Sometimes, in order to track down a photo of a certain place in a certain era, you will need to know the name of a photographer that was known for his or her work in those circumstances. Berenice Abbott, Lewis Hine, Percy Loomis Sperr, Jacob Riis, Edward Steichen, Walker Evans, Weegee, Garry Winogrand, Leonard Freed, Diane Arbus, and Alice Austen are among examples of people who photographed New York City profusely. Their photos may be easier to locate by searching for their names rather than by what is depicted in their works. Books such as Cityscapes: A History of New York in Images are useful for identifying famous New York photographers and the time periods in which they worked. Use the Photography Division’s Prints & Photographs Online Catalog to search for photographers by name in addition to the library’s regular catalog. The Wallach Division of Art, Prints, & Photographs can provide assistance in researching particular photographers.
Other Places to Look:There are several institutions that are renowned for their photo archives and have rich collections of New York City images. In addition to the NYPL, you may want to reach out to the following organizations:
Municipal ArchivesDigital MetroBrooklyn Public LibraryQueens Public LibraryMuseum of the City of New YorkNew York Historical SocietyBrooklyn Historical SocietyBrooklyn Museum Library & ArchivesBrooklyn Visual HeritageBronx County Historical SocietyStaten Island Historical SocietyInternational Center of PhotographyLibrary of CongressDigital Public Library of AmericaNew York State ArchivesSmithsonian Institution Wikipedia also has a list of other Photo Archives