This collection contains black-and-white photographs submitted to the Albany County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC Board) as part of license and permit applications. The images date from 1930 to 1974, with the bulk spanning 1966–1974, and depict the exteriors and interiors of bars and restaurants in Albany, NY.
Featured establishments include Freddie’s Bar and Grill in the Hotel Wellington (136 State Street), Keeler’s Restaurant (56 State Street), Knapp’s Restaurant and Tavern (849 Madison Avenue), and an unnamed restaurant in the Kenmore Hotel (74 North Pearl Street). Notable views include the Men’s Bar and entrances to Keeler’s Restaurant, and the dining room at reddie’s. Photographers represented are Robert H. Glenn (1904–1977), James A. Glenn (1878–1966), Glen S. Cook (1893–1947), Glen Pabst Cook (1917-2004), all of Albany, NY, and Julius J. Heller (1902–1974) of Delmar, NY. Most photographs are stamped on the verso with the date received by the ABC Board and include printed labels identifying the date, establishment, and view provided by the applicant.
The ABC Board was established following the ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment in 1933 and the passage of New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law in 1934. In addition to documenting Albany’s mid-century streetscapes, this collection offers insight into the city’s hospitality industry, photographic practices, alcohol regulation, food service, gendered spaces, and class dynamics. For example, Keeler’s Restaurant featured distinct areas for patrons of different genders and social classes, such as its men’s bar and cocktail lounge.
Thank you to the following individuals for their work on this collection:
ACHA Staff and Interns: Aaron Bradt (Project Implementation, Digitization); Michael Munsey (Digitization, Metadata).
