Public School (PS) 23 collection

Collection

Identifier: 2012.022-2004.021

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of class materials, objects, photographs, and printed material either salvaged or donated by various individuals. The class materials include teacher's master copies of worksheets, student evaluations, and students' notes. The objects consist of 4 autograph albums donated by former students, an artwork, and two drawers filled with student report cards. The photographs mostly consist of class photographs, in black and white, although there are a few in color. These photos range in date from the early 1920s-1984. Printed material includes books and booklets used by teachers in the classroom, plus journals, brochures, and newsletters used by teachers as supplemental material. Unfortunately, many of the digitized materials in PastPerfect are missing, such as student evaluations and color photographs from a class field trip. It is also unclear who owned some of the photographs in the albums and whether or not they depict PS 23 in their entirety. MOCA held an exhibition in 1991 called, "What Did You Learn in School Today? PS 23, 1893-1976," which brought in many of the class photographs and autograph albums. In addition, MOCA organized reunions for graduates of PS 23, which also drew many visitors and photograph donations. Objects are also searchable via PastPerfect Online System at http://mocanyc.pastperfectonline.com/randomimages.

Dates

Majority of material found in 1920s-1991

Language of Materials

Most of the material is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

For reference use only; not for reproduction, distribution, or deposit in another collection. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Director of Collections. If publishing, cite: Public School (PS) 23 Collection, Museum of Chinese in America.

Biographical / Historical

Public School (PS) 23 was located in the heart of New York's Chinatown, at 70 Mulberry Street. Designed by C. B. J. Snyder, an architect and superintendent of school buildings for the New York City Board of Education, the building was constructed in 1892 in a Norman Romanesque Revival style. The school closed in 1976. In 1984, the New York Chinatown History Project inhabited four rooms on the second floor of the building. Eventually, this organzation became the Museum of Chinese in America, of which the Collections Department still resides in the space today. Other current residents of the building are Chen Dance Center and Chinatown Manpower Project Inc.

Extent

8.33 Linear Feet (2 boxes (one standard; one large photo box) plus 3 oversize objects) : 8 linear feet of paper documents, books, journals, objects, and photographs