People

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a woman holding a baby in her arms
a baby sitting in a high chair with a book
an old black and white photo of a man holding up a tv in front of a crowd
They didn't have Black Friday in 1955, but they did have Washington's Birthday (before his and Lincoln's, on Feb. 12, were combined to form Presidents' Day). This big sales event began in 1954. On February 22, 1955, crowds of bargain hunters waiting to get into Hearn's, a department store on 14th Street, watched as Stanley Walenciej of Brooklyn triumphantly carried off a used (?) TV set he'd bought for $99. The price of a new one would have been around $1,000.
an old black and white photo of people standing near a horse drawn carriage on the street
Even in chilly weather, New Yorkers like their hot dogs, 1926.
two men in suits look at an old model computer that is being operated by a fan
Computers come to New York: on February 23, 1959, NYC Budget Director (and future mayor) Abraham Beame and Comptroller Lawrence E. Gerosa examine the newfangled machine that turn out paychecks for city employees, complete with deductions. It was estimated that it would save the city half a million dollars a year and do the work of 200 employees.
a black and white photo of a woman standing in front of a building with flags
Rosalie Fairbanks, a guide to the New York World's Fair, points to the fair's joint symbols, the Trylon and Perisphere, February 22, 1939. The entire sheath of scaffolding was removed for the first time on this day. The Trylon and Perisphere symbolized progress-the theme of the fair was "The World of Tomorrow." (In those days, people believed that life would improve in the future.) Photo: Associated
a man sitting in a chair next to another man playing guitar on the street while people walk by
A photo from "My Name Is New York," showing Woody Guthrie playing while he gets his shoes shined. My name is New York, I'm a brick on a brick I'm a hundred folks running, and ten dying sick I'm a saint, I'm a sinner, a whore and her pimp Your ocean's the mirror I look in to primp. -"My Name Is New York," Woody Guthrie
two babies laying next to each other on top of a white bed covered in sheets