City Hall Park, April 23, 1911, Jacob Leisler Commemoration, Park Commissioner Charles B. Stover

black-and -white negative

PHOTOGRAPHS - GLASS NEGATIVES
Rosenfeld, Morris
USA, NY, New York
1911
emulsion on glass
overall: 5 x 7 in.

5x7 glass negative photographed by Morris Rosenfeld, 1911. Image of Charles Bunstein Stover, Park Commissioner of New York City speaking at a podium at an event in City Hall Park, April 23, 1911. The podium is wrapped in a U.S. flag. In front of the podium stand two cadets each holding a German Oak sapling. Between the two cadets, a shovel is leaning against the podium. The event was reported in the Deptartment of Parks Annual Report (1911): "On April 23 two oak trees, brought specially from Germany and donated by the City of Frankfort-on-the-Main, were planted in City Hall Park by the United German Societies, to commemorate the fame of John [Jacob] Leisler, a native German, who, because of his fight against the British government's attempts to suppress the freedom of the newspapers, was chosen by the people Governor of the Colony of New York in the revolt of 1689. He was afterward unjustly imprisoned, tried, and hanged for treason. He was the first in America to die in defense of the rights of free speech and freedom of the press, and was the forerunner of that noble band of patriots who later gave their lives in the great struggle of the Colonies for liberty. The trees were planted on the lawn, between the westerly wing of the City Hall and Broadway, with appropriate ceremonies, attended by the members of the various German societies, prominent City officials, and a large gathering of other interested spectators." - The City of New York, Department of Parks, Annual Report, 1911, p. 13. Written on the original negative sleeve: "Box 196". CREDIT LINE: Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection. DUP 1

ANN.1984.187.8210

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection, Morris Rosenfeld