An interview of Nancy Rubins conducted 2012 Aug. 7, by Hunter Drohojowska-Philp, for the Archives of American Art, at Topanga Studio, in Topanga, Calif.
Biographical / Historical:
Nancy Rubins (1952- ) is a sculptor and installation artist in Topanga, Calif. Hunter Drohojowska-Philp is a writer and art historian in Los Angeles, Calif.
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.
Restrictions:
This interview is open for research. Contact Reference Services for more information.
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Work and Industry Search this
Extent:
12 Cubic feet (36 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
1914-1923
Summary:
The collection consists of photographic negatives relating to a valuation study of the New York Central Railroad dating from 1914 to 1923.
Scope and Contents:
Collection consists of over 3,500 photographic negatives relating to a valuation study of the New York Central Railway. These materials include images of bridges, structures, stations, railroad cars, and other subjects. Certain negatives also capture glimpses of everyday life including families outside of company-owned housing, railroad employees at work, busy city scenes, advertisements, automobiles, and in some cases, the surveyors at work. The negatives begin with valuation survey number twenty-seven and end with 145. These negatives date from 1914 to 1923 with the bulk dating from 1916 to 1921. The negatives are arranged sequentially according to their valuation survey (VS) numbers, which denote specific geographic areas along the railway lines. Geographic locations were identified using copies of valuation survey maps from the Pennsylvania State Archives.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into one series.
Related Materials:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Grand Central Terminal Collection (NMAH.AC1071)
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana (NMAH.AC.0060)
James Forgie Papers (NMAH.AC.0986)
Clayton M. Hall Collection of Railroad Photographs (NMAH.AC1168)
Foundation Company Records (NMAH.AC.0974)
Thomas Norrell Railroad Photographs Collection (NMAH.AC.1174)
John H. White, Jr. Railroad Reference Collection (NMAH.AC.0523)
Cummings Structural Concrete Company Records (NMAH.AC.0218)
Provenance:
Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company donated the collection in 1986.
Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
VS 66 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Mohawk Division. It includes the land near Hoffmans, New York. Negatives include views of a cabin at Schenectady and outhouses.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
One negative, unknown location and subject, undated.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 84 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Buffalo Division. It includes the area near Main Street in Buffalo, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include William Street, Curtiss Street and Sackets Harbor.
Negatives include views of a covered walkway, William Street Station, signal depot buildings, a freight office, an overpass, Tower "T", Curtiss Street Exp. Building, a Sackets Harbor stock chute, dwellings, "Y" yard office and a Sackets Harbor oil house.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 51 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Electric Division. It includes the land nearest to Grand Central Station in New York City. Negatives include views of buildings.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 52 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Electric Division. It includes the land between East 72nd Street and North White Plains. Locations depicted in the negatives include Woodlawn, Scarsdale, Fordham, Claremont Park, William's Bridge, Mount Vernon, Crestwood, Bronxville, and Morrisania. Negatives include views of an automobile garage, passenger stations and station platforms, the interior of a passenger station, a station overpass, Hotel Gramatan, automobiles, sheds, silos, Woodlawn Station, Claremont Park Station, 171 Street Station, 183 Street Station, Scarsdale Station, Melrose Station, 125th Street Station platforms, and 139th Street Station.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 53 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Harlem Division. It includes the land between Melrose, New York and Port Morris, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include Port Morris. Negatives include views of the Webster Ice Company, water towers, Port Morris Chemical Works, and Dykeman's Station.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 54 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Harlem Division. It includes the land between North White Plains, New York and Chatham, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include Pleasantville,
Millerton, Lake Mahopac, Millerton, Sharon, Thornwood, and Dover Plains. Negatives include views of passenger stations, restrooms, a station restaurant, a station platform and railcar, storage sheds, a freight station, an automobile house, Pleasantville Station, Hawthorne Station, Brewster P.S., Millerton Station, Lake Mahopac Station, Sharon Station, and Thornwood Station.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 127 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Pennsylvania Division. It includes the land between Tioga and Waterville, Pennsylvania. Locations depicted in the negatives include Cammal, Blockwell and Middlebury. Negatives include views of a water tank, small buildings, stations, a barn, Cammal Station, Blockwell Station, dwellings, and Middlebury Station.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 55 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Harlem Division. It includes the land between Golden's Bridge, New York and Lake Mahopac, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include Lake Mohopac. Negatives include views of a freight house.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 56 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Putnam Division Main Line. It includes the area between 155th Street and Putnam Junction. Locations depicted in the negatives include Getty Square, Briarcliff Manor, Dunwoodie, Lowerre, Caryl, Mosholu, Nepperhan, Mount Hope, Gray Oaks, Bryn Mawr Park, and Depew. Negatives include views of telegraph buildings, water tanks, Getty Square, Briarcliff Manor, Dunwoodie Station, Lowerre Station, Caryl Station, a Mosholu shelter house, a Nepperhan Gate cabin, Mount Hope, a Gray Oaks shelter house, Bryn Mawr Park, along with black and white contact prints of a hay barn annex and Depew.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 57 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Hudson Division. It includes the area near the 30th Street Branch. Locations depicted in the negatives include the Peter Clark Iron Works, Pier E, the hay barn annex at 33rd Street, the hay barn office at 33rd Street, West 59th freight station, an outbound freight house, the HO14 exchange, the Loth Street sheep house, the Hammond Company, the Manhattanville Branch, the 30th Street Branch flag cabin, the 30th Street freight house, the 65th Street Engine House, and the 65th Street yard lumber inspector's house.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 58 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Electric Division. It includes the area near the Leased Water Terminals in New York City. Negatives include views of the 42nd Street freight station and interior view of an office.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 59 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Electric Division. It includes the area between Mott Haven Junction and Croton on Hudson. Locations depicted in the negatives include Riverdale and Croton. Negatives include views of bridges, water tanks, Croton Station, a station with passengers waiting on platform, Riverdale Station, tunnels, and the Inwood Passenger Station.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 60 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Hudson Division. It includes the area between Croton and Rensselaer. Locations depicted in the negatives include Castleton, Newton Hook, Montrose, Poughkeepsie, Duchess, Garrison, Hamburg, Manitou, Germantown, North Germantown, Peekskill, Annsville, Tivoli, Stuyvesant, Greendale, Shodock Landing, Camelot, Stockport, Hudson Pass, Hyde Park, Staatsburg, Barrytown, Montrose, Crugers, Oscawana, Linlithgo, Greendale, and Rensselaer. Negatives include views of Castleton Station, Newton Hook Station, Montrose Station, Poughkeepsie Station, Duchess Station, Garrison Station, Hamburg Station, Manitou Station, Germantown Station, Peekskill Station, an Annsville stable, Tivoli station, a Stuyvesant ice house, a Stuyvesant ice house chute, Stuyvesant Station, Peekskill Passenger Station, the Peekskill Station canopy, Cabin number 1133, a Garrison tell tale cabin, Manitou Station, Tower number 41, Peekskill Signal Tower number 39, Manitou Tower number 42, Bronx Road House, a dynamo house, a Master of the Watch yard, a Master of the Watch office, freight houses, a motor car house, water tanks, crossing cabins, Newton Hook Tower number 88, Hudson Passenger Station, Greendale Passenger Station, Stuyvesant Passenger Station, Castleton Passenger Station, Shodock Landing Passenger Station, Corliss Engines machine shop in Fishkill, Camelot Watch Tower number 55, New Hamburg drawbridge, Hyde Park freight house and stock yard, a bunk house, a stock pen, a store house, a lumber shed, an ash pit, cabins, ice houses, dwellings, a machine shop, flag cabins, freight offices, an iron shed, a tool house, "Seale" House, a coal bin, a signal power house, a Commissar's Building, a paint house, a laborer's house, a materials rack, a paint shop, a gas tank, a mail crane, a lab house, a pump house, a carpentry shop, a blacksmith shop, a store house, a water department, a carpenter shop, a turntable cabin, a coal shed, a signal storehouse, horses and carriages, a station platform with passengers, a railroad crossing, outhouses, sheds, Tower number 71, water towers, signal towers, a station, wagon, an office, people, maintenance of way office, an oil house, store houses, signal stations, the Peekskill cabin on West Street, the Peekskill stable grounds, Oscawana Station, a New Hamburg signal tower, Castleton Tower number 95, mail hooks, Linlithgo Station, Schodock Landing Station, Stuyvesant Tower number 90, watch cabin at Building 307, Newton Hook Tower number 88, a Schodock Landing outhouse, Signal Tower number 84, a flag cabin, Tivolo Passenger Station, Germantown Passenger Station, outhouse at Building 1523, dwelling at Tower number 93 at Schodock Landing, Building 1635 at Schodock Landing, Building 1631 at Schodock Landing, Building 1516 at Germantown, Building 1517 at Germantown, Building 1536 at Greendale, Greendale Station outhouse, Rensselaer water silo, Schodock landing outhouse at Building 1633, Castleton outhouse at Tower number 95, an ash pit, watch shanty at Tower number 55, coal house at New Hamburg station and a Track Superintendent office.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 61 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Mohawk Division. It includes the area near Troy, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include Adams Street and Monroe Street. Negatives include views of Adams Street Passenger Station, a freight house, a Monroe Street crossing cabin, a passenger station iron works, a Brakemen's cabin, Section House number 20, a car knocker locker, a police shanty, Section House number 18, dwellings, a motor car house, Troy ice house, an inspection cabin, a boiler house, a hose box, an oil house, a Yard Master's office, a police cabin, a watch box, a passenger station coal box, a dope house, an iron and lumber shed, an ash loading platform, a casting shed, a cabin at scale house, a boiler house, a scale house, a passenger station, a tool house, a blacksmith shop, a coupler rack, a shed for bolts, an iron shed and a car inspection building.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 62 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Mohawk Division. It includes the area near Albany, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include Albany. Negatives include views of an engine house, a freight yard, a transfer table cabin, Tower number 101, a gravity trestle, a Yard Master's office, a signal tower, an oil house, engine house vents, Coca-Cola and burlesque advertisements, a store house, Building E, Building 4, Building 3C, Buildings E and F, Buildings A and B, skids, a tool house, a crossing cabin, horses and carriages, an engine house, a paint shop, a yard office, a signal cabin, a carpet machine, an ash pit, a brick shed, a pump room, a boiler room, a "BS shop," power lines, a paint shop, a mail room, a crane, E.B. Transit office, a dwelling with a family in front, a gas house, a barn, a Brakemen's house, an engine house hot water plant, an ice house, an engine house repair shop, a machine shop, an engine house fan room, a store house, an engine house boiler house, and an engine house toilet.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 63 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Mohawk Division. It includes the land near Rensselaer, New York. Negatives include views of small buildings, a guardhouse, a tower, and a bridge.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
VS 64 is located in the New York Central Railroad's Mohawk Division. It includes the land between Schenectady and North Ilion, New York. Locations depicted in the negatives include Amsterdam, East Creek, Sprakers, Rome, Carman, Yosts, Hoffmans, Tribes Hill, and Karner. Negatives include views of outhouses, the Amsterdam Branch of West End Bridge Company, a silo, a watch tower, dwellings, a signal cabin, East Creek Station, Sprakers Station, a Rome bridge, Carman station, Yosts Station, a water tank, Hoffmans Station, Tribes Hill Station, a passenger waiting on train platform and Karner Station.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is opened for research. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction. Smithsonian Institution owns rights. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Central Railway Valuation Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
