2003-12-08 - 11:42 a.m. The NYHS is one of my favorite museums (musea?), and the WTC exhibit was good, if slightly sanitized. But even more affecting is their display called Children At Risk: Protecting New York City's Youths 1653-2003. The photos and memorabilia of New York's orphans, "newsies", and young street urchins is completely absorbing. Included are hand-written notes that were pinned to abandoned babies in the early days of the NY Foundlings Hospital ("please adopt him to a Catholic family...his name is Theodore, please do not re-christen him...") and photo's and notes from the Colored Orphan Asylum, from before it was burned to the ground during the Civil War draft riots. If nothing else, it displays the compassion of a bunch of society folks and church people during New York's roughest times. thoughts? (0 comments so far) previous - next blog archive contact