1980s Department of Finance tax assessment photographs, 1982-1988
Collection REC0041 - RG 035. Department of Finance
1980s Department of Finance tax assessment photographs, 1982-1988
Collection
REC-0041
Collection
REC-0041
This collection consists of approximately 900,000 images of buildings across the five boroughs created by the Department of Finance between 1982 and 1988 to document all real property (structures and land) in New York City for tax assessment purposes. Every block and lot in the city was photographed. Property types include warehouses, residential dwellings, retail establishments, mixed use, industrial facilities, and others. Generally, the photographs generally do not show any people. The images are in two formats, 35mm color negatives and 3.5 x 5 inch color prints (printed from the negatives). The photographs show the numerical borough designation followed by the block and lot number.
The collection comprises a photographic record of buildings in New York City during the 1980s, providing insight into life in the city, information on real property, and views of the city’s streets and landscape. Previously, the Tax Department, along with the Works Projects Administration (WPA), conducted a photographic survey of every block and lot in the city, mainly from 1939-1941. This collection is New York City Municipal Archives as REC0040 1940s Tax Department photographs.
There are many duplicate prints and negatives, as images were reshot for quality. The collection may contain a print without a corresponding negative, or vice versa. In instances of condominium buildings or lofts, a photograph of the building was taken for each individual unit, resulting in multiple photographs of the same building. Photographs of lofts can be identified with four-digit lot numbers beyond the borough and block and lot numbers.
The collection comprises a photographic record of buildings in New York City during the 1980s, providing insight into life in the city, information on real property, and views of the city’s streets and landscape. Previously, the Tax Department, along with the Works Projects Administration (WPA), conducted a photographic survey of every block and lot in the city, mainly from 1939-1941. This collection is New York City Municipal Archives as REC0040 1940s Tax Department photographs.
There are many duplicate prints and negatives, as images were reshot for quality. The collection may contain a print without a corresponding negative, or vice versa. In instances of condominium buildings or lofts, a photograph of the building was taken for each individual unit, resulting in multiple photographs of the same building. Photographs of lofts can be identified with four-digit lot numbers beyond the borough and block and lot numbers.
Extent
199.48 cubic feet (772 boxes)
Dates
1982-1988