Granofsky collection of United States Customs Service photographs
Abstract
This collection contains photographs created or collected by Henry G. Granofsky, documenting activities of the United States Customs Service in 1929-1950 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dates
- 1929-1972
Creator
- Granofsky, Henry G., 1909-1980 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The nitrate negatives are restricted from public use. The remainder of the collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.
Biographical / Historical
The U.S. Customs Service was established by the Fifth Act of the First Congress, signed into law by George Washington in 1789, authorizing the collection of duties on imported goods. The Customs Service presently controls the flow of persons, merchandise and vehicles across United States borders, checking for violations of tariff laws, as well as violations of health, agriculture and immigration laws. The Service became part of the Treasury Department in 1875, and a Treasury bureau in 1927.
In Baltimore, a Customs House opened at Lombard and Gay Streets in 1907. This was the headquarters for activities including appraisal of imported goods in order to assess duty taxes, searching of boats of all sizes for contraband (cargo and human stowaways), dealing with people entering the country through the Port of Baltimore, and inspecting excursion boats for overcrowding.
The creator of this collection, Henry G. Granofsky (1909-1980), worked for the United States Customs Service as an inspector, and was also the unofficial historian of the Baltimore Customs House. He collected memorabilia related to the Customs Service and frequently made slide presentations to various groups regarding the history and activities of the Customs Service.
Extent
5.04 Linear Feet (4 oversize flat boxes; 1 half Hollinger box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged according to PP catalog numbers. The negatives are housed in the nitrate storage area according to negative catalog numbers. A set of 101 envelopes which formerly housed negatives are included with the photoprints.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Aurora G. Granofsky, 1981.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of approximately 285 nitrate film and 5 safety film negatives, of which approximately 55 have corresponding photoprints, and 4 metal boxes containing 645 35mm color slides.
The collection of negatives and photoprints documents activities of the United States Customs Service in Baltimore during the years 1929-1950, with respect to both freight control and immigration. Henry G. Granofsky is depicted, along with Customs Service coworkers, at work on boats of all sizes in shipyards and in the Baltimore harbor. There are also photographs of scenes around Baltimore unrelated to the Customs Service. These include pictures ofa 1929 Bicentennial Pageant, businesses on E. Baltimore St. including theatres on "The Block", and a camp at Harmony Point.
The slides were made circa 1955-1972, and also document Customs Service activities, with several sets of images depicting shipping of particular products, e.g., sugar, ore, bananas, lumber, grain, and son on. Of the 645 slides, a set of 322 depict the downtown Baltimore business district, many focusing on various stages of demolition and construction in the early 1960s, including a slide of the Ford's Theater demolition.
Creator
- Granofsky, Henry G., 1909-1980 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Granofsky collection of United States Customs Service photographs
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Katherine Cowan
- Date
- 1999-08
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2020-01-22: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Mallory Herberger.
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org