Literary Landmark: Roosevelt Island Branch, New York Public Library - various

New York, N.Y.

Dedicated April 12, 2016

Partner: Empire State Center for the Book

Formerly known as Blackwell's Island, Roosevelt Island is the site of the New York City Lunatic Asylum that was the basis for Nellie Bly's expose in Ten Days in a Mad-House (1887). Charles Dickens also speaks of it in his American Notes (1842). The island was also the site of a penitentiary mentioned in Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick (1867); Stephen Crane's novelette "Maggie, A Girl of the Streets" (1893); O.Henry's short story "The Cop and the Anthem" (1904) and Eugene O'Neil' s The Hairy Ape (1922).

Participating in the Literary Landmark dedication were Christopher Platt, vice president of New York Public Library Services and a resident of Roosevelt Island; Rocco Staino, director of the Empire State Center for the Book; New York City Councilmember Ben Kallos, who provided funding for the plaque; Katerina Matic, chief of staff for Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright; New York Historical Society Representative Liz Stern, and Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy.

Resources:

Main Street Wire: Library Designated Literary Landmark

Roosevelt Island Branch, New York Public Library

Video: Roosevelt Island Branch Literary Landmark dedication