February 26, 2020

On February 26th, the New York Preservation Archive Project unveiled a new Preservation History Database entry on Hattie Carthan, the Tree Lady of Brooklyn, at an event honoring her legacy held at The Brooklyn Collection at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.

Marlon Rice, former director of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center in Bed-Stuy, spoke on the life, times, and context of Carthan’s efforts to landmark the magnolia grandiflora tree, which is the only living designated individual landmark in New York City.  

(L-R:  Peter Sohmer, the Archive Project’s Reisinger Scholar; Michelle Montalbano, Brooklyn Collection; Marlon Rice, the Magnolia Initiative; Brad Vogel, Archive Project Executive Director)

**Special thanks to the Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe Foundation and to Pat Reisinger for supporting roles with the Archive Project that led to research and publication of this important preservation story.