Historical Portrait Gallery
The People Behind the History
Discover the architects, community activists, poets, italian immigrant, and mysterious figures whose lives
defined Greenwich Village history.
- ARCH-1889-SW
Father Antonio Demo
Father Antonio Demo was a New York City Italian American priest and civic activist.
- ACTV-1961-JJ
Annie Leary
Countess of the Holy Roman Church
Annie Leary was an American Papal countess, prominent society figure, and philanthropist in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century New York City.
- LIT-1837-EAP
Fiorello Henry La Guardia
American Attorney and Politician
Fiorello Henry La Guardia was an American attorney, politician, and Reformist mayor of New York City.
- SALON-1912-MD
Mary Simkhovitch
Founder of Greenwich House
Mary Melinda Kingsbury Simkhovitch was an American city planner and social worker. She was one of the first members of the New York City Housing Authority, serving from its creation in 1934 until 1948.
- LABOR-1834-MS
Jane Jacobs
Author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”
Jane Isabel Jacobs was an American-Canadian journalist, author, theorist, and activist who influenced urban studies, sociology, and economics.Her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) argued that “urban renewal” and “slum clearance” did not respect the needs of city-dwellers.
- HIST-1895-GV
Anthony (Tony) Dapolito
Board 2 member of Manhattan Community
Anthony Dapolito was on Manhattan Community Board 2 for over fifty years. A lifelong villager, he was involved in several of the battles against Robert Moses, in particular, the effort to save the South Village from an urban renewal plan, and the battles against the Lower Manhattan Expressway.
- HIST-1895-GV
Carmine Gerard DeSapio
DeSapio on Firing Line, May 1, 1967
Carmine Gerard DeSapio was an American politician from New York City. He was the last head of the Tammany Hall political machine to dominate municipal politics.
- ARCH-1889-SW
Father Antonio Demo
Father Antonio Demo was a New York City Italian American priest and civic activist.
- ACTV-1961-JJ
Annie Leary
Countess of the Holy Roman Church
Annie Leary was an American Papal countess, prominent society figure, and philanthropist in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century New York City.
- LIT-1837-EAP
Fiorello Henry La Guardia
American Attorney and Politician
Fiorello Henry La Guardia was an American attorney, politician, and Reformist mayor of New York City.
- SALON-1912-MD
Mary Simkhovitch
Founder of Greenwich House
Mary Melinda Kingsbury Simkhovitch was an American city planner and social worker. She was one of the first members of the New York City Housing Authority, serving from its creation in 1934 until 1948.
- LABOR-1834-MS
Jane Jacobs
Author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”
Jane Isabel Jacobs was an American-Canadian journalist, author, theorist, and activist who influenced urban studies, sociology, and economics.Her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) argued that “urban renewal” and “slum clearance” did not respect the needs of city-dwellers.
- HIST-1895-GV
Anthony (Tony) Dapolito
Board 2 member of Manhattan Community
Anthony Dapolito was on Manhattan Community Board 2 for over fifty years. A lifelong villager, he was involved in several of the battles against Robert Moses, in particular, the effort to save the South Village from an urban renewal plan, and the battles against the Lower Manhattan Expressway.
- HIST-1895-GV
Carmine Gerard DeSapio
DeSapio on Firing Line, May 1, 1967
Carmine Gerard DeSapio was an American politician from New York City. He was the last head of the Tammany Hall political machine to dominate municipal politics.
Section IV • Historical Portrait Gallery
The People Behind the History
Discover the architects, community activists, poets, immigrant stonemasons, and mysterious figures whose lives
defined Greenwich Village history.
- ARCH-1889-SW
Stanford White
Architect of the Arch & Gilded Age Visionary
Partner in McKim, Mead & White who designed the Washington Square Arch,
the Judson Memorial Church, and shaped the Gilded Age skyline of New York.
- Chapter 8: The White Arch
- ACTV-1961-JJ
Jane Jacobs
Urban Activist & Savior of Greenwich Village
Author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” who led the
community opposition against the Lower Manhattan Expressway.
- Chapter 18: The Sidewalk Ballet
- LIT-1837-EAP
Edgar Allan Poe
Literary Trailblazer of Carmine Street
Master of macabre fiction who lived at 85 Carmine Street and 113 Waverly
Place while editing major literary journals.
- Chapter 4: Shadows on Carmine Street
- SALON-1912-MD
Mabel Dodge Luhan
Patron of the Avant-Garde & Salon Leader
Hostess of the famous Wednesday evening political and artistic salons at 23
Fifth Avenue that ignited the Village bohemian movement.
- Chapter 10: The Evenings at 23 Fifth
- LABOR-1834-MS
The Immigrant Stonemasons
The Unsung Builders of Greenwich Village
Italian, Irish, and Scottish stonecutters whose hand craftsmanship shaped
the brownstones, stoops, and arches.
- Chapter 5: Hammers on the Parade Ground
- HIST-1895-GV
The Prince of Greenwich Village
The Central Historical Mystery Figure
The eccentric historical figure whose personal archives and secret diaries
anchor Anthony F. Urgola’s research.
- Chapter 12: The Man in the Velvet Coat