Queens Memory collects personal histories, photographs and other records of contemporary life in Queens, New York.
Queens Name Explorer
The Name Explorer project seeks to enrich local history by increasing knowledge of individuals honored with named places in Queens – its streets, monuments, schools, parks, and buildings. This ongoing project creates a dynamic living archive, while enhancing awareness of communities not represented or underrepresented in our borough. To date, 1,300+ named places have been identified, and 1040+ of them are live on the Name Explorer map.
But your help is needed. The map still has many entries lacking information and photographs. If you can add info, an anecdote, and/or photograph, please do so by clicking the blue “Add/Edit” button in the top right corner. See a street named after a member of your community not currently on the map? Or a sign that needs maintenance and restoration? Add/Edit to let us know!
Drashti Brahmbhatt Oral History
Drashti Brahmbhatt describes the struggles that her mother and father experienced as immigrants raising two daughters in Queens and elsewhere in the United States. Brahmbhatt's parents are both from Gujarat, India, but they met in New York City and spent approximately 30 years as undocumented immigrants. Brahmbhatt discusses her educational background in international relations and urban policy, plus her decision to become a campaign manager for New York City Council candidate Jaslin Kaur to represent Council District 23 in eastern Queens. She recalls the challenges and rewards of trying to get the South Asian community in that district more active in local politics and trying to bridge generational gaps, specifically getting older South Asian members of the community to support a young candidate known for socialist views.
Upcoming Events
Sharing Memories of Queens College Days with DOROT and Queens Memory Project
Flushing: Its People and Immigrant History
Drawing Heat, An Artist-Led Walk with Melting Metropolis
Drawing Heat, An Artist-Led Walk with Melting Metropolis
Basic Salvage Techniques for Paper Collections
Basic Salvage Techniques for Paper Collections
Listen to the Queens Memory Podcast
Season Three of the Queens Memory Podcast is coming soon! In this season, “Our Major Minor Voices,” we feature stories from our neighbors of Asian descent in Queens, New York. New episodes will air each Monday, starting April 11th 2022. Click Here to listen to the trailer for the season, and to hear to new episodes, as they are released. To hear Season One of the Queens Memory Podcast, Memories of Migration, Click Here. Season One features Queens residents who moved from all over the world over the past century to settle in the “World’s Borough”. To hear Season Two of the Queens Memory Podcast, The Borough We Became: Queens Residents on Life during COVID-19, Click Here. Season Two features interviews with Queens residents and highlighted sound and video contributions to our COVID-19 Project as the pandemic unfolded.
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