Photographs Of Park Slope Homes In 1978

Peeking into your neighbors’ homes is tempting anytime, whether it’s to get a glimpse of the home of a celebrity or to walk in for a house tour. Add a touch of nostalgia to that, and it’s a pretty perfect way to while away from time on a rainy Friday afternoon. So we were glad to come across the post by Messy Nessy Chic that’s making the rounds, which introduced us to The Nooney Brooklyn Photographs.

Alton and Eleanore Phillips and children, 416 Dean Street

According to the Brooklyn Public Library, Dinanda H. Nooney photographed 200 individuals and families in their homes in Brooklyn from from January 1978 to April 1979:

…she crisscrossed the borough, documenting the broad ethnic and economic range of Brooklyn’s residents. The portraits that emerge are striking in their attention to the details of architecture and décor, which reveal just as much about the subjects as how they choose to pose themselves for Nooney’s camera. This project was the subject of an exhibition, At Home in Brooklyn, at the Long Island Historical Society in 1985.

Geoffrey and Tobi Needler, 51 Montgomery Place

She gave the collection of 576 gelatin silver prints to the library as a gift in 1995, and they’re viewable online, which are broken down into 19 different neighborhoods. All of the ones in this post are from Park Slope, and all the others in the neighborhood are just as fun — though, be sure to take a look at the ones from all over the borough.

Sharon Simmons and Hank, 127 6th Avenue

The Park Slope photos seem to be from the early part of the project, from January to August 1978.

Home and studio of Gene Sinrod, 50 Prospect Place

Anyone know these folks? Or are you in any of these photos, and do you remember what the experience was like?

Top photo of Pat Colson, 1 Plaza St. All photos by Dinanda H. Nooney, via Brooklyn Public Library