Visualizing Jewish New York

Jewish life in New York drew the attention of many prominent photographers whose affection and fascination for the city found diverse expression in the early and mid 20th century. During this time, the Jewish population of the city was growing exponentially; it reached 1.6 million in 1920. Naturally, The New York Public Library became home to extensive collections by both Jewish and non-Jewish photographers who offer intriguing snapshots of Ellis Island and street scenes from the Lower East Side, the hub of early 20th-century Jewish life in New York City. They demonstrate the many different approaches to capturing scenes and people. There are the socially driven “photo-studies” by Lewis Wickes Hine (1874–1940), the meticulous and exhaustive explorations of Lower East Side architecture and immigrant life by Percy Loomis Sperr (1890–1964), the ever-changing New York landscapes of Berenice Abbott (1898–1991), and Morris Huberland’s (1909–2003) intergenerational portrayals of the Jewish inhabitants of the Lower East Side. Together, these images celebrate the energy and aspirations of the vibrant, dynamic Jewish community of New York.