Welcome to the Abecedarium:NYC

Abecedarium:NYC is an interactive online exhibition that reflects on the history, geography, and culture of New York City through 26 unusual words. Using original video, animation, photography, writing and sound, Abecedarium:NYC constructs visual relationships between these select words and specific locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Abecedarium:NYC was created with the support of the Reserve Film and Video Collection at the New York Public Library.

Collaborate with us:

The experience of visiting Abecedarium:NYC is more than watching, listening and learning. Visitors to the project are invited to respond to existing content as well as to share their own experience of New York City by contributing original videos, soundscapes, photos or texts to the project blog. As more users contribute, the project grows in size, scope and experience, and transforms into a destination for sharing and learning about every facet of the city.

Explore the city through these words: