Grover Whalen, Commissioner of the Department of Plant & Structures, launched WNYC Radio in 1924. Through original programming and recordings made at City Hall events and press conferences, WNYC Radio reporters, engineers and producers captured a wide range of important cultural and political personalities. The Archives collection of sound recordings comprises lacquer phono-discs and audio tapes from 1937 to 1970.
Dating from 1949 to 1996, the WNYC TV moving image collection includes mayoral press conferences, dignitaries visiting City Hall, and educational films about city government.
In 1943, when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) ceased operation, the Municipal Archives acquired the manuscript records of the NYC Unit of the Federal Writers’ Project, including the photographs assembled to illustrate the publications; most notably the Guide to New York City and New York Panorama. The WPA staff acquired the photographs from their colleagues on the WPA Federal Art Project, commercial sources, and their own staff photographers. Caption information is generally the description originally recorded by WPA staff and date 1935-1943.
WPA Federal Writers' Project and Historical Records Survey records
