Introducing: the William D. Hassler collection from the New-York Historical Society
William D. Hassler‘s work covered a variety of different subjects over his professional career. From evangelical gatherings to daredevils, there was little he wasn’t able to document. However, his collection is a particularly notable addition to Urban Archive, not just because of its eye-catching photos, but in the way it preserves a section of New York neighborhood life in the early 20th century.
William Davis Hassler (b. 1877–d. 1921) worked as a commercial photographer in New York City from 1909 to his death in 1921. Hassler worked for a broad swath of employers, shooting for postcard companies, auction houses, construction companies, and magazines. Despite this variety, the care and skill that he took in his work was evident.
Moreover, Hassler’s photography was not limited to his commercial work. He was an avid photographer in his personal life. The collection is full of images of his family and friends, including as New-York Historical notes “his sister Harriet E. Hassler, who was head of the children’s department of the Queens Borough Public Library, his wife Ethel Magaw Hassler, and his son William Gray Hassler.” These tenderly documented family members make some of the best images of the collection.
Notably, Hassler’s work recorded what life was like in Inwood during the turn of the century. Hassler had moved to 150 Vermilyea Avenue in 1905, living and working out of the modest apartment. While doing so, he observed the neighborhood, taking photos of picnics, gardens, and daily life. Through these photos, we are offered an intimate look into what Inwood was like as it developed into a bustling neighborhood.
Upon Hassler’s death in 1921, the city was changing rapidly. However, his work leaves us with a vivid and human look into New York and the beginning of the 20th Century. If you are interested in learning more about Hassler, you can read a story on Hassler’s life in Inwood or see some of the work he did for Joseph P. Day.
The rest of his images are available on New-York Historical’s Collection Portal here or on Urban Archive in situ. To explore more of New-York Historical Society’s stories and collections on Urban Archive, click here.
