Course: Urban Genealogy – Learn how to research New York buildings – Session No. 2

Learn how to unearth detailed information about New York City buildings in four Tuesday evening lectures in February (3, 10, 17, 24) 6:00 to 7:45 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 annual seminar has been running for more than 25 years. Participants have included architects, engineers, building owners, preservation advocates, lawyers and landmarks commissioners and even a New York City detective.

Sponsored by the Municipal Art Society. Cost: $300 ($250 MAS members). Click here for more information, or call 1-212-935-3960.