Encyclopedia
The Brooklyn Encyclopedia
Deep history, landmarks, culture, education and the economy: long, sourced reference volumes you can read chapter by chapter or search.
- 8volumes
- 80chapters
- 63,455words
- 50tables
- 805sources
Volumes
Practical guideNew to BrooklynEverything a newcomer needs, in order: budget and neighbourhoods, renting or buying, getting around, documents and utilities, health, schools, work, support services, community life and a quick-reference list of numbers and terms.
Volume 1Deep HistoryFrom the Wisconsin glaciation and the Canarsee of Lenapehoking to Dutch settlement, slavery, war and industry, this volume traces how Brooklyn was formed. It ends with the razor-thin 1894 vote that made Brooklyn part of Greater New York.
Volume 2Landmarks & ArchitectureA complete history of Brooklyn's landmarks and historic districts, from Dutch farmhouses to movie palaces. It explains how the Landmarks Preservation Commission works and how community activism saved places like Weeksville.
Volume 3Culture & ArtsExplore the cultural fabric of Brooklyn, from Dutch settlements and abolitionist churches to brownstones, literature, hip-hop and immigrant traditions. The volume closes on the tensions of gentrification and the contested meaning of authenticity.
Volume 4EducationAn overview of Brooklyn's public, specialized, private, charter and religious schools, from District 75 and the District 15 Diversity Plan to the SHSAT debate and yeshiva litigation. It closes with educational attainment across neighborhoods and the role of CUNY and other colleges.
Volume 5Business & EconomyBrooklyn leads New York State in new business applications and is a center for micro-enterprise, advanced manufacturing and climate technology. This volume also examines gentrification, commercial displacement, regulatory barriers and the public incentives and capital that support local business.
Volume 6Notable FiguresFrom Lady Deborah Moody and the free Black community of Weeksville to Jackie Robinson and the writers of Brooklyn Heights, this volume traces the people who made Brooklyn a laboratory of liberty, intellect and equality. It also follows the sites that preserve their memory, from the Center for Brooklyn History to Ebbets Field and Willow Street.
Volume 7Contemporary IconsProfiles of notable people from Brooklyn in music, stage and screen, sport, politics and public life, and the borough’s Jewish spiritual leaders. Each profile cites its sources and states its Brooklyn connection.