CUNY history is New York history.
The CUNY Office of Library Services has enacted a three-year project involving the City University of New York’s 31 libraries and 100 cultural centers that will focus on the documentation of photos, publications and other historic records to share CUNY’s story. It is funded by the Mellon Foundation through a $2 million dollar grant and will conclude in 2027.
As every college within the CUNY system has its independent archives, University Archivist Natalie Milbrodt and her team sought ways to elevate and connect the mass collection of archives. She emphasizes the importance of this work by stating, “so many of us who live in New York have some kind of meaningful connection with CUNY.” The initiative is dedicated to discovering the full extent of the archival collections amongst CUNY and ensuring they become more accessible to the community.
Milbrodt and her team of scholars from the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (GSLIS) have designated days to go into the archives and filter through each box. Additionally, they work on processing collections that have been requested by researchers that were not previously available. Whether they are checking the condition of each box or compiling folders, each workday is full of surprise and intrigue.
The project not only brings awareness to CUNY students but alumni and New York City residents as well. CUNY schools have always been reflective of social and economic trends and this project highlights the activism and cultural performances that have helped shape the story of New York. Alumni involved in student life can visit public archives and view them. The goal is to not just highlight and preserve CUNY history but to cultivate a movement that emphasizes the accessibility and relevance these archives have for students, as well as the general public.
Queens College has countless notable archival collections, including documents in relation to Civil Rights, Social Justice and, of course, New York history. The Chaney-Goodman-Schwerner Clock Tower serves as a requiem for the Civil Rights movement — it honors the three men who fought for racial justice and died in the act. Andrew Goodman was a student at QC before his summer campaign to Mississippi where himself, James Earl Chaney and Michael Henry Schwerner were killed by the KKK. The deaths of the three young men rallied national support for the Civil rights movement and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Tower stands in QC to honor the lives of the men and their dedication; it acts as a reminder that the fight for social justice is ongoing and that QC will always support the cause.
CUNY has made great contributions to New York, as well as the nation. One example that Milbrodt mentions is that the College of Staten Island holds a collection of Disability Rights Act documents written by activists within the movement.
The College of Staten Island is known for its advocacy of the rights of disabled individuals, being that it is located on the same site as the Willowbrook State School — an institution for mentally disabled individuals that was exposed in the 1970s for reports of neglect and abuse. The project’s archival sorting uncovers important connections and histories, making it essential to New York. Milbrodt remarks, “there are so many ways that CUNY is a national leader, that we’re not really beating our own drum.”
The contributions QC will make to the initiative is tremendous. The college being located in the most diverse borough in New York City shows that there is immense history to be shared. QC Archivist, Caitlin Waldron believes “it’s just gonna be such a gift to students … making it accessible means that you can interact with that history.” Connecting with history is important for its cultural and transgressive impact on students. Seeing individuals like themselves advocating for ongoing issues helps people realize that their struggles are part of a persistent movement.
The CUNY Office of Library Services has launched the infrastructure for archival retrieval that will connect the great history that has been created in the CUNY system. Students interested in connecting with the QC archives can contact the Special Collections and Archives department at Qc.Archives@QC.cuny.edu.
