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ILLUSTRATION OF THE GENERAL SLOCUM STEAMSHIP DISASTER, LE PETIT PARISIEN, July 3, 1904

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When the steamship General Slocum caught fire in the East River of New York City on June 15, 1904, it claimed more lives than any other disaster in New York City history. An estimated 1,021 of the 1,342 people on board died, largely resulting from inaccessible and ineffective safety equipment. In the aftermath of the General Slocum Steamship Disaster, federal and state regulations were enacted to improve the emergency equipment on passenger ships. Forty-six identified victims of the disaster are buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

PUBLICITY PHOTOGRAPH OF PAUL JABARA, c. 1970’s

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Brooklyn native Paul Jabara (1948-1992) was the songwriter behind some of the most iconic songs of the disco era. Jabara wrote the hit “Last Dance” performed by Donna Summer for the 1978 film “Thank God It’s Friday,” earning him both a Grammy for Best R&B song and an Oscar for Best Original Song. He also co-wrote The Weather Girls hit “It’s Raining Men.”

Civil War Biographies: Introduction

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Throughout our history, Green-Wood has never wavered in our commitment to preserve the stories of the thousands of individuals interred here. Nowhere is this more evident than in our effort to honor the brave Americans—military and civilian—who served our country in time of war. In September 2002, Green-Wood’s historian, Jeff Richman, and The Green-Wood Historic … Read more

THE LAST POEMS OF ALICE AND PHOEBE CARY, COMPILED AND EDITED BY MARY CLEMMER AMES, 1873

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Sisters Alice Cary (1820-1871) and Phoebe Cary (1824-1871) were prolific poets of the mid-nineteenth century. Born in rural Ohio, ambition brought them to New York City, where they became influential figures in the literary community. Each published volumes of their own work and contributed regularly to national periodicals. The sisters hosted a popular salon in their New York City home in which intellectuals, artists and social reformers of the day would gather. Pictured here is a posthumously published volume of their poetry, The Last Poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary, released in 1873.

Civil War Biographies: Baker-Benson

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BAKER, BENJAMIN F. (1842-1901). Private, 102nd New York Infantry Company C. A native of Long Island, New York, Baker enlisted as a private and mustered into his company on December 4, 1861, at Camp Hillhouse, New York. On July 18, 1864, he was listed as absent for sickness. He was absent when his company mustered … Read more

Civil War Biographies: Berdan-Boesen

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BERDAN, WILLIAM (1841-1900). Private, 9th New York Infantry, Company F. A native New Yorker, he enlisted there on April 23, 1861, as a private. On May 4, he mustered into the 9th New York Infantry where he served until he mustered out at New York City on May 20, 1863. He applied for a pension … Read more

Civil War Biographies: Boettner-Broas

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BOETTNER (or BATTNER, BOETNER), GUSTAVE (or GUSTAV) A. (1843-1907). Private, Captain Kowald’s Independent Illinois Volunteers; sergeant, 134th Illinois Infantry, Company I. A resident of Chicago, Boettner first served in a company of Captain Kowald’s Independent Illinois Volunteers for three months in 1861. Subsequently, he re-enlisted as a private on May 11, 1864, mustered into the … Read more

Civil War Biographies: Brock-Caine

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BROCK, THOMAS (1824-1885). Corporal, 173rd New York Infantry, Company A. Born in England, Brock enlisted at Brooklyn as a corporal on September 4, 1862, mustered into the 173rd New York on October 30, and mustered out on October 18, 1865, at Savannah, Georgia. Brock applied for and received an invalid pension in 1876, certificate 176,461, … Read more

Civil War Biographies: Calhoun-Chin

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CALHOUN, ALFRED ROCHEFORT (or A.R.) (1844-1912). Major, unknown Kentucky Union regiment. Calhoun, who was born in Kentucky, joined a Kentucky Union regiment at the onset of the Civil War and served until he end of the hostilities, despite sustaining two serious wounds, capture and imprisonment at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. While imprisoned, he took part … Read more

Civil War Biographies: Chinnock-Collins

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CHINNOCK, CHARLES EDWARD (1845-1915). Rank unknown, 47th Regiment, New York State Militia, Company A; second class fireman, United States Navy. Born in London, England, his family immigrated to the United States in 1848 and originally settled in Connecticut. Chinnock’s pension record indicates that he used the aliases Frank Watts and Charles E. Eaton and that … Read more