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How Ivy Lee Promoted
New York's Subway System, 1916-1932
As New York’s first subway entered its
second decade of
operation,
it faced
many
new problems,
including
competition
from
a
rival
system, the BMT. In 1916,
to meet these challenges, the IRT hired Ivy Lee, one of the leading
public relations specialists in the country, to handle
its account. Under Ivy
Lee’s direction, the IRT took an innovative approach – to communicate directly
with its passengers, through pamphlets, brochures, and
special poster
series. Lee created The Subway Sun and The Elevated
Express which fast became New York City institutions, depicting New York City
life in the 1920s and 30s. This Online Gallery Talk features
New York Transit Museum senior curator Charles Sachs
and prominent public relations expert Chester
Burger discussing extremely rare materials drawn from the Ivy Lee
Papers from the Princeton
University Library.
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The Power Behind the
Subway
This
Online Gallery Talk features Christopher Payne, photographer
and author of New York’s Forgotten Substations: The Power Behind the Subway. Payne talks with the Museum's Associate Curator about his recent exhibition
of photographs of turn-of-the-century power substations
that once housed huge mechanical rotary generators
that converted standard alternating current (AC) power
to the direct current, or DC power, needed to drive
New York City’s subway system.
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Design & Architecture
in the New York City Subway
Conceived
over a century ago as a great public work, New York City’s
subway system melded innovative engineering with stylish
architecture and interior design. Today, the system is
such an essential part of city life that it is easy to
overlook its design features. This Online Gallery Talk
features photographer Andrew Garn, New York Transit Museum
associate curator Carissa Amash, and assistant project
manager Dana Zullo showcasing examples of architecture,
ceramics, metalwork, lighting, signage and furnishings,
and providing some behind-the-scenes insight into the
capturing of the images for the related exhibition.
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