Preserving the History of the Waldorf Astoria

I began my career as an archivist at the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in 2013 and left in 2016 for a new opportunity in North Carolina. Being a born-and-raised New Yorker, I often heard about stories about the Waldorf from my grandfather, a former NYPD officer of the 17th precinct, but I did not know just how much history I would be cataloging, scanning, and describing for future generations to access.

I was responsible for preserving the memories and the moments of the famous, the infamous, and the “ordinary folks” like myself. Having a first-hand involvement in the preservation of the hotels history opened my eyes to just how embedded the Waldorf Astoria is in popular culture and high society. The love of this history would help the sales and marketing teams of 2013-2015 use history to make connections with clients and vendors — it really was an exciting time.

I am delighted to see the Waldorf Stories project come to fruition, a project I attempted to start while working there, but never came to fruition. There were a few interviews conducted with the late-Jimmy Elidrisi, Johnny Walker (Facilities), and other employees. It was my honor and privilege to work at the Waldorf for a short time and a moment in my life I will always treasure. Best of luck with this project, I look forward to reading more stories!