Now and throughout the month of October, the Libraries is hosting the traveling exhibit Urban Renewal in New York State at the University Downtown Center Library. Provided by the South Central Regional Library Council (SCRLC), this exhibit was funded in part by Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
SCRLC aims to empower their members “through advocacy, networking, resources and professional development; and by supporting diversity, innovation, and collaboration to strengthen their ability to serve their communities and promote environmentally sustainable practices.”
About the exhibit:
On July 15, 1949, President Harry Truman signed into law the Housing Act of 1949. He promised “decent homes in wholesome surroundings for low-income families now living in the squalor of the slums.” However, in its 25 years of existence, the federal urban renewal or “slum clearance” program failed to meet Truman’s objective. Ninety-one villages, towns, and cities undertook about 250 projects in New York.
Learn more about urban renewal in New York State by visiting the exhibit in-person at the University Downtown Center Library or online at nyheritage.org/exhibits/urban-renewal.