New exhibit at The New York Historical highlights 150 years of legal aid in the city

Unidentified photographer, Banking Office, State Street, circa 1902. The Seamen’s Church Institute Archives

A new special installation at The New York Historical explores 150 years of advocacy and public defense by The Legal Aid Society, on view through July 5, 2026.

Titled Delivering Justice: 150 Years of The Legal Aid Society, the exhibit traces the organization’s work defending immigrants, children, and low-income New Yorkers, as well as representing those accused of crimes who could not afford lawyers. The installation features never-before-seen photographs, press clippings, and original documents spanning from 1876 to the mid-1960s, highlighting Legal Aid’s efforts on behalf of sailors, factory workers, women, and other vulnerable communities.

Visitors will also see contemporary works by artist Josh MacPhee, contributions from young clients of The Legal Aid Society, and reproductions of works by Ben Shahn, Romare Bearden, Arnold de Mille, and Jacob Lawrence.

The exhibit highlights Legal Aid’s role in landmark cases and events, including defense efforts during the Attica Uprising and litigation involving the Willowbrook State School, as well as long-standing advocacy for unhoused families and incarcerated individuals at Rikers Island. Archival materials, court records, and historical objects illustrate the organization’s influence on policies related to housing, immigration, policing, juvenile justice, and civil rights.

A panel discussion on March 18 will bring together legal historians and practitioners to explore the evolution of access to justice in New York City and the impact of Legal Aid’s work over the past century and a half.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $19 for seniors, educators, and active military, $13 for students, $6 for children ages 5–13, and free for children under 5. The New York Historical offers pay-as-you-wish Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.nyhistory.org.

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