Columbia University Acquires Frederick Fried Collection

Brooklyn born Frederick Fried was a prominent expert on carousels. His fascination with carousels started when he was just a boy watching artisanal craftsmanship of wooden horse carving at Charles Carmel‘s legendary Brooklyn factory(Carmel carved most of the wooden horses featured on our own B&B Carousell). In his 1964 book,  A Pictorial History of the Carousel, Fried reveals the history and evolution of the carousel. In the early 1970’s he founded the National Carousel Association. Now his personal collection of amusement related items spanning decades has been acquired by  Columbia University.

“Columbia University Libraries/Information Services (CUL/IS)’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Frederick Fried Coney Island Collection, a unique array of memorabilia, photographs, blueprints, and other resources that document the rise and decline of one of New York City’s most iconic entertainment destinations, as well as a laboratory for modern commercialized urban culture.

The Coney Island collection—already processed and in use by researchers—consists of material created and collected by Frederick Fried (1908-1994) and William F. Mangels (1867-1958) in the course of documenting and writing about the history of the amusements industry and the public culture of Coney Island, in Brooklyn. It includes 32 feet of photographic materials, drawings, blueprints, newspaper and magazine clippings, research notes, published and unpublished writings, brochures, printed advertisements, correspondence, trade literature, sheet music, and ephemera. The photographic content ranges from “Bathing Beauties” to “Amusements” to “Freakshow” performers. Blueprints and architectural drawings in the collection give detailed designs for rollercoasters, carousels, miniature railroads, and other amusement rides and pleasure pavilions.”