guest post by Alden Mudge
Who knew that the Ku Klux Klan was once active in New York City? Or that that in 1917 Leon Trotsky spent three months in New York City – in the Bronx, no less, before returning home to Russia to foment the Bolshevik Revolution?
“Not only that,” exclaims Kenneth T. Jackson, editor in chief of the newly revised Encyclopedia of New York City, “the headline in the Bronxville News, which later became The New York Post read, ‘Bronx Boy Starts Revolution.”
From the quirky to the authoritative, from entries about A&P [Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company] and the American Booksellers Association to ones about Zabar’s great Upper Westside delicatessen and Louis Zukofsky, a Brooklyn-born poet and substitute school teacher, The Encyclopedia of New York City, reveals the city like no other single-volume book has done before. With more than 700 luminous photos, illustrations and maps, it is also a feast for the eye.
Jackson orchestrated the efforts of 800 contributors and 60 assistant editors to produce a book with roughly 5,000 entries. Jackson himself wrote a number of them. And he has read them all.
“This is a book of synthesis,” Jackson says. “But there are cases where there is original research. Nowhere else, for example, will you find a concise history of the railroads and how they came together in New York.”
Jackson says his favorite entries tend to be the ones that pull together information that’s not easily available: an entry on the songs about New York City and the one about television programs made in New York, for example. “I like the one on graffiti. I think the architecture entry is exceptional.”
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To win a copy, read our interview with Jackson about the encyclopedia. Then come back and let us know which entry you think you’d most like to read—either one listed in this post or in the interview, or something that you think an encyclopedia of NYC just would not be complete without. We’ll pick a winner from the comments posted by 5 p.m. CST on Friday, December 3. Good luck!
ETA: Contest closed—congrats to commenter #21, Yvonne!
Oh my!! There is so much that I would like to read about. I’m originally from NJ, now living in Wisconsin for the past 17 yrs. Now and then I get a little homesick.
I would like to read about 9/11, the EZpass, publishing companies and so much more.
I would definitely love to win a copy of this GREAT BOOK!!
Thanks for the chance
I would love to look through the 700 luminous photos. I am a photographer at heart.
Merry Christmas
Sounds like a very interesting book. I would be especially interested in the entry on the songs about New York.
I’m In A New York State Of Mind New York can not be told without listing all dead and living famous people who have lived there
Oh, there must be so many things I’d be interested in. But I’d love to read more about the Flatiron Building, which I think is simply beautiful.
I’d like to read about the film industry in New York City.
I would love to see all of the pictures of the different things in NY
I would like to read about the history of NY especially about the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island and the lower East side!
As a native New Yorker now living in Las Vegas, I would love to read this book and savor the photographs–it would be like talking a wonderful walk down Memory Lane.
I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT NY BUT CAN,T GET AWAY AT THIS TIME BUT WOULD ENJOY LOOKING AT THE PLACES I HEAR ON THE NEWS.GENE
Reading this wonderful book, looking through the photographs, and learning about the immigrants who passed through Ellis Island is fascinating.
When I arrived at Ellis Island as part of the immigration process, I got a glimpse of New York before being whisked off to Detroit. This book would be fascinating reading.
I’d be interested in reading about any famous writers who
lived in NYC and wrote their first book while living in the Big Apple.
Looking at any pictures, but especially ones pertaining to 9/11, would be a big draw for me.
I am interested in the history of Washington Square. Was this the site of the first baseball game ever played?
Wow this is fascinating. Now I’m wondering if there is one for Chicago- that would be great. There are a ton I’d like to read!
I would love to reading any entries on the Flat Iron Building! Also, cemeteries in NYC.
Please inlude me in the giveaway. This book is loaded with so many stories and photos. If I win this I’d love to give this to my best friend. She just loves to read anything about NYC. Since she’s a huge Beatles fan I’m sure the answer would be to learn more about John Lennon’s days at the Dakota in NYC. Thank you.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net
I would love to read it all! I love history and New York in the early 1900′s is very fascinating. My daughter and I visit New York often and this would add to what we already have learned.
I’m sure the book includes an entry for Macy’s. That’s what I’d love to read about!
I’ve always been fascinated by the statue of George Washington on Wall Street. Would love to read about the huge part NYC played in the politics of an emerging
nation.
You’re getting your wish, Yvonne! Check your email for details.
I have the original encylopedia of NYC and the second will be a welcome addition to my home library. All the entries sound intriguing, especially interested in the Ku Klux Klan history.
i think the story of the subway system is fascinating. also, growing up in new york, i knew kareem abdul-jabbar when he was lew alcindor and went to rice high school (where my boyfriend went). also, for me, it would be a walk down memory lane. i grew up across the hudson river from yankee stadium. i had friends in the polo grounds. i remember when times square was rated XXX. good times, goooooo times. i mean the memories, not the times square thing.
I would like to read Joe DiMaggio’s entry.
This sounds like a fun encyclopedia. I like the fact it is just ONE book & not many volumes. I would like to read about the Subway Hero & all of the entries on 9/11.
I like what Jackson said about searching for things on the Internet. It’s true! One does only find the thing they may be looking for online…with the encyclopedia one may see stuff around what it is they are looking for & can learn & discover more. Great quote.
I’d like to read an entry about the “Stonewall Riots” which I hope he has covered in this great book. A perfect opportunity to read at one’s leisure, read a few entries, put it down and read some different entries a day or so later, or research something about New York that one discovers.
I would love lookng throught thephotographs, especially pertaining to the immigrants coming to the United States.
I was born in a suburb of NYC. I spent many summers in and around the city and lived there for a year after college. My son lived there for 3 years and we have relatives living in the city now. Even though I have moved several times, all out of NY state, I keep feeling the pull of the Big Apple. I would love to have the New York Encyclopedia and learn more of this fascinating place.
I would be interested to see the entry on Michael Bloomberg, please enter me in this week’s contest. Thank you!
I’m fascinated with Canal Street. I would love reading about its history.
Thank you, very interesting. Actually,I was born in Moscow in 1975 but my parents fled the country and came here in England. To be honest, I didnt really care much about my russian history until my mum died last month, now I’ve been trying to find out as much as I can. Seemed like food culture was as good a place as any to start from! You dont generally hear much about russian cuisine do you? Anyway, I found a lot of russian recipes here that your readers might be interested in .
I would be very interested in reading about Leon Trotsky in the Bronx!
While the idea of the KKK in New York is horrific to me, I am originally from the Bronx so my curiosity is definitely up about this and would like to read more about it. The entire book sounds fascinating!
I’d like to read about EVERYTHING New York. My husband is a former New Yorker and is always telling me how great New York is.
Fifteen years ago I moved from the heart of Manhattan to ‘stupid’ Florida. Not a minute goes by when I don’t miss New York desperately. I would especially love to read about the rich and resonant history of Carnegie Hall – one of America’s most famous landmarks. I’d also like to know more about why so many newly arrived immigrants chose to live on the lower East Side of Manhattan in six-storey walk-up tenament buildings with a bathtub in the kitchen and a lack of adequate plumbing. There’s nothing about New York that doesn’t interest me. New York has a beat, a special pulse and an intriguing history.
I would love to win this book. The photographs are something that would really interest me.
Definately a must read.
XBrooklyn Girl
I would love to read the entry about “The Subway Hero” Wesley Autry who saved the NYU Film Student having a seizure. What a great NYer!
This looks like a fabulous book!
Thank you for the chance to win it!
~~ Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com
I am a writer and would like to read about the publishers who have headquarters in NYC, and the kinds of magazines and books which they publish.
I LOVE READING ABOUT PEOPLE(DEAD AND ALIVE) NEW YORK HAS SUCH A INTENSE HISTORY. FROM THE 4 POINTS TO IMMIGRANTS TO GANGSTERS TO THE WORLD TRADE AND MORE. I WOULD LOVE TO READ ABOUT THE PEOPLE, REAL PEOPLE-WHO HAVE AND HAD REAL LIVES
The maps, photos and illustrations is what, for me,
is a big draw, as photos can show and express what
sometimes words cannot-they bring a book to life.
So many things I’d like to read about – the arrival of immigrants through Ellis Island, 9/11, the ethnic neighborhoods, the highway tunnels, and the list goes on.
I grew up in Manhattan and I would love to read everything this book has to offer. There is so much to learn about NYC – the best city in the world!
I would like to read more about the Subway Hero. What goes through the mind of a person who risks their own life to save the life of another.
I would love to read and learn about NY’s writers. There is such a storng writing culture there. This book sounds very interesting.
I would love to read about the Garment center in New York City, from past to present.
i would love to read about all the famous NEW YORKERS who were book worthy THANK YOU
I can’t pick just 1 or 2 things I would want to read about. I am interested in every detail of the city and want to learn as much about it as I can.
Being a native of the Chicago suburbs, I would be interested in reading about all the iconic pizza places in New York. I’ve never been to the city, but wouldn’t visit without trying some New York-style pizza.
I would love to see all the photos! I miss NY.