Oral Histories of Cinema, Stewardship, and Social Reform
Drawing inspiration from our recent celebrations of the “Women Who Saved the Village” and the “Women of Westbeth,” we turn our focus to three more formidable women from our Oral History Collection. Karen Cooper, Pi Gardiner, and Lucy Komisar embody diverse ways of preserving our community.
Karen Cooper: The Visionary of Film Forum
As the longtime Director of Film Forum for over fifty years, Cooper transformed a small, one-projector screening room into one of the most prestigious independent cinemas in the world.
In her oral history, Cooper discusses the “scrappy” early days of independent cinema in the 1970s and the intentional decision to keep Film Forum in the Village, first on Watts Street and later on West Houston Street. For Cooper, preservation wasn’t just about the bricks and mortar of the theater; it was about preserving a space for difficult, beautiful, and non-commercial art. Her leadership ensured that even as the neighborhood changed, the Village remained a global destination for cinephiles.
Access her full oral history here.
Pi Gardiner: Stewardship of the “Oldest” New York
Margaret “Pi” Halsey Gardiner has dedicated decades to the meticulous stewardship of the Merchant’s House Museum. As the Executive Director, Pi has been the primary defender of this 1832 Greek Revival landmark, the only 19th-century family home in New York City preserved intact, inside and out.
Pi’s oral history is a masterclass in preservation. She recounts the constant battles to protect the fragile house from the vibrations and threats of neighboring construction, a common plight in our rapidly developing city, but one especially fraud for a house like this with precious and fragile, original internal architectural detail that serves as a museum and educational resource for the public. Other highlights include her vivid memories of growing up in the community-centered MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens neighborhood.
Access her full oral history here.
Lucy Komisar: The Journalist on the Front Lines
Lucy Komisar is a former Village Voice reporter and Vice President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her oral history represents the radical, activist spirit that defines Greenwich Village.
In her oral history, Komisar takes us back to the front lines of the 1960s and 70s. She covered the historic “Sip-In” at Julius’ Bar, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and helped end the “men-only” policy at McSorley’s Old Ale House. She has covered and written books on government repression and corruption within New York City and around the world
Access her full oral history here.
Hear These Stories in Their Own Words
History is sometimes best served raw and unfiltered. You can listen to the original recordings and read the full transcripts of these three incredible women and dozens of other activists, artists, and community residents in our Oral History Collection.