A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Greenwich Village to spend some time researching at the Jefferson Market New York Public Library. Coincidentally, the library is right next to the site that once housed New York City's Women's House of Detention-- it is now a community-run garden. One of my favorite things about going to school in the city is being able to visit the places I learn about in my studies; contemplating the historical significance of a space while physically being there always gives rise to thoughtful contemplation. Doing so always leaves me feeling a deeper connection to the subjects of my study and with astonishment at the rapidity of the city's change. The average passerby would have no idea that the beautifully kept garden or the now-valuable property it lies on was once the site of immense suffering and injustice, imprisoning over 400 women and gender non-conforming people at any given time over its 45-year operational period. As I reflect on what I've learned throughout my summer diving into the history of Women's Prisons in NYC, I remember the thousands of lives impacted by the Women's House of Detention and hope that my research urges others to do the same. 

Here is a photo of the beautiful NYPL (I forgot to take photos of the garden)-- check it out if you need a place to study!