Old days in Harlem (Gallery and Videos)

Harlem is a large neighborhood in the northern section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Since the 1920s, Harlem has been known as a major African American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. Harlem’s history has been defined by a series of economic boom-and-bust cycles, with significant population shifts accompanying each cycle.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Central and West Harlem was the focus of the “Harlem Renaissance”, an outpouring of artistic work without precedent in the American Black community. Though Harlem musicians and writers are particularly well remembered, the community has also hosted numerous actors and theater companies, including the New Heritage Repertory Theater, National Black Theater, Lafayette Players, Harlem Suitcase Theater, The Negro Playwrights, American Negro Theater, and the Rose McClendon Players. Below are some historical images and videos of this world famous neighborhood.

Old days in Harlem: UNIA Parade, organized in Harlem, 1920

Old days in Harlem: There are few playgrounds in Harlem. Negro children must play on the streets

Old days in Harlem: West 125th Street looking west from Seventh Avenue

Old days in Harlem: NYPL, Harlem Branch,Children’s Room.

Old days in Harlem: Group of Harlem youths recruited as street sweepers on 117th Street, ca. 1940s

Old days in Harlem: Harlem residents in front of shop listening to the radio

Old days in Harlem: Lenox Fruit and Vegetable Market

Old days in Harlem: Sidewalk Sitters

Old days in Harlem: Lenox Avenue

Old days in Harlem: Harlem Tenement in Summer

Old days in Harlem: A Negro doll factory in Harlem which provides colored dolls for Negro children

Old days in Harlem: Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Team — Season of 1930–31.

Old days in Harlem: View of two busloads of Catholic school children arriving for class at St. Charles Borromeo Church, on West 142nd Street

Old days in Harlem: Fundraising Harlem patriotic rally on W. 119th Street

Old days in Harlem: 369th National Guard Regiment, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters, a well-known New York based black regiment during World War I, returning home

Old days in Harlem: Eddie Mallory conducts Mills Blue Rhythm Band at the Cotton Club.

Old days in Harlem: Harlem Community Art Center

Old days in Harlem

Old days in Harlem

Old days in Harlem

Old days in Harlem

Old days in Harlem

Old days in Harlem: Children in the Silent Protest Parade, 1917

Old days in Harlem: 422–424 Lenox Avenue, Manhattan.

Old days in Harlem: Church of God, 25 East 132nd Street, Manhattan.

Old days in Harlem: View of Harlem barbershop.

Take a look at some videos:

A cinema excursion in the great black metropolis of New York. Interesting captures of Harlem in the 1930’s, city life and nightclub scenes. Shows the Cotton Club, and some shots of Duke Ellington and band.

From National Archives Youtube Channel. Restored outtakes from METROPOLIS 1939. This rare footage shows Harlem street scenes, residents of the Harlem River Houses, and construction of the Queensbridge Houses, circa 1939.

HARLEM 1930s The Harlem River, the extreme northern end of the island of Manhattan. Sights around Harlem including fashionable African Americans out on the town; barbershop front, storefronst with grocery prices displayed on windows; with comments from narrator.

In the Street (1948). Directed and edited by Helen Levitt. Cinematography by renowned NYC Photographer, James Agee, Helen Levitt, Janice Loeb. Re-edited version rereleased by Levitt in 1952 with musical score by Arthur Kleiner.

Boys & girls playing softball on playground pavement as girls, boys & teacher watch.