THE
STATEN ISLAND
TWICE EACH YEAR BY THE STATEN ISLAND
HistorianPUBLISHED HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Volume xxvi , No . 1 Summer 2016
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY REVISITED PHOTOGRAPHS BY HERBERT A . FLAMM
BY MAXINE FRIEDMAN
New York Telephone Company display , April 7 , 1964 . Although the location is not noted in the photographer ’ s inscription , this photo may have been taken in the Staten Island Ferry terminal in St . George . Note the Princess telephones on the table ; this popular design was introduced in 1959 .
One of the most notable photographers represented in the holdings of Historic Richmond Town is Herbert A . Flamm ( 1905-1980 ). His meticulously detailed photographs chronicle Staten Island in the mid-20th century , preserving images of locations that have since been largely transformed . Historic Richmond Town owns virtually all of Flamm ’ s original negatives and many vintage prints , dating from ca . 1930 to ca . 1975 . The majority of the more than 10,000 prints and negatives retain their original sleeves with the photographer ’ s notes regarding date , location , and client , providing an unparalleled documentary collection .
A native of Staten Island , Mr . Flamm was an active community leader as well as a prolific commercial photographer . He had a long association with Weitzman ’ s