The New York Society Library presents Peter and Norma Stanford on "A Dream of Tall Ships: How New Yorkers Came Together to Save the City's Sailing-Ship Waterfront" https://www.nysoclib.org/events/peter-and-norma-stanford-dream-tall-ships-how-new-yorkers-came-together-save-citys-sailing A Dream of Tall Ships is a lively account of a great urban adventure that began in the 1960s with Peter and Norma Stanford, who were committed to creating a maritime museum in Manhattan’s old waterfront—the South Street Seaport Museum. It is a vivid tale of how the Seaport won the first Landmarks battle in New York, gained the largest museum membership in the U.S., and brought in ships, from great square riggers to active sailing schooners. Their hard work and dedication, along with the participation of many volunteers, helped to save this historic district and breathe new life into New York’s old Street of Ships. Brooklyn native Peter Stanford has been “messing about in boats” since before he can remember. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Peter graduated from Harvard and received an MA in history from King’s College, Cambridge and a DLitt from SUNY Maritime College. He sailed in Bermuda and Fastnet races and several Atlantic crossings. In 1967 he quit his job in advertising to join Norma as the first staff of South Street Seaport Museum, serving as president. Today, as president emeritus of the National Maritime Historical Society, he writes a column, “Around the Cabin Lamp” for the Society’s journal Sea History. Born in Jackson Heights, Norma Franceschi Stanford attended Marymount College, Tarrytown, spending her junior year in Rome studying Renaissance art. She received a BFA and worked as a graphic artist before co-founding South Street Seaport, serving as general manager and manager of ships and piers. After leaving the Seaport, she joined Peter in building up the National Maritime Historical Society and developing its magazine Sea History, which has now grown to be the leading journal of the maritime heritage.

• published: 04 Feb 2015
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