My Archive
Dig into your family archives and join us in telling the story of our city. For the entire month of June, we are once again collecting personal histories and photographs of New Yorkers captured on city streets across the five boroughs.
The call is open to anyone with a story to share, but we are most interested in photographs that were taken in NYC before the year 2005. All photographs submitted must have been taken on a city street and/or in front of a building that can potentially be identified within the five boroughs. Each photo must also include at least one human subject.
Submissions will be accepted between June 1 and June 28. At the end of the month, we will select 20-25 photographs to add to our permanent, citywide archival collection. Selected photographs will be announced on July 12, 2019 and featured in the Urban Archive app.
FAQ
What is My Archive, anyway?
My Archive is a citywide project that tells the story of NYC through crowd-sourced histories and photographs of New Yorkers. It’s a chance for you to add your history to the map!
How does this fit within the Urban Archive mission?
Over the last two years Urban Archive has geo-located more than 60,000 historical photographs of New York City from the collections of more than a dozen institutional partners. The app is rich with architectural photographs, often crisp and professional, but occasionally we come across a family posing in front of a piece of public art or a pair of friends captured casually next to an iconic eatery. At the same time, you, the Urban Archives users, have sent us touching and quirky stories of your history with places on the app.
We’re introducing My Archive because a city is not just buildings, but the people who live there and visit, and we want to add your history to the map. This project creates a space for that. We hope you join us for the inaugural year!
Who is eligible to submit?
Anyone with a photo and story to share.
What kinds of photos are you looking for?
The call is open to anyone with a story to share, but we are most interested in photographs that were taken in NYC before the year 2005. All photographs submitted must have been taken on a city street and/or in front of a building that can potentially be identified within the five boroughs. Each photo must also include at least one human subject. You must own all rights to photographs submitted.
Can you provide me with a submission example?
Yes! The photos that you see on this site are great examples of what could be submitted.
I don’t know where the photo was taken, can I still submit?
Yes. Our team will try to pindown just where the photo was taken. We just ask that you include as much information about the photo as possible in your submission.
How do I apply?
Submit photos here.
How many photos can I submit?
You can submit up to four photographs.
How many photos will be added to the Urban Archive app?
All photos that are locate-able will be added to our permanent, citywide archival collection on the Urban Archive app.
Are there any important dates I should know?
June 1, 2019: submission window opens
June 30, 2019: submission window closes
July 12, 2019: photograph selection announced
July 15, 2019: photograph selected added to UA app
Have more questions?
Email us at team@urbanarchive.nyc.
IMPORTANT DATES
June 1, 2019
Submission window opens
June 20, 2019
B.Y.O. Print and Scan Night
June 30, 2019
Submission window closes
July 12, 2019
Selection announced
July 15, 2019
Selected photographs added to the Urban Archive app