Proceeds support efforts to preserve historical archives and make them accessible to the public
Brooklyn, NY— On Wednesday May 1, Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) hosted over 100 guests for the 15th annual library dinner at its landmark Pierrepont Street building. The Library Dinner raises vital funds in support of Brooklyn Historical Society’s efforts to preserve, digitize and make the collections increasingly available to the public.
The Library Dinner raised $300,000 for the institution’s Othmer Library, a research library comprising special collections, archives and manuscripts, images and oral history collections. This unique collection of Brooklyn and Long Island materials provides important insights into our nation’s history and heritage. Each year, thousands of students, scholars, and other users visit to examine manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, and other materials.
The evening commenced with a cocktail hour in Brooklyn Historical Society’s Great Hall where Tom Finkelpearl, Commissioner of NYC Department of Cultural Affairs gave opening remarks. After cocktails, guests made their way to the Othmer Library where Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams formally welcomed patrons. BHS President Deborah Schwartz made her own remarks and introduced honoree Peter Meyer, Market President for TD Bank. Meyer accepted an award for his many accomplishments and contributions to Brooklyn’s diverse communities and delivered a brief speech before Schwartz invited guests to enjoy dinner. After dining, BHS Chair Jim Rossman introduced this year’s Library Dinner speaker, writer and Pulitzer Prize winning architecture critic Paul Goldberger, for a special presentation on the importance of Brooklyn in his work followed by a brief question and answer.
This year’s event honored Peter Meyer of TD Bank. As Market President for TD Bank in New York City, Peter Meyer is responsible for Commercial, Small Business, Middle Market and not-for-profit Banking. Meyer joined TD in 2002 to execute the bank’s aggressive expansion into the market. During this time, TD has grown to 142 retail stores and has become a major lender to small and middle market companies as well as to not-for-profits and healthcare institutions. Active in the community, Peter is past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Queens Museum, past Chairman of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on the Executive Committees of each organization. He is a trustee of his alma mater St. Joseph College and is active in a number of other local nonprofit and civic organizations.
Paul Goldberger served as the distinguished speaker for the evening. Goldberger is a Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair and served as the Architecture Critic for The New Yorker from 1997 to 2011. He holds the Joseph Urban Chair in Design and Architecture at The New School. Goldberger began his career at The New York Times, where in 1984 his architecture criticism was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism. He is author of numerous books, including Why
Architecture Matters. His most forthcoming book, BALLPARK: Baseball in the American City, will be released to the public on May 14. Signed advance copies were provided as a gift to all attendees.
Notable guests in attendance included New York City Council Member for the 40th District Mathieu Eugene, Schneps Communications CEO Joshua Schneps, and Publisher and Owner of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Dozier Hasty.
About Brooklyn Historical Society Founded in 1863, Brooklyn Historical Society is a nationally recognized urban history center dedicated to preserving and encouraging the study of Brooklyn's extraordinary 400-year history. Located in Brooklyn Heights and housed in a magnificent landmark building designed by George Post and opened in 1881, today's BHS is a cultural hub for civic dialogue, thoughtful engagement and community outreach. In May 2017 BHS opened a second site in DUMBO’s Brooklyn Bridge Park.
