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archival black and white photo of children playing in a playground located in a NYCHA development
Public Housing Community Fund Top Story 

Public Housing Community Fund Receives a Grant to Expand NYCHA’s Archives at LaGuardia Community College 

LaToya

An archival collection that documents NYCHA’s history from the late 1920s through the present is set to be expanded and digitized, ensuring that important chapters of New York City’s history become more accessible. This project will help NYCHA communities deepen their understanding and appreciation of their shared histories. 

On May 29, the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF) announced it received a $493,000 grant from the Leon Levy Foundation to support the revitalization and expansion of NYCHA’s archival collection in partnership with LaGuardia Community College and the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.  

“In order to honor NYCHA’s history, we are preserving and enriching the archives to ensure that NYCHA residents and New Yorkers can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of public housing in the city for the years to come,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of Public Housing Community Fund. “As the largest public housing organization in the country that is currently home to over half a million residents, there’s no question about the importance and magnitude of NYCHA’s archival collection, and we are grateful for the Leon Levy Foundation’s ongoing commitment to historic preservation.”  

“A primary focus of the Foundation over 21 years has been to help New York’s most prominent civic and cultural institutions organize, catalogue and archive their historical material,” said Shelby White, founding trustee of the Leon Levy Foundation. “We are pleased to support the Public Housing Community Fund in helping preserve, share, and sustain NYCHA’s important records.” 

The expansion of the archival collection is part of a three-year project, “Revitalizing NYCHA’s Archives: Honoring our Legacy, Building our Future,” which will help capture the full breadth, depth, and culture of NYCHA. The main focus will be the expansion and digitization of NYCHA’s existing archives, which includes NYCHA’s extensive collection of photographs, documents, and artifacts being transferred to the LaGuardia and Wagner Archive at LaGuardia Community College, where they will be properly scanned, catalogued, and made accessible online. As part of the effort, a trained project processing archivist well-versed in New York City history will ensure that the historical assets being added to the existing collection are meticulously organized and preserved. 

An oral history component of the project will capture the personal stories and experiences of current NYCHA residents to further enrich the archives and preserve community narratives. PHCF’s Oral Historian at Kingsborough Houses will expand their role by scaling the production and recording of oral histories across more NYCHA communities. 

The project will culminate in a comprehensive “StoryMap,” an interactive web-based platform that will showcase content featuring maps, videos, historic documents, oral histories, and photographs. It will feature NYCHA collection materials currently not on display to the public, making the collection even more accessible. It will represent a comprehensive timeline of NYCHA’s history across all five boroughs with a particular focus on art and culture. 
 
“For nearly a century, NYCHA has been home to generations of New Yorkers, whose stories have been deeply woven into the fabric of New York City,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We send our sincere appreciation to the Leon Levy Foundation, as well as our partners at the Public Housing Community Fund, LaGuardia Community College, and LaGuardia Wagner Archives, for recognizing the importance of this project and for their collaboration in celebrating the impactful history of NYCHA communities across the five boroughs.” 

“Preserving NYCHA’s history — both of the Authority and the residents we serve — is a critical component of our work,” said NYCHA Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Barbara Brancaccio. “This generous grant allows us to revitalize and expand upon NYCHA’s robust archives, digitizing and preserving them in perpetuity for residents, New Yorkers, and the general public to enjoy and interact with — and encourages us to celebrate the rich and storied legacy of generations of public housing residents across New York City.”

“LaGuardia Community College and the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives are proud to be the repository for NYCHA’s Archive,” said Jennifer Jensen, Director of the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives. “Scholars, researchers, and New York City residents benefit from a hundred years of documentation on NYCHA’s 335 housing complexes and the storied history of its residents. The collection uncovers the stories of people who have built and lived in the city and point at the future of urban housing. The archive is also a tremendous educational opportunity for our students, offering them the unique distinction of studying from original documentation—an experience that expands their understanding of New York, and how it relates to their lives —showing them that their stories are a part of our city’s history.” 

Learn more about the NYCHA Collection at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives. 

Featured photo credit: NYCHA Collection at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.