New York City Building Trades Council, 1897

These 37 union leaders were delegates to the New York City Building Trades Council in 1897. The portraits, together with the key identifying names of the men and of their organizations, provide a glimpse into the trades they practiced. Some of these unions still exist today; others have vanished, as new building techniques and architectural styles undermined their skills.

The numbers link the names with the photos above.

1. Thomas McCracken, United Carpenters and Joiners, No. 4
2. P. Duffy, Plasterer’s Laborers
3. H.J. Park, Paper Hangers’ Association
4. H. Horan, Stair Builders
5. D.D. O’Connell, Progressive Varnishers and Hardwood Finishers, No. 1
6. B . Forsythe, Amalgamated Carpenters
7. Thomas Heale, Housesmiths and Bridgemen
8. William A. Perrine, Iron Moulders
9. S. Park, Housesmiths and Bridgemen’s Union
10. John McAllister, Marble Cutters
11. Axel Nelson, English Framers
12. O. Leibig, Cement and Artifical Stone Masons
13. M. Pratt, Tin & Sheet Iron Workers
14. Michael Moran, Machine Stone Workers
15. J.J. Nugent, Steam Fitters’ Helpers
16. Michael McGale, Marble Polishers
17. Peter Gibbons, Hoisting Engineers
18. William O’Brien, Granite Cutters
19. George F. Eifert, Marble Cutters’ Helpers
20. B. Westernberger, Architectural Iron Workers
21. J.S. Henry, Wood Carvers
22. Raphael Carrara, Marble Mosaic Helpers
23. J.J. Pallas, Pattern Makers
24. James Smith, Operative Plasterers
25. A. Tramontin, Marble Mosaic Workers
26. George H. Warner, Machinists
27. G.W. Whitford, Electrical Workers No. 3
28. George D. Gaillard, Brotherhood of Carpenters
29. John Cronin, Tile Layers' Helpers
30. Martin Goelnitz, Cement Laborers' Helpers
31. F. Spreter, Brotherhood of Carpenters
32. L. Levit, Sheet & Plate Glass Glaziers
33. K. Daly, Derrick Men
34. A. Schilling, Cornice and Skylight Makers
35. J. F. McCormick, Operative Engineers
36. C. Nelson, Electrical Workers
37. H. Epstein, Progressive Varnishers