Master Class: Researching the History of Buildings in New York City

Join The Municipal Art Society of New York for our most popular MASter Class, Researching the History of Buildings, offered for more than 30 years with architectural historian and renowned MAS tour guide Anthony W. Robins. With hands-on training and instruction, you’ll learn how to research the rich backstory of the city’s built environment through a series of four evening classes and a field trip. Past participants have included architects, engineers, building owners, preservation advocates, lawyers, landmarks commissioners, and even a New York City detective.

Learn how to unearth detailed information about New York City buildings in four Tuesday evening lectures in February (6, 13, 20, 27) at 6:30 p.m., plus one weekday morning field trip. The four evening sessions include: The Building:  an introduction to the records of the Department of Buildings. The Client: weaving your way through deeds, directories, obituaries, Who’s Who, and local histories. The Architect: using standard texts, guidebooks, periodicals, the Avery Index, and Committee for the Preservation of Architectural Records publications. Miscellaneous Sources: using photograph collections, maps, New York City archives, libraries and historical societies, and early 19th century tax assessment records. Field Trip: Manhattan Department of Buildings, New York City Conveyance Records, the Municipal Archives and the Municipal Reference Library.

This year we are pleased to welcome our co-sponsor, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. Together with the Conservancy, we will be offering AIA credit: AIA members are eligible for 4 AIA LUs upon completion of the course.