Reference librarian Andy McCarthy examines how the Library’s collections illuminate the long and complex history of organized crime in New York City.

Using newspapers, government reports, scrapbooks, memoirs, property records, and other materials across the Library’s collections, Andy McCarthy, reference librarian in the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History, and Genealogy explores the enduring impact of organized crime in New York City. From land schemes targeting local Algonquin tribes to the 2003 murder of Lucchese made man Albert Circelli at Rao’s restaurant in East Harlem, McCarthy reveals organized crime not simply as a shadow history of the city, but as a parallel force that helped shape New York itself.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Andy McCarthy is a reference librarian in the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History, and Genealogy at The New York Public Library. A former news researcher at ABC News, McCarthy also worked 8 years as a New York City doubledecker bus tour guide, conducting about 3,000 tours for 90,000 passengers. From 2012 to 2020, McCarthy performed a monologue and slideshow act about the history of West 42nd Street each month for THE DEUCE film series at Nitehawk Cinema. Recent publications include a piece for Lit Hub Crime Reads on the 30th Anniversary of the movie Goodfellas, and for New York History Journal, “Salutary and Well-Intentioned Violence: The 1858 Staten Island Quarantine Fires.”

Don't have a New York Public Library card? Get one here!

ACCESSIBILITY

In-Person | You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service at least two weeks in advance of the event: please submit your request via this form. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

CONNECT

For questions and inquiries, please email [email protected] or use this Gmail template.

Please submit press inquiries at least 48 hours before the event: email [email protected] or use this Gmail template.

The New York Public Library's free services and resources are made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library. Join this group of Library lovers and take advantage of special membership benefits, like invitations to members-only virtual events, discounts at the Library Shop, and more. Join now.

Courtesy Andy McCarthy