Introducing: the James Reuel Smith Collection from the New-York Historical Society

Our collaboration with the New-York Historical Society has brought a number of fascinating collections on to the Urban Archive platform. However, few are as quirky and particular as the James Reuel Smith collection.

Unidentified man at a well in the vicinity of 62 W. 115th Street, on the south side near Lenox Avenue, New York City, December 27, 1897.

James Reuel Smith (b. 1852 — d. 1935) was born in Skaneateles, a town in upstate New York. Upon coming to New York City, Smith became interested in a disappearing aspect of the city: its wells and springs. As the municipal water system expanded, the once vital independent water sources were becoming less and less commonplace. Captivated, Smith began bicycling around Upper Manhattan and the Bronx in the late 1800s, documenting this vanishing mode of life.

Unidentified man drinking from the spring at W. 110th Street, Central Park, 50 feet west of Seventh Avenue, New York City, October 16, 1897

Writing on its collection, the New-York Historical Society notes “Springs were very important to Mr. Smith. He made careful notes regarding each aquiferous site, and he always had in mind the publication of his findings. His interest led him to travel around the Mediterranean region in search of the springs mentioned in classical literature, and this work resulted in the 1922 publication of Springs and Wells in Greek and Roman Literature, Their Legends and Locations.”

Unidentified girl drinking at Montaigne’s Spring, McGown’s Pass, Central Park, New York City, July 23, 1898.

Moreover, Reuel Smith’s work was kept largely private until after his death. “His study of New York City’s springs, however, was only published posthumously. When he died in 1935, his will directed that the New-York Historical Society should receive his photographs and papers, as well as some money, on the condition that it publish his then unknown work. The arrangement resulted in the 1938 publication of Springs and Wells of Manhattan and the Bronx: New York City at the End of the Nineteenth Century.”

Unidentified girl at the water pump at the rear of 65 E. 87th Street, north side between Madison and Park, New York City, April 21, 1898.

This work would help capture and preserve what had been an essential part of daily life: the drawing and fetching of water. Moreover, it documented a diverse slice of New York’s population: from wells and springs of country estates to the backyard spigots of tenements.

Unidentified boy at a spring on the northeast corner of Riverside Drive and W. 91st Street, New York City, April 2, 1898.

The introduction of his book offers a glimpse into James Reuel Smith’s mind: “In the days, not so very long ago, when nearly all the railroad mileage of the metropolis was to be found on the lower half of the Island, nothing was more cheering to the thirsty city tourist afoot or awheel than to discover a natural spring of clear cold water, and nothing quite so refreshing as a draught of it.”

Unidentified woman drawing water from a well at 1062 Franklin Avenue, on the east side just above E. 165th Street, Bronx, New York City, November 22, 1898.

You can read more about James Reuel Smith on the New-York Historical Society’s blog: here or explore their Urban Archive story on his collection here. The rest of N-YHS stories are available on their organization page.

Unidentified men gathered at Niles’ Spring, Bronx, New York City, October 3, 1897.