triangle shape, but it is made out of the same kind of felt. It's from St. John's Preparatory School, which was founded in 1870 in connection with St. John's College (later University) and was located in Bedford-Stuyvesant until 1972. The school reopened in Astoria, Queens in 1981.
Bay Ridge High School fabric pennant, "B.R.H.S.", circa early 20th century; Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
St. John's Prep felt pennant, circa late 1940s; Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Autograph albums
Our Brooklyn schools collection has a whole box of these delightful volumes full of notes both clever and heartfelt. Some, like the one below from P.S. 39 in Park Slope (which opened in 1877), are customized to the school, whereas others are generic volumes that have been personalized by their former owners.
P.S. 39 autograph album, 1943. Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Ribbons and medals
Our collections also contain many ribbons and medals from various schools. For several years at the turn of the last century, Girls' High School, then located in Bedford-Stuyvesant in an 1886 building that still stands today, produced these colorful ribbons for commencement. Each sports a decorative border and class year, along with a Latin phrase. The Latin phrases on these five ribbons are: "Semper ad perfectum" (always to perfection), "Per augusta ad augusta" (through trials to triumph), "Labore et honore" (by labor and honor), "Successus per constantiam" (success through consistency), and "Fides invicta triumphat" (invincible faith triumphs).
Commencement ribbons, 1895-1903; Girls' High School collection, ARC.128. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Erasmus seal medal with ribbon, circa 1960s-1980s; Harriet Oxman Erasmus Hall High School collection, CBHM.0012. LICH 50th anniversary medal, 1909; Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records, 2014.006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
We also hold medals like these two examples. On the left is the Erasmus Hall High School seal, and on the right is a 1909 medal commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Long Island College Hospital in 1909.
Other materials
Packer spoon, circa late 19th century; Packer Collegiate Institute records, 2014.019. St. Saviour's Parochial School Rose Marie Sinnot identification tag, circa 1940s; Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
We also hold some more unusual artifacts in our school collections. Above is a commemorative spoon from Packer Collegiate Institute. It features an engraved decoration of a pelican feeding its young in a nest. The pelican is an emblem of the school and is featured on many of the materials in the Packer collection.
The second item here is a school identification badge once owned by Rose Marie Sinnot (nee Yuppa). It was worn by Sinnot and other students at St. Saviour's Parochial School in Park Slope.
Lastly, though this does not technically qualify as an "artifact" (which in an archival context is traditionally a term only for three-dimensional objects), I couldn't resist including this 1937 poster from the National Academy of Beauty Culture. The academy was founded by Carlotta E. Lamy. This poster was produced in conjunction with the "Cavalcade of Beauty Culture" which was held at the Brooklyn Palace at Fulton Street and Rockaway Avenue in Ocean Hill on June 14th, 1937. The event is described as "the greatest colored beauty culture historical story ever before the public," and includes the role of "Myria," described as a "modern Mme. Walker beautician," played by academy instructress Miss Pearl I. Moore.
National Academy of Beauty Culture poster, 1937; Brooklyn schools collection, CBHM.0006. Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
As these items show, CBH's collections on Brooklyn schools contain a wide selection of items, which collectively help to tell the story both of Brooklyn's educational history, and the lives of the many students who studied in our borough. Come and visit us to learn more, and best wishes for the start of the school year.
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
