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preservation

Bronson Binger: An Oral History Interview

An Oral History Interview with Bronson Binger
Conducted by Melissa Brunette
October 17th, 2008
174 East 80th Street, New York, 10075

Preserving New York: Winning the Right to Protect a City's Landmarks

Preserving New YorkPreserving New York: Winning the Right to Protect A City’s Landmarks (Routledge, 2007) is the story of the people and places, the buildings and battles, and the policies and politics that, after decades of tragic losses, led New York City to create a legal mechanism to protect the city’s cherished landmarks.

Research and Operations Internship

The New York Preservation Archive Project offers summer and semester-long internship positions to qualified graduate and undergraduate students in historic preservation, history, architectural history, or a closely related field. The position requires excellent written and oral communication skills, comfort with computers and online media, and knowledge of and interest in New York history and historic preservation.

Oral Histories

The Archive Project conducts an oral history program dedicated to documenting the experiences of New York City preservationists. By collecting eye-witness accounts of moments in preservation history, NYPAP aims to create a verifiable record of the movement and ensure that the work of these preservationists is not forgotten. Whenever possible, transcripts of the resulting interviews are made available on this website.

Internships

The NYPAP internship program was created for students with a special interest in both historic preservation and in archives. The goal of the program is to enhance students' awareness of career options in both fields while providing a qualified upper level student with the opportunity to immerse his or herself in a non-for-profit environment. In addition to involvement in the daily operations of the organization, the intern is asked to perform research and to write, edit, coordinate data. Academic internships typically run for a semester or during the summer.

Gardner Osborn

Biography

Gardner Osborn, a historian and preservationist, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1893. He attended Yale University and graduated in 1915. After graduation, Osborn moved to New York where he began working for the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency. He later worked as the publicity director for Bloomingdale's, and then went on to do public relations for the Downtown Owners Committee1.

  • 1. Clark, Alfred E. "Gardner Osborn, Preservationist, 86," New York Times, July 8, 1979.

Verna Small

Biography

Verna Small was born in Washington, D.C., in 19161. As a young girl, her parents fostered an aesthetic affinity for historic houses and "older objects"2. Her mother was particularly passionate about houses and a believer in "bricks and mortar"3.

  • 1. Ed Gold "Verna Small, 92, leading Village preservationist" The Villager Volume 78/Number 12, August 20-26, 2008.
  • 2. Weiner, Vicki. Interview with Verna Small. May 19, 1996.
  • 3. Ibid.

Joan Maynard

Biography

Joan Maynard made lasting contributions to the preservation of African American history. As an artist, a preservationist, and a community organizer she used historical knowledge as a tool for disseminating the importance of African American heritage to future generations.