Handwritten petition by John Peter Zenger and John Paeck describing harsh conditions inside the City Hall jail.
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Winners of the 1949 Fashion Critics Awards pose in this historic footage.
Video of Shirley Chisholm announcing her 1972 presidential campaign, becoming the first Black candidate under the Democratic Party.
Explore footage of David N. Dinkins’ historic 1990 inauguration as New York City’s first Black mayor, featuring his speech, performances, and the official oath.
On February 3, 1964, more than 450,000 students boycotted NYC schools to protest segregation, creating one of the largest civil rights demonstrations.
Chinatown residents march in 1937 Friends of China Parade celebrating Chinese heritage and protesting Japanese occupation.
Sample 2025 Democratic primary ballot showing ranked choice voting for Mayor, Comptroller, and Borough President.
Map showing farmland owned by formerly enslaved New Yorkers, with each plot labeled with the owner’s name.
Red address book carried by Malcolm X at the time of his assassination in 1965. It contains handwritten contacts of friends and civil rights associates.
1917 voter registration book from New York listing women’s names following the state’s adoption of women’s suffrage.
Black and white photograph of Mayor Ed Koch signing the 1986 gay rights bill at his desk in New York City.
Handwritten statement to the town clerk announcing the birth of a child to an enslaved woman, signed and recorded as an official document.