in New York City

FAP Photos Explore the Everyday Streets and Landmarks of 1937 New York City

1937 saw New York City continuing its journey through the Great Depression. While the economic hardships lingered, a sense of cautious optimism was beginning to emerge. The Federal Art Project (FAP) remained a vital force, documenting the city’s evolving landscape and the lives of its diverse residents.

Through the lens of FAP photographers, 1937 New York comes into focus, revealing a city that, despite its challenges, was brimming with energy, creativity, and a determination to overcome adversity.

Signs of Progress

While the shadow of the Great Depression still loomed large, 1937 saw glimmers of economic recovery in New York City.  New Deal programs, including the WPA, continued to provide employment opportunities, putting people to work on infrastructure projects and public art initiatives.  Construction projects, like the Triborough Bridge, were reshaping the city’s landscape and connecting its boroughs in new ways.

The FAP photographers documented these signs of progress, capturing the construction of new bridges, parks, and public buildings.  Their images showcased the city’s efforts to rebuild and modernize, reflecting a growing sense of hope and optimism.

The World’s Fair, held in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, showcased the latest advancements in technology and design, offering a glimpse into a brighter future.  The city’s cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and music halls, continued to thrive, providing entertainment and inspiration to a city in need of upliftment.

The FAP photographers continued to document the everyday lives of New Yorkers in 1937.  Their images captured the diversity of the city’s population, from the working-class families in the tenements to the affluent residents of Park Avenue.  They documented the city’s bustling streets, its quiet neighborhoods, and the people who called these places home.

#1 6th Avenue Subway reconstruction at 42nd Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway reconstruction at 42nd Street, 1937.

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#6 Waterfront scene with a cart loaded with garbage bales, 1937.

Waterfront scene with a cart loaded with garbage bales, 1937.

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#7 Waterfront scene with a man and a coil of rope, 1937.

Waterfront scene with a man and a coil of rope, 1937.

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#8 Waterfront scene with Yamato Food Shop under the El, 1937.

Waterfront scene with Yamato Food Shop under the El, 1937.

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#10 Fixing a sewing machine on 10th Ave & 36th St, 1937.

Fixing a sewing machine on 10th Ave & 36th St, 1937.

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#14 6th Avenue Subway construction at 15th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 15th Street, 1937.

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#15 6th Avenue Subway construction at 32nd Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 32nd Street, 1937.

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#28 6th Avenue Subway construction at 48th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 48th Street, 1937.

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#29 Waterfront scene with a man seated on a curb, 1937.

Waterfront scene with a man seated on a curb, 1937.

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#31 6th Avenue Subway construction at 33rd Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 33rd Street, 1937.

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#32 6th Avenue Subway construction at 18th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 18th Street, 1937.

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#36 6th Avenue Subway construction, 15th Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 15th Street, 1937

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#38 6th Avenue Subway construction, 23rd Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 23rd Street, 1937

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#42 6th Avenue Subway construction, 26th Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 26th Street, 1937

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#48 6th Avenue Subway construction, 14th Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 14th Street, 1937

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#56 6th Avenue Subway construction, 42nd Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 42nd Street, 1937

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#59 6th Avenue Subway construction, 32nd Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 32nd Street, 1937

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#61 6th Avenue Subway construction, 26th Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 26th Street, 1937

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#64 6th Avenue Subway construction, 17th Street, 1937

6th Avenue Subway construction, 17th Street, 1937

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#73 6th Avenue Subway construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

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#75 6th Avenue Subway construction, 16th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction, 16th Street, 1937.

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#83 6th Avenue Subway construction, 46th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction, 46th Street, 1937.

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#85 6th Avenue Subway construction, 17th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction, 17th Street, 1937.

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#88 6th Avenue Subway construction, 48th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction, 48th Street, 1937.

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#97 6th Avenue Subway construction, 17th Street, 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction, 17th Street, 1937.

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#110 6th Avenue Subway construction at 46th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 46th Street, circa 1937.

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#112 6th Avenue Subway construction at 53rd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 53rd Street, circa 1937.

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#113 6th Avenue Subway construction at 16th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 16th Street, circa 1937.

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#114 6th Avenue Subway construction at 23rd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 23rd Street, circa 1937.

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#115 Waterfront scene: bow or stern of a ship, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: bow or stern of a ship, May 1937.

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#119 Folding cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Folding cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#121 6th Avenue Subway construction at 32nd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 32nd Street, circa 1937.

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#122 Waterfront scene: horse-drawn delivery wagon, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: horse-drawn delivery wagon, May 1937.

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#124 6th Avenue Subway construction at 48th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 48th Street, circa 1937.

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#128 Waterfront scene: passengers on the elevated train, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: passengers on the elevated train, May 1937.

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#130 Folding cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Folding cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#133 Stitching a quilt on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Stitching a quilt on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#134 Packing a bag on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Packing a bag on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#135 Waterfront scene: man reading on the dock, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: man reading on the dock, May 1937.

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#137 Waterfront scene: under an elevated railway, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: under an elevated railway, May 1937.

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#142 6th Avenue Subway construction at 12th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 12th Street, circa 1937.

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#145 Stuffing boxes on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Stuffing boxes on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#148 6th Avenue construction at 26th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue construction at 26th Street, circa 1937.

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#150 6th Avenue Subway construction at 16th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 16th Street, circa 1937.

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#151 6th Avenue Subway construction at 17th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 17th Street, circa 1937.

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#152 Waterfront scene: boys sitting on a wharf, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: boys sitting on a wharf, May 1937.

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#157 Shipping cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Shipping cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#160 Stitching a quilt on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

Stitching a quilt on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

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#161 6th Avenue Subway construction at 23rd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 23rd Street, circa 1937.

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#162 6th Avenue Subway construction at 16th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 16th Street, circa 1937.

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#163 6th Avenue Subway construction at 23rd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 23rd Street, circa 1937.

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#164 6th Avenue Subway construction at 42nd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 42nd Street, circa 1937.

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#166 Waterfront scene: man in fisherman’s slicker, May 1937.

Waterfront scene: man in fisherman's slicker, May 1937.

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#167 6th Avenue construction at 18th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue construction at 18th Street, circa 1937.

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#172 6th Avenue Subway construction at 42nd Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 42nd Street, circa 1937.

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#176 6th Avenue Subway construction at 14th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 14th Street, circa 1937.

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#177 6th Avenue Subway construction at 13th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 13th Street, circa 1937.

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#180 6th Avenue Subway construction at 13th Street, circa 1937.

6th Avenue Subway construction at 13th Street, circa 1937.

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Written by Frederick Victor

I've been a history writer for a while. I love to explore historical sites because they connect us to our past. They make us feel like we are part of something much bigger.

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