Collectors Night

Collectors’ Night 2019!

"Collectors" spelled out using different vintage objects.

Saturday, September 7, 2019 6:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets available at the link!

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 275 N. 8th Street, Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, NY

General admission tickets $20 /$10 discounted tickets available to presenting collectors and City Reliquary Members.

The City Reliquary is proud to present our 14th Annual Collectors’ Night! Every year, collectors and archivists – whose collections run the gamut from loose groupings to the hyper-specific – display their treasures to the public and share their stories in a rapid-fire show and tell. It is an opportunity to get up close with obsessive labors of love.

Our featured presenter on September 7 will be architect and NYU Professor Louise Harpman, who will be speaking about her collection of coffee cup lids! Her recent book (co-written with Scott Specht) on the surprisingly complex design of this ubiquitous yet commonly overlooked item has received rave reviews, and she even acts as a consultant on coffee cup lid design from time to time!

We’ll also have a very special live model presentation of handmade vintage Hungarian dresses from director, actor, and fashion maven Syrie Moskowitz!

In addition, we’ll have our usual eccentric variety of collections – check out these photos of past editions! Small collections of large things. Large collections of small things. Commonplace items with a singular theme. Vintage, obscure, and ephemeral. Precisely laid out vitrines or piles of whatsits. You’ll see it all!

Do you have a collection you’d be interested in displaying at Collectors’ Night 2019? Big or small, loosely grouped or exactingly themed, obscure or commonplace, vintage or brand new – we’d love to see it! Follow this link to complete a brief application form. If accepted, you’ll receive a code for discount tickets and special instructions. We’ll try to get back to you speedily – usually within a day.

We hope to see you on September 7 as a collector or guest!

Collectors’ Night 2018

Collectors’ Night 2018
New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring St., New York, NY 10013
Online admission: $10 general/$7 Reliquary and Fire Museum members
Door admission: $13 general/$10 Reliquary and Fire Museum members
Buy tickets here!
RSVP on Facebook

The City Reliquary will be hosting its 13th annual Collectors’ Night on Saturday, April 14th, 2018,6pm-8pm, at the New York City Fire Museum. Join us in celebrating curious collections, displays, and ephemera!

Each year, collectors and archivists — whose acquisitions run the gamut, from loose groupings to the hyper-specific–showcase their treasures to the public and participate in rapid-fire show-n-tells. This is an opportunity to get up close with collective labors of love.

Special guest speakers will focus on municipal collections of New York City and feature:

Brian Kelley’s NYCTA project, which began as a simple collection of MetroCards taken from the ground and has since expanded to encompass Transit Authority materials, patches, pamphlets, pins, tickets, tokens, limited-edition MetroCards, and more.

Nelson Molina, a retired DSNY worker, will present on his Treasures in the Trash collection.

And a special presentation from Amanda Pietrzykowski, Collections Manager and Curator of the New York City Fire Museum, detailing the history and cultural heritage of the fire service of New York.

 

This year’s collections include:

  • Coca-Cola ephemera (David Argov)
  • Earthrise Museum (Ben Sisto)
  • Museum of Interesting Things (Denny Daniel)
  • Squished pennies (Suzie Sims-Fletcher)
  • Found ID cards and corroding bottle caps (Harley Spiller)
  • Archival 16mm cartoons (Tommy Stathes)
  • Antique china, glass, bottles, and seaglass (Emily Kawasaki)
  • Chicago gang business cards from the 1960s-1990s(Brandon Johnson)
  • Collection of frog-related items (Dianna Maeurer)
  • Photo postcards from World War I (Chris Engel)
  • Shea Stadium ephemera (Jason Antos)
  • Labels and sign letters/numbers (Gail Mitchell)
  • The Wallet of Ronda J Smith – a collection of personal cards / credit cards / driver’s licenses (Ronda Smith)
  • Items created by a number of companies and entities that share that collector’s namesake (Glen Eden Einbinder)
  • Henry & Jay’s Collection Agency (Jason and Henry McLean)
  • “The Operative Owl”: a collection of primarily antique owls that function (Lesley Doyel)
  • Eiffel Tower collection (LuLu LoLo)
  • Retired NYC street furniture (Steven Gembara)
  • Polar bear collection (Olive Scanga)
  • Spider Gwen collection (Gwen Rosenstien)
  • Rescue Bot collection (Terry Haden)
  • Geological collection (Rosie Herman)
  • Sea life (Opal Herman)
  • PETROLIANA – vintage items related to gas stations and the oil business (Kevin McGeary)
  • Potato Tomes – Books with “Potato” in the Title from all around the world (Jeffrey Allen Price)
  • Behind the Make Up – The Soulfulness of Clowns: A collection of clown portraits showing their private pensive moments (Georgine and Bill Eberight)

Pizza and been generously provided by Two Boots Pizza and Brooklyn Brewery.

Collectors’ Night 2017 Recap

Collectors’ Night 2017 was a huge success! Last Saturday, nearly 300 people come to The New York City Fire Museum to see over 30 collectors show diverse collections ranging from Beanie Boos to business cards for Chicago street gangs. Guest speaker Miriam Sicherman presented her Closet Archaeology project she has worked on with her 4th-grade students, and LuLu LoLo performed her collector obituary monologues.

Check out the pics below. Thanks again to the sponsors for this event: The New York City Fire Museum, Two Boots Pizza, and Brooklyn Brewery. See you next year!

Collectors’ Night on NY1

Roger Clark from NY1 visited us to talk about Collectors’ Night with Reliquary Founders Dave Herman and Bill Scanga. Collectors Brandon Johnson, Miriam Sicherman, and Harley Judd Spiller showed some of their collections, and a few of the City Reliquary kid collectors made an appearance too!

Roger Clark of NY1 visited us to talk about Collectors’ Night!

NY1 pic

Collectors’ Night 2017

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Collectors’ Night 2017
New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring Street, NY, NY
Saturday, April 8 @ 5 PM
Online admission: $7/$5 Reliquary or Fire Museum members
Door admission: $10/$8 Reliquary or Fire members
Join the Facebook event

The City Reliquary Museum is proud to present its annual Collectors’ Night on Saturday, April 8 at the New York City Fire Museum. Collectors’ Night celebrates one of the quirkier cultural practices of everyday New Yorkers. Every year, artists, packrats, and other unusual archivists gather to show off their collections. Displays range from the charming and quotidian to the intriguingly morbid. Special presentations by guest speakers focus on a specific area of collecting.


Collectors’ Night 2017 Guest Speakers:

Schoolteacher Miriam Sicherman of the “Closet Archeology” project will discuss the early 20th-century debris found by her 4th graders under the floorboards of their 1913 NYC public school. See coverage from the New York Times.

Mike Zohn of Obscura Antiques & Oddities will discuss his collection of original artwork from 1960s & ’70s Mexican comic books.

And a special performance from artist and activist LuLu LoLo of the Where Are The Women Monuments project. LuLu will perform two short monologues drawn from the obituaries of Elizabeth Tashjian, founder of The Nut Museum, and Hugh Hicks, whose massive light bulb collection formed the Mount Vernon Museum of Incandescent Lighting.

This year collections:

  • Industrial Revolution and Mechanical Era ephemera from Museum of Interesting Things. With interactive demonstrations.
  • Rare maps, books and photos chronicling the history of Queens from Jason Antos
  • Coca-Cola ephemera from David Argov
  • 100 years of paper, cardboard and self-playing ephemeral records from Michael Cumella aka Phonograph DJ MAC. Some records will be played on site.
  • 12 reproduction mechanical banks from Georgine and Bill Eberight. Includes coin demos.
  • Vintage cartoon decals, illustrated aprons, cocktail napkins, and more comic ephemera from Gabe Fowler of Desert Island Comics
  • Business cards of Chicago gangs from the 1970s & ’80s from Brandon Johnson. Brandon’s collection of gang “compliment cards” has been published as Thee Almighty & Insane. The book has been reviewed by Vice.
  • Preserved insects from Jamison Heldrich
  • Beach and sea glass collected in New York from Emily Kawasaki
  • Vintage hats & handkerchiefs from artist and activist LuLu LoLo
  • Found fishing lures and metal tins from different countries from Gail Mitchell
  • Road maps from Alex Schneider
  • Classic educational filmstrips from Jonathan Sims. With projection of some strips.
  • Collections of rock collections acquired from friends, family, states, and geological societies from artist Ben Sisto
  • 1950s lady head vases from Lisa and Nina Skriloff
  • Star Wars items, mounted mini orchids, and wheat pennies from Mike Smith
  • Mid-century desk lamps from Ronda J. Smith and Adrien Blanc
  • WWII family ephemera and vintage potato ads from Harley Spiller, aka Inspector Collector
  • Archival 16mm vintage cartoons by Tommy Stathes of Cartoons on Film. Screenings throughout the night.
  • Over 100 1:64-scale police, fire and emergency vehicles, with many international police cars and rare items from Corgi, Solido, Siku, Matchbox, Hot Wheels and Tomica, from Jeremy Willinger
  • And the City Reliquary Kid Collectors! Featuring the collection of “O” shapes from Opal Herman, the geisha doll collection of Rosie Herman, the miniature action figures of Gwen Rosenstein, and the Beanie Boo & Pokemon collection of Olive Scanga!

Event Schedule

5:00-5:30: DJ music by Nigel; Pizza by Two Boots & Beer by Brooklyn Brewery (by donation); time to browse collections

5:30-6:00: Introduction to CN by CR President Bill Scanga; Round 1 of Rapid-Fire Show-n-Tell

6:00-6:15Intermission

6:15-7:15: Speakers: Miriam Sicherman’s Closet Archeology; LuLu LoLo performance; Mike Zohn’s Mexican Comic Art

7:15-7:30: Second Intermission

7:30- 8:00: Round 2 of Rapid-Fire Show-n-Tell Closing remarks by CR Director Dave Herman

Refreshments courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery and Two Boots Pizza!

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#CollectorsNight

Tickets through Artfully, $7/$5 for City Reliquary or Fire Museum members. Become a Reliquary member todayAdmission at the door will be $10/$8 Reliquary and Fire Museum members. Buy online and save!

Check out a few pics from Collectors’ Night 2016, and see more on our Facebook page.

 

Collector’s Night 2016

What a great night! Check out our Facebook album of pics from this year’s Collector’s Night!


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Collector’s Night
Hosted at the New York City Fire Museum
Friday, June 10, @6:30 PM

Join us at the New York City Fire Museum Friday, June 10 at 6:30 PM to celebrate the odd obsessions of everyday New Yorkers! 

Admission: $10 general/$5 for members of The City Reliquary or New York City Fire Museum. Tix available through our Artful.ly page!

Spittoons used by congregants of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, ca. 1900. From the Museum at Eldridge Street.

Spittoons used by congregants of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, ca. 1900. Museum at Eldridge Street.

All collectors will display and discuss their collections throughout the evening. This year, for the first time in Reliquary history, guest museum will also share parts of their collections! Look out for displays from Museum at Eldridge StreetMuseum of Interesting Things, Interference Archive, Reanimation Library, and MoRUS (Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space)!!

We’ll also enjoy talks by three guest speakers:

  • Stanley B. Burns, MD of The Burns Archive, an extensive photographic collection of the forgotten, unseen, and disquieting moments in history
  • Austin Wright of The Museum of Democracy, the world’s largest collection of historical and political campaign memorabilia
  • Howard Warren, retired Trinity School science teacher, who will discuss the dismantling of Jim Crow through the integration of professional baseball

#CollectorsNight2016

"Talked to Death" artifact, late 1890s. From the Museum of Democracy.

“Talked to Death” artifact, late 1890s. Museum of Democracy.

Confirmed collections include:

And countless others! Don’t miss this fun, interesting, and oh-so-Reliquary event!

RSVP through the Facebook event!

Jackie Robinson figurines, 1947 (left) and late 20th century (right). From the collection of Howard Warren.

Jackie Robinson figurines, 1947 (left) and late 20th century (right). From the collection of Howard Warren.


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Thanks to our sponsors at Brooklyn Brewery and Two Boots Pizza!two boots logo

Bedford + Bowery Collector’s Night video coverage!

A reporter for Bedford + Bowery stopped by Collector’s Night to talk with a few of our collectors. Check out this short video to hear City Reliquary founder Dave Herman talk about the concept behind this annual event and to see some highlights from the evening!

https://vimeo.com/147885794

Collectors Night Sign-Up!

SIGN UP AND SAVE THE DATE!!
COLLECTORS NIGHT 2017

Hosted at the New York City Fire Museum
Saturday, April 8 @ 5 PM

The City Reliquary Museum is proud to present its annual Collectors’ Night on Saturday, April 8 at the New York City Fire MuseumCollectors’ Night celebrates of one of the quirkier cultural practices of everyday New Yorkers. Every year, self-proclaimed archivists and packrats of every stripe gather to show off their collections. Displays range from the charming and quotidian to the intriguingly morbid.

With special presentations by guest speakers. This year’s special guests are Miriam Sicherman of the Closet Archaeology project, Mike Zohn of Obscura Antiquities and Oddities, and artist and activist LuLu LoLo of the Where Are The Women Monuments project.

To showcase your offbeat assemblage in a table display, submit the form below. A 6′ long table will be provided–see Event Details. You’ll also be invited to participate in the evening’s Rapid-Fire Show & Tell! We’ll accept submissions through Friday, March 24. For a mention in our press release, please respond by Monday, March 13.

Event schedule TBA

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Event Details

Table Deposit:
A $10 fee will reserve your table and help support The City Reliquary. You can submit the $10 table deposit in the Other field on our Artfully donation page. Be sure to note “Collectors Night 2017 table” in the Special Instructions area of the Checkout page.

Collector’s Rights and Responsibilities:
Collections will remain in the care and protection of their owners. The owner understands that photo documentation may be taken of his/her display and used for press and other promotional purposes. Protective measures will be taken to assure that all collections are respectfully guarded from harm, but neither The City Reliquary nor New York Fire Museum is responsible for any damage or loss.

Presenters will transport and set up their collections between 3:00 and 4:30 PM on Saturday, April 8. Collectors must remove displays from the premises by 9 PM.

Display Guidelines:
We invite you to display your collection as creatively as you wish.  In the past, collectors have taken a “school science fair” approach and used a trifold display board. Flat objects, background information, or titles and informative labels work well against a cardboard backdrop. Helpful display accessories include: small boxes to raise objects; fabric to drape over table tops; glass or Plexiglas/acrylic vitrines; pins; clips; labels; extra lights; and extension cords. The New York City Fire Museum does not allow collectors to attach anything to the walls of the ballroom.

Collector’s Night 2015

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Collector’s Night 2015
Presented by The City Reliquary Museum
Hosted at Brooklyn Historical Society
Wednesday, December 2, 6:30 – 9:30 PM

The City Reliquary Museum is proud to present its annual Collector’s Night, a celebration of unique ephemera and those who curate it. Every year, collectors with a passion for amassing the unusual gather to present their objects and the fascinating stories behind them. This year we’ll meet at Brooklyn Historical Society on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 PM. Admission: $10, $5 for BHS and Green-Wood members. Beer generously provided by Brooklyn Brewery. Sandwiches from Hope Deli!

NelsonThe first part of the event presents the Treasures in the Trash collection of Nelson Molina, retired DSNY worker. We’ll begin with Kelly Adams’s One Man’s Trash (run time: 17 min.), first screened in the 2015 Margaret Mead Film Festival. Next, a discussion by Dr. Robin Nagle, DSNY Anthropologist-in-Residence and Director of the John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Humanities and Social Thought, NYU. (Watch her in this TED talk!) We’ll end with a Q&A with Nelson Molina himself.

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The second part of our event features…you! All collectors will give a brief show-&-tell of their displays. Confirmed displays include taxidermy and jarred animal specimens from Morbid Anatomy Museum guest lecturers; archival 16-mm cartoons; classic Broadway memorabilia & artifacts; unusual record formats; mutilated/altered US currency; and more! Cameo appearances by Paul Lukas and Harley Spiller, aka Inspector Collector.

Want to show off your own collection? Submit a form! We’ll accept submissions for table displays through November.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or by phone at (718) R-U-CIVIC

Photo credit:
Ashtrays from “Treasures in the Trash”: James Mulry
Still from “One Man’s Trash” (dir. Kelly Adams): Kelly Adams
Mark Splatter’s Anole lizards in a jar: Karsten Moran for The New York Times

Collectors Night 2014 in the NY Times!

Marion Ascenzi Duckworth Smith with Snow White Figurines

Collectors Night 2014 featured some really fascinating objects! Just look at this coverage from The New York Times. Article highlights include Mark Batelli’s wet specimen jars, the political buttons of Jon Cruz, and Marion Ascenzi Duckworth Smith’s collection of Snow White figurines. We are incredibly proud to know so many wonderfully interesting fellow collectors!