Curated by Joseph A. Gornail & Steven D. Garcia of Fine Print New York • 315 Madison Avenue • Email Us • 212.619.5446

History of NYC - 1940 to 1945

The 1940s would mark a turning point in how society shares information thanks to widespread adoption of television. The first two TV stations in the city, WNBT (now WNBC) and WCBW (now WCBS-TV) signed on the air for the first time. This era would also mark the beginning of another World War, and an inevitable wave of migrants seeking refuge from war-torn Europe. In the midst of this global drama, the New York City Opera was founded and New York Fashion Week began, further establishing the city’s empire of industry and the arts.

Photograph of commuters at Grand Central Terminal's Main Concourse, bathed in sunlight streaming through its majestic windows.

1941: Grand Central Terminal Concourse Interior

Photograph of commuters at Grand Central Terminal's Main Concourse, bathed in sunlight streaming through its majestic windows.

Soldiers and sailors line up inside the concourse of Pennsylvania Station.

1942: Soldiers at Pennsylvania Station

Soldiers and sailors line up inside the concourse of Pennsylvania Station.

Photograph of dock workers moving cargo at Fulton Fish Market with Manhattans' downtown skyscrapers visible in the background.

1943: Fulton Fish Market

Photograph of dock workers moving cargo at Fulton Fish Market with Manhattans' downtown skyscrapers visible in the background.

Photograph of pedestrians and brownstone buildings in Harlem.

1943: Residential Scene in Harlem

Photograph of pedestrians and brownstone buildings in Harlem.

Portrait of Ella Watson standing in front of the American flag with mop and broom.

1942: American Gothic by Gordon Parks

Portrait of Ella Watson standing in front of the American flag with mop and broom.

Photograph of a young police officer walking his beat in Harlem.

1943: Harlem-Policeman

Photograph of a young police officer walking his beat in Harlem.

Exterior view of 16 Greenwich Street and adjoining buildings beneath the shadow of the elevated railroad tracks.

1940: 16 Greenwich Street

Exterior view of 16 Greenwich Street and adjoining buildings beneath the shadow of the elevated railroad tracks.

Photograph of three men walking down the street past on of Harlem's nightclubs.

1943: Harlem Street Scene

Photograph of three men walking down the street past on of Harlem's nightclubs.

Exterior view of old buildings at the corner of Battery Place and Washington Street from southwest.

1940: Battery Place and Washington Street

Exterior view of old buildings at the corner of Battery Place and Washington Street from southwest.

Photograph of a vast crowd of trucks and horse-drawn carts at the Wallabout Market in Brooklyn, New York.

1940: Brooklyn Wallabout Market

Photograph of a vast crowd of trucks and horse-drawn carts at the Wallabout Market in Brooklyn, New York.

Photograph of a market of Italian push carts selling produce on Arthur & Crescent Avenues in the Bronx.

1940: Italian Pushcart Market in the Bronx

Photograph of a market of Italian push carts selling produce on Arthur & Crescent Avenues in the Bronx.

Photograph of a taxi driver polishing the hood of his car in front of a row of brownstones.

1942: New York Taxi Driver

Photograph of a taxi driver polishing the hood of his car in front of a row of brownstones.

Photograph of a diner, shoeshine booth and various printed advertisements near the corner of a block in Harlem.

1943: Business Advertisements in Harlem

Photograph of a diner, shoeshine booth and various printed advertisements near the corner of a block in Harlem.

Photograph of a fruit stand vendor waiting on customers on a corner in Harlem.

1943: Street Vendor on a Corner in Harlem

Photograph of a fruit stand vendor waiting on customers on a corner in Harlem.

Man Reading a Newspaper on Harlem Street.

1943: Man Reading a Newspaper on Harlem Street

Man Reading a Newspaper on Harlem Street.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is History101.nyc?

Welcome to the History of New York City - A Unique Online Gallery of NYC's Origins, Curated and Digitally Restored by Fine Print New York.

We're opening our archives to present this Collection of Vintage Photos, Historical Images and Rare Lithographs. This Exclusive Series of High Quality Art Prints are only Available for Purchase Exclusively on this Site.

What Time Periods, Eras, Decades of NYC History are available?

We cover a great portion of the city's history, ranging from its earliest days as New Amsterdam to the late 1980s. Artists are currently working on photos from the 90s to present day,

Here's a current list of what is covered:

Dutch Era: When New York Was New Amsterdam

NYC in the 1600s

Georgian Era

NYC in the 1700s • NYC from 1800 to 1850

Victorian Era

NYC in the 1850s • NYC in the 1860s • NYC in the 1870s • NYC in the 1880s

Progressive Era

NYC in the 1890s • NYC from 1900 to 1905 • 1905 to 1910 • 1910 to 1915 • 

World War 1

NYC from 1915 to 1920

Art Deco

NYC from 1920 to 1925 • NYC from 1925 to 1930

Depression Era

NYC from 1930 to 1935 • NYC from 1935 to 1940

World War 2

NYC from 1940 to 1945

MidCentury Modern Era

NYC from 1945 to 1950 • 1950 to 1955 • 1955 to 1960 • 1960 to 1965 • 1965 to 1970

Energy Crisis

NYC from 1970 to 1975 • 1975 to 1980

Reagan Era

NYC from 1980 to 1985 • 1985 to 1990
Can I License Any of These Images?

Digital licenses are available for educational institutions (schools, universities, non-profit organizations). Please contact legal@fineprintnyc.com to discuss conditions for licensing.

NOTE: Any form of commercialization or redistribution of these images, either as tangible goods or third party licenses, is expressly forbidden.

Who started History101.nyc?

Joseph Gornail, printer/photographer and founder of Fine Print New York. Joseph grew up in SoHo, Manhattan and is part of a long lineage of NYC printers, learning the family trade from his grandfather. While working for Dolo Records/Stretch Armstrong in 1996, Joseph founded All City Marketing & Printing, and in 1999 Co-Founded the legendary street wear company "Orchard Street " with lifelong friends Benjamin Holloway and Greig Bennett. Fine Print NYC was established in 2004 with a Nike project being the launchpad for a commercial printing company that has not only survived, but thrived in the digital age.

Steven Garcia, designer/illustrator and creative director of Fine Print New York. Born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Steven attended Fashion Industries High School and F.I.T. before building a successful career at Saatchi & Saatchi for as a professional retoucher and storyboard artist in 1995. Steven started ShinyDesign in 1998 and partnered with Fine Print in 2004 as the exclusive design firm for the company. Steven has independently worked on major advertising campaigns for many brands over the years, such as Snapple, The Waldorf Astoria and Sony to name a few.

Together, Joseph & Steven are responsible for the curation and direction of the History101.nyc project, which has been under development since 2006. They have a long history of collaborating together, going back as far as 2001 when Joseph was gallery manager and Steven was a curator at The New York City Urban Experience, an art gallery & museum that was located at 85 South Street and owned by Mike Saes of the Nike Bridge Runners and True Yorkers.

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This project is dedicated to exploring New York’s fascinating heritage through the restoration of vintage photographs and prints.