Scope and Content
Fieldwork for the Brooklyn Rediscovery Folklife Study Project undertaken and coordinated by Sheldon Posen and Maxine Miska, 1980-1983. The project surveyed and recorded traditions in Brooklyn, New York, on behalf of the Brooklyn Educational and Cultural Alliance (BECA) documenting ethnic foodways, neighborhood events, private celebrations, street life and play, store fronts, music, folk theater, religious events, urban sports and pastimes. Ethnic groups include African Americans, diasporic Jews (including Hassidic), Greek Americans, Italian Americans, Polish Americans, Puerto Ricans, West Indian Americans, Irish Americans, Chinese Americans, and Ukrainian Americans. The annual West Indian Carnival in Prospect Park/Eastern Parkway was documented in-depth. Joseph Sciorra and Sheldon Posen documented the Our Lady of Mount Carmel giglio tradition with photographs by Martha Cooper. Sheldon Posen also photographed the dancing of the giglio in New Jersey. The collection includes photographs of Greek Easter celebrations, Sukkot and Etrog Market, and documentation of exhibitions about Brooklyn folklife.