LaGuardia and Wagner Archives Announces its 2024 Calendar titled “Pleasure and Protest: Public Spaces in New York City”
Beginning on December 15, the calendar will be available for free in English and Spanish
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (December 6, 2023) — The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY announces its 2024 calendar, which will be available for free in English and Spanish beginning December 15. Titled “Pleasure and Protest: Public Spaces in New York City,” the calendar showcases the myriad ways that New Yorkers convene, advocate, and celebrate outdoors throughout New York City.
A unique resource among CUNY colleges, the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives collects and preserves materials illuminating the social and political history of New York City. Every year since 1979, the Archives has produced a calendar to bring assets from its vast collections to members of the public. This is the 45th calendar in the Archives’ series and the last to be spearheaded by Dr. Stephen Weinstein before his retirement from the Archives staff earlier this year.
“When we began producing an annual calendar over four decades ago, it was a way to bring New York City history into people’s homes and workplaces,” said Archives Director Dr. Richard Lieberman. “Now it’s become a reflection on significant social and cultural happenings of the present day, looking back on how we’ve gotten to where we are.”
According to Archives Deputy Director Soraya Ciego-Lemur, the 2024 “Pleasure and Protest: Public Spaces in New York City” calendar spotlights the sense of community New Yorkers create in shared spaces outside of their homes.
“Each month, the ‘Pleasure and Protest’ calendar investigates and brings a historical aspect of the intricate social landscape of New York City to your wall,” said Ms. Ciego-Lemur. “The many protests and historical moments that have been held on New York City streets are highlighted in the calendar. From the New York Slave Revolt of 1712 in Manhattan to the 2020 Black Trans Lives Matter March in Brooklyn, New York City is no stranger to hosting social movements that have reverberated across the country.”
The calendar also showcases lesser-known moments of activism that took place in New York City as well as how city landmarks have been used to commemorate tragedies and gather for moments of healing, added Ms. Ciego-Lemur. “New Yorkers use sidewalks and monuments in creative ways to communally mourn and grieve for national and individual tragedy.”
Ms. Ciego-Lemur noted that in addition to featuring events of national or global impact, “Pleasure and Protest” illuminates how New York City’s parks, side and monuments regularly play host to iconic cultural events, and visual and performing arts. “In addition to being popular locations for relaxation, New York City Parks have played pivotal roles in the city’s history, hosting events like 1968’s Summer of Soul series of concerts, and the thrilling Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, held annually since 1990.”
The 2024 “Pleasure and Protest: Public Spaces in New York City” calendar will be available in English and Spanish. Beginning on December 15, the calendar may be viewed or downloaded for free on the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives website. Printed copies of the calendar (limited quantities available) may be requested by calling the Archives at (718) 482-5065 or submitting a request online.
The publication is made possible with support from The New York City Council, and is supported by Council Member Julie Won (District 26) and Council Member Shekar Krishnan (District 25), who chairs the Council’s Committee on Park and Recreation.
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The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY chronicles the past 150 years of New York City history, with a growing focus on Queens and the outer boroughs. Housing more than two million documents, and with 100,000 photographs digitized and accessible on its website, the Archives serves students, scholars, journalists, policy makers, and exhibition planners. Collections include the records of the New York City Council and the New York City Housing Authority; explorations into Queens local history and LGBTQ activism in Queens; as well as selected documents from the administrations of Mayors Fiorello H. LaGuardia, William O’Dwyer, Robert F. Wagner, John V. Lindsay, Abraham D. Beame, Edward I. Koch, David Dinkins, and Rudolph Giuliani.
LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 degrees and certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to educate New Yorkers seeking new skills and careers. As an institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of underserved populations. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students while providing them with access to a high quality, affordable college education.
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