Welcome to the Center for Brooklyn History's Digital Collections

Explore Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history online. Search over 11,000 records from CBH’s collections, including historic photographs, architectural drawings, and artifacts.

This site contains only a small portion of the Center for Brooklyn History’s vast holdings. Researchers can access many more materials by visiting the Center for Brooklyn History’s Othmer Library. We regularly add new material to the site as our cataloging and digitization work progresses, so please check back frequently.

Featured Collections and Artifacts

Wellmade Glove artifacts and records

Eugene Armbruster photographs

James A. Kelly collection

Image Reproductions

Review BHS’s rights and reproductions policies and learn how to request an image here.

How to Search

“Keyword search” allows you to perform a general search across multiple fields. If you want to find records in which two keywords are found, type AND between the two words. To search for a specific phrase, put the phrase in quotes.

“Advanced search” can help you be more specific with your search. You can search for a word or phrase within a particular search category or use multiple categories in one search.

Cataloguing and digitization of CBH’s artifact collections was made possible by generous support from the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation.