Museum/Presentation/Publication

City College Library, City College of New York 2004

Curated and scripted "Manhattanville: Hidden in Plain Sight," a public exhibition of photographs, objects and documents depicting one of New York City's earliest towns. Orchestrated collaboration of City College Architectural Center as exhibit's student design team. Conducted frequent gallery talks and tours.

Achievements:
- Identified problem of the college community's general unfamiliarity with its local history

- Offered professional exhibit-building opportunity and experience to the school's students of community design

- Induced educators to incorporate exhibit materials into their syllabi

"Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem," Arcadia Publ.-Images of America 2002

Conducted original research for neighborhood history book in popular trade paperback series.

National Civil Rights Museum Extension, Memphis, TN 1999-2001

Synthesized historical research into non-academic language for museum visitors.

Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts 2004

As research consultant for the West Harlem/Hamilton Heights Community Preservation Organization, produced cultural resource survey of the Manhattanville neighborhood in West Harlem, originally a separate village settled in 1806. Survey included a nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission 1998 & 2000

Prepared LPC designation reports for St. Mary's P.E. Church, Manhattanville, and Tompkins Square Boys Lodging House.

Afoot Walking Tours 1998-present

Conduct public, private and customized New York City history tours and lectures focusing on such locales as Central Park (Seneca Village), Harlem (Central, Manhattanville, Hamilton Heights/Sugar Hill), and Trinity Cemetery. Clients have included New-York Historical Society, Cooper Union/Adult Education, Brooklyn Historical Society, Staten Island Institute of Arts & Sciences, Riverside Park Fund, Municipal Art Society, Museum of the City of New York, Columbia University, Albion College, Society for Industrial Archeology.

The Original Manhattanville Walking Tour

"To fathom this mysterious neighborhood to the north of Columbia [University] and Riverside Park, I needed a guide; someone suggested I contact Eric Washington... [He] describes himself modestly as a 'neighborhood buff.' Where would local history be without such buffs?" - Phillip Lopate from Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan (Crown, 2004)

Licensed New York City tour guide Eric K. Washington is the creator of the original Manhattanville history walking tour. Author of the 2002 book, "Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem," published in the famous Arcadia Images of America history series, he was also curator of the popular 2004 City College of New York library exhibit, "Manhattanville: Hidden in Plain Sight." Check this site or other listings for Eric's public tour dates. To commission a private or customized walking tour call 212.939.0994 or email to: Afoottours@aol.com

Other Publishing History

Freelance Writer

Contributor to numerous national & local print media including The New Yorker, NY Daily News, Time, Inc. website, Village Voice, Metropolis, Time Out NY, Elle Decor, Out, American Visions, Transition, The Encyclopedia of New York State, and The New-York Journal of American History.

PERSONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:

- Alicia Outing, Columbia Spectator: "History of Manhattanville Stirs Debate Over Preservation" (New York, January 22, 2008).

- David Freedlander, AMNewYork, "NY'ers Defend West Harlem Against Columbia"(New York, December 5, 2007).

- Edward Grimm and E. Peter Schroeder, "Riverside Park: The Splendid Sliver" (Columbia University Press, New York, 2007) p. 8, 26, dust jacket blurb.

- Rachel Gashkoff, Columbia Spectator: "Tour Surveys Historical Significance of Manhattanville" (New York, November 19, 2007).

- Dorian Davis, Architectural Record: "Piano, SOM's Columbia Plan Stirs Controversy" (New York, June 18, 2007).

- David J. Craig, Columbia: "Smart Growth" (New York, Summer 2006), p. 8, 10.

- Lydia DePillis, Columbia Spectator, Weekly Events Wrap-Up: "CU's Expansion Plan Comes Under Fire at Forum" (New York, October 21, 2005).

- Jonathan Wynn, Time Out New York, Around Town: "Walk These Ways" (New York, April 28 - May 4, 2005), p. 26.

- Amanda Erickson, Columbia Spectator: "Landmark Status Proposed for Manhattanville Structures" (New York, January 31, 2005).

- David Gonzalez, New York Times, City Wide: "In Columbia Growth Plan, Ghosts of '68" (New York, August 24, 2004), p. B1.

- Phillip Lopate, "Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan," chapter 11: "Riverside Park and Manhattanville" (Crown, New York, 2004), p. 161-162, 163, 166, 168.

- CircumSpice, City College Library of The City College of New York, no. 68 (New York, Spring 2004) p. 1.

- Eve Kahn, District Lines, Historic Districts Council newsletter, "New Books about Old New York" (New York, Spring 2004), p. 6.

- ABFE News, American Black Foundation Executives newsletter, Spring 2004 p. 7.

- Paul Messina, NY1 News, "Neighborhood Report" (Time Warner Cable Television, New York, May 23, 2002).

- Rebecca Webber, Columbia Community Affairs, "Historian Illuminates Manhattanville" (New York, May 2002), p. 1.

- Alden Young, Columbia Spectator: "Groups Want Manhattanville Recognised: Local Group Works to have Neighborhood Designated a New York Historical District" (New York, November 20, 2001).

- Holly McWhorter, The Village Voice, "Central Park: The Real Deal" (New York, September 23, 1997).

- NYS Senator David A. Paterson, Daily News, letters: "Dig this" (New York, June 7, 1997).

- The National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention, August 16-20, "1995 NABJ Awards: Print Magazines/Under 1 Million Circulation, Eric K. Washington...First Place" (Philadelphia, 1995), p. 31.