Join us for a captivating series of talks delving into the history and legacy of some of New York City’s most iconic institutions, spaces, and landmarks. From the architecture of the Gilded Age to the preservation of historic neighborhoods in the twentieth century, this series invites art and architectural historians to present the stories behind New York’s distinctive urban and cultural landscape, highlighting the vision, innovation, and determination that built Old New York. 

On July 9, Anthony C. Wood presents Servant of Beauty: Landmarks, Secret Love, and the Unimagined Life of an Unsung New York Hero  (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025). This conversation with journalist and author Michelle Young delves into Wood’s recently published biography of Albert Sprague Bard (1866-1963), an attorney, civic activist, and energetic participant in urban affairs and historic preservation. Bard’s passion for protecting the beauty of the urban landscape propelled him into a David versus Goliath-like combat with Robert Moses and, after four decades of advocacy, paved the way for New York City’s Landmark Law of 1965—a law that protects 37,000 buildings today. According to author Anthony Wood, Bard is an uncelebrated Renaissance man and civic hero whose story will inspire and inform generations of citizens who continue his battle to preserve the beauty of the places they love. This conversation with architectural historian and author Michelle Young will explore Bard’s life and continued legacy—in New York City and beyond.