CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

A participatory project to collect and preserve the histories of the City University of New York

We found 49 items that match your search.

Harlem Demonstration

"Why pay more for less" read a protest sign. As student takeovers spread to more City University of New York (CUNY) campuses, CUNY students organized marches and rallies across the city. These images show students marching to City College in Harlem, [...]

Albany Demonstration: “Save CUNY, Stop the Budget Cuts.”

A series of photographs taken in 1991 at a rally in Albany, NY, ranged from Hunter College students from the School of Social Work and Bronx Community College students to a baby with a Tax the Rich sign. Union members, workers, and students [...]

CCNY Protest Flier

This April/May 1969 flier was created to protest police presence on campus and police brutality that many student activists objected to at City College. College administrators requested the police in order to secure the conditions necessary to [...]

Arrest Bus - 1970 BMCC Student Strike

This photograph features Maria Ramos, the Student Government President in front of the the arrest bus. The students were demanding an end to increases in tuition fees, and a day care center for children of students. Maria Ramos also confronted Dean [...]

Winter Soldiers, Selection #2: Philip Reisman

Philip Reisman, a social realist artist, created this print for inclusion in the 1941 book, Winter Soldiers: The Story of a Conspiracy Against Schools. The book, published by the Committee for Defense of Public Education, tells the story of the [...]

Winter Soldiers, Selection #3: Sylvia Wald

Sylvia Wald, a politically and socially conscious artist, created this illustration for inclusion in the 1941 book, Winter Soldiers: The Story of a Conspiracy Against Schools. The book, published by the Committee for Defense of Public [...]

Winter Soldiers, Selection #4: Marston Hamlin

Marston Hamlin created this illustration for inclusion in the 1941 book, Winter Soldiers: The Story of a Conspiracy Against Schools. The book, published by the Committee for Defense of Public Education, tells the story of the Rapp-Coudert [...]

Winter Soldiers, Selection #5: Art Young

Art Young, a socially conscious cartoonist and writer, created this cartoon for inclusion in the 1941 book, Winter Soldiers: The Story of a Conspiracy Against Schools. The book, published by the Committee for Defense of Public Education, tells [...]

Winter Soldiers, Selection #6: Harry Gottlieb

Harry Gottlieb, a social realist graphic artist, employed by the WPA, became a leader and active member of the Artists Union and the Artists Congress. A life-long member of the Communist Party, Gottleib created this illustration for inclusion [...]

Winter Soldiers, Selection #7: James Egleson

James Egleson, an American WPA artist, created this illustration for inclusion in the 1941 book, Winter Soldiers: The Story of a Conspiracy Against Schools. The book, published by the Committee for Defense of Public Education, tells the story of the [...]

Gerald Meyer and Activists at City Hall

Gerald Meyer with students at City Hall to save Hostos Community College. Some of the student in leadership were on a hunger strike to dramatize the issues plaguing Hostos Community College and their need for better facilities. By 1977, the third [...]

Cartoon on College Protest

This political cartoon, originally from the LA Times and reprinted by the New York Times, reflects on the student unrest on college campuses across the nation in 1969. Depicting the military in charge at and around the desk of the [...]

March to Gracie Mansion

A young boy stretches his arms out as Hostos Community College students, professors and community organizers make their way to the Mayor's official residence to demand funding for the renovation of the 500 building. By 1977, the third part of the [...]

"While Hostos is Falling Down, Chase Manhattan is Making Pounds"

This image depicts one of several CUNY wide demonstrations held in against crippling budget cuts that would threatened Hostos Community College's existence. Students were concerned about the impacts of retrenchment on diversity, Open Admissions and [...]

Sit-down in front of Hostos' 500 Building

Students, the PSC Chapter and community activists unite behind the fight for the second building for Hostos Community College. Signs read: "VETERANS: This is our real fight - Our Aim: 500" and, translated from Spanish, "PSC demands: Give us the [...]

Stop The War Now

Photo of Queensborough Community College students marching to protest the Vietnam War

CUNY Dollar - Occupy Wall Street

An anonymous critique of the CUNY Chancellor and Board of Trustees circulated during the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Open Admissions Protest Flier, October 1997

This Halloween themed flier, from October 1997, calls for participation in an October 26th protest at CUNY’s administrative offices at 535 E. 80th Street. Depicted are Rudolph Giuliani, New York’s mayor, and Herman Badillo, the Vice-Chair of [...]

Ann Reynolds #1 Enemy of CUNY

This black and white flier has a picture of Wynetka "Ann" Reynolds, chancellor of CUNY. Activists chose the chancellor as a target to draw attention to their struggle for access to CUNY and quality public education.

“City University Students at Federal Hall in 1989 protesting a proposed tuition increase.”

CUNY students held strikes and building occupations in 1989 when Governor Mario Cuomo and the CUNY Board of Trustees announced yet another $200 tuition increase. This mass rally was held at Federal Hall, near Wall Street.

Professional Staff Congress Joins Anti-War Protest in Washington D.C.

Photograph of Professional Staff Congress, the union of CUNY faculty and staff, demonstrating with students in Washington, D.C., 2011.

Student wearing Nixon Mask

Printed in the BMCC 1971 yearbook, Prism, this photograph shows a BMCC student wearing a plastic President Nixon mask in front of BMCC's "B-bldg" at the height of the 1970's protests. Students demands included an end to student fees and a day [...]

Strike! graphic from BMCC 1971 Yearbook

Printed in the BMCC 1971 yearbook, Prism, this photograph was used in the "Strike!" section and was taken during the student takeover of the college in May 1970.

PSC Rally with Children

This photograph was used by the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) as part of its campaign against a 50% tenure quota policy for academic departments that had been announced by Chancellor Robert Kibbee, and then approved by the Board of Higher [...]

Rally Demanding Progress in Contract Negotiations

This photograph captures a rally held by the Professional Staff Congress during their deadlock with CUNY administration over the terms of a new contract in 1973. As negotiations stalled, the PSC held a number of rallies demanding that CUNY [...]

Bus Ride to Albany Rally

Belle Zeller, Professional Staff Congress (PSC) president, can be seen at the right with Israel Kugler, the union's deputy president standing at the back. The photo was taken on a bus trip to Albany to rally in support of Open Admissions. The PSC [...]

Picketing at Baruch College

The Professional Staff Congress (PSC) picketed in favor of Open Admissions, among other things, in front of Baruch College in February 1973. Their efforts to save Open Admissions from budget cuts presaged the struggles that would come with fiscal [...]

Tenure Quota Rally

Carrying a sign that reads "Tenure Means Academic Freedom," Irwin Polishook, Vice President of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), is joined by Carol Brandon, a union leader from the Borough of Manhattan Community College, at a rally against [...]

Students Sleeping Overnight at BMCC During 1970 Protest

Printed in Prism, the BMCC 1971 yearbook, this photograph was one in a series that documents the student takeover of one of the BMCC buildings in May 1970. On May 6-7 over 30 students slept in the "A" building. As reported in Prism, the [...]

BMCC Student Government President Maria Ramos Arguing with Dean Leon Cohen

BMCC student government president Maria Ramos "ran afoul of the higher-ups because of her activities in 1970." Printed in Prism, the BMCC 1971 yearbook, this photograph was one in a series that documents the student takeover of one of the BMCC [...]

Three 1970 photographs of BMCC mass meeting

Printed in Prism, the BMCC 1971 yearbook, these photographs are part of a series that documents the student takeover of one of the BMCC buildings in May 1970. Faculty members Bill Friedheim and Jim Perlstein are shown speaking in support of student [...]

"The Crisis in City College"

On this cover of the December 1933 edition of the National Student League's Student Review, CCNY President Robinson is depicted in full academic regalia as a cat, following in step behind a German military officer. Robinson's tail, [...]

"Rally in City College's Lewisohn Stadium"

This newspaper clipping features a photograph of an April 23, 1941 peace assembly at City College's Lewisohn Stadium. An annual event, the college administration cancelled all classes that day between 11am and 12pm to accommodate the gathering. With [...]

"ABOLISH the R.O.T.C.!" Graphic

Published in a 1934 issue of Student Outlook, this illustration encapsulates the feelings of many left-leaning student activists towards the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs found on college campuses across the country. At [...]

Rally against the Rapp-Coudert Committee: "Defend our Right to Freedom of Thought and Action"

Taken during the Rapp-Coudert Committee hearings sometime between 1940 and 1942, this photograph shows demonstrators protesting against the statewide hunt for "subversive activities" and persons in New York's public schools and colleges. Supporters [...]

"Free Morris Schappes"

This is the logo of the Schappes Defense Committee. The group was formed shortly after City College English instructor Morris Schappes was sentenced to prison for failing to divulge the names of his fellow communists on the faculty at CCNY. At a [...]

"Strike Against War"

This undated flier, likely from the mid-to-late 1930s, advertises just one of many similar anti-war and anti-fascism demonstrations on the City College campus. The left-leaning groups at CCNY scheduled such protests regularly, in conjunction with [...]

AFT Meeting: "Free Schools - Free People"

This photograph shows Dr. Bella Dodd, legislative director of the New York Teachers Union and an organizer for the Communist Party, addressing a crowd in protest of the Rapp-Coudert hearings on December 11, 1940, at the Manhattan Center. The [...]

Charles Hendley Protesting the Rapp-Coudert Committee

This photograph shows Charles Hendley, president of the Teachers Union, addressing over 2,000 to protest the Rapp-Coudert Committee at the Manhattan Center on November 10, 1940. The Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State initiative, was [...]

Cartoon of President Robinson Stomping on Protest Signs

This illustration depicts City College President Frederick B. Robinson stomping on anti-war protest signs from an April 22, 1937 CCNY student rally. During his time at City College, Robinson drew extraordinary criticism from left-leaning student [...]

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