- The 4,744 Contract One photographs show the earliest subway construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), including portions of the Lexington Avenue Line (the 4 train, 5 train, and 6 train); the 42nd Street Shuttle; the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (the 1 train, 2 train, and 3 train); the Lenox Avenue Line (the 2 train and 3 train); and the West Farms Division of the White Plains Road Line (the 2 train and 5 train). Most photographs are views along the main arteries of the lines being constructed: Lafayette Street and Fourth Avenue from City Hall north to 42nd Street (the 4, 5, and 6); 42nd Street from Grand Central to Times Square (the 42nd Street Shuttle); Broadway from West 42nd Street north to 241st Street in the Bronx (the 1); West 96th Street to West 148th Street in Manhattan (the 2 and 3); the 149th Street Tunnel under the Harlem River (the 2); and East 149th Street to East 180th Street in the Bronx (the 2 and 5). What is now Lafayette Street was referred to for most of the duration of Contract One as Elm Street.
- The 3,496 Contract Three, Route 4 & 38 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line from Times Square to Chambers Street (the 1 train, 2 train, and 3 train) and from Chambers Street to South Ferry in Manhattan (the 1 train). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Greenwich Street from Battery Park to Vesey Street; Section 2, West Broadway and Vesey Street to Varick Street and Beach Street; Section 3, Varick Street and Beach Street to Seventh Avenue and Commerce Street; Section 4, Seventh Avenue from Commerce Street to West 16th Street; Section 5, Seventh Avenue from West 16th Street to West 30th Street, and West 30th Street from Seventh Avenue to the Hudson; Section 6, Seventh Avenue from West 30th Streeet to around West 43rd Street; and Section 6-A, Seventh Avenue from West 42nd Street to West 44th Street. There are a number of photographs of Pennsylvania Station on Seventh Avenue between West 31st Street and West 33rd Street.
- The 4,631 Contract Three, Route 5, Sections 6-15 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Lexington Avenue Line (the 4 train, 5 train, and 6 train) from East 26th street to East 132nd street in Manhattan, crossing the Harlem River via the Lexington Avenue Tunnel to East 138th Street and Alexander Avenue (the 6) and East 157th Street and River Avenue (the 4 and 5) in the the Bronx. The route covers the following sections: Section 6, Lexington Avenue from East 26th Street to East 40th Street; Section 7, from East 41st Street to East 53rd Street; Section 8, from East 54th Street to East 68th Street; Section 9, from East 68th Street to East 79th Street; Section 10, from East 79th Street to East 93rd Street; Section 11, from East 93rd Street to East 105th Street; Section 12, from East 106th Street to East 117th Street; Section 13, from East 118th Street to East 128th Street; Section 14, from East 128th Street to East 132nd Street across the Harlem River to East 138th Street and Mott Avenue [Grand Concourse] in the Bronx; and Section 15, East 138th Street and Mott Avenue to East 157th Street and River Avenue. Photographs include views of East Harlem including a lively Jewish neighborhood from around 90th Street to 125th Street along Lexington Avenue. Some photographs show large Victorian houses alongside excavation work between 144th Street and 146th Street and Mott Avenue in the Bronx.
- The 634 Contract Three, Route 16 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the elevated Jerome Avenue Line (the 4 train) from around East 157th Street north to Woodlawn in the Bronx. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, River Avenue and East 157th Street to Jerome Avenue and East 182nd Street; Section 2, Jerome Avenue from East 182nd Street to Bainbridge Avenue. The photographs include views of the interiors, exteriors, and platforms of completed stations, and many photographs of the Jerome Avenue Yard at the northern end of the line.
- The 542 Contract Three, Route 18 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the White Plains Road Line (the 4 train and 5 train) in the Bronx from around East 179th Street to Wakefield-East 241st Street. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, from East 179th Street and Boston Road to Burke Avenue and White Plains Road, including the 180th Street Yard; Section 2, White Plains Road from Burke Avenue to East 241st Street, including the 239th Street Yard.
- The 1,486 Contract Three, Route 19-22 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Pelham Line (the 6 train) in the Bronx from East 138th Street and Third Avenue to Pelham Bay Park. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, East 138th and Third Avenue to East 149th Street and Southern Boulevard; Section 1A , East 149th Street and Southern Boulevard to Whitlock Avenue; Section 2, Whitlock Avenue to Pelham Bay Park along Westchester Avenue; and Section 3, the Westchester Yard near the Westchester Square and Middletown Road stations. There are many photographs of the bustling commercial strip along East 138th Street, more rural scenes as the line extends farther east, and views of many subway stations along the way.
- The 129 Contract Three, Route 26 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of a portion of the Flushing Line from Grand Central in Manhattan to Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens (the 7 train). Some of the photographs show the construction of the Steinway Tunnel. Other photographs include views in Queens along 4th Street (now 50th Avenue) and Vernon Avenue (Vernon Boulevard), showing the commercial district including the neighborhood theater.
- The 40 Contract Three, Route 27 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) in the vicinity of Mott Avenue Station in the Bronx (the modern 149th Street-Grand Concourse Station on the 2 train and 5 train). There are above ground views along East 149th Street, Mott Avenue, Walton Avenue, and Spencer Place, as well as many underground views, some showing the Mott Avenue Station under construction or completed.
- The 418 Route 35 & 67 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of a portion of the Flushing Line (the 7 train) from Grand Central Terminal to Times Square. The photographs follow 42nd Street from Grand Central to Bryant Park and Sixth Avenue, and West 41st Street from Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue. There are many views of the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and theaters on West 41st Street. The series also includes many underground photographs.
- The 371 Contract Three, Route 36 & 37 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of a portion of the Flushing Line (the 7 train) in Queens from Queensboro Plaza to Alburtis Avenue (now the 103rd Street-Corona Plaza Station), as well as construction along the N line from Queensboro Plaza to Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria.
- The 559 Contract Three, Route 43 photographs show construction of a new tunnel by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) to connect the first portion of the Lexington Avenue Line (the 4 train, 5 train and 6 train) that ran from City Hall to East 42nd Street to its extension north of 42nd Street along Lexington Avenue. Many of the photographs show views along Park Avenue from East 34th Street to East 42nd Street, including excavation work outside of Grand Central Terminal.
- The 135 Contract Three, Route 50 photographs show the completion of the Steinway Tunnel and the construction of elevated tracks to the Hunters Point Avenue Station on a portion of the Flushing Line in Queens (the 7 train) by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). There are many views of Ely Avenue, Van Alst Avenue, and 4th Street in Queens. A series of photographs of buildings on Nott Avenue, Davis Street, and Ely Avenue relate to lawsuits from property owners along the elevated line.
- The 340 Contract Three, Route 52 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the portion of the Flushing Line (the 7 train) along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens from Alburtis Avenue (now the 103rd Street-Corona Plaza Station) to Main Street, Flushing. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Roosevelt Avenue in Corona; Section 2, the Willets Point Boulevard Station; Section 2-3, Flushing Bridge; and Section 3, Flushing-Main Street. There are photographs of downtown Flushing, the Corona Yard, as well as many photographs from 1937-1939 of the Willets Point Boulevard Station showing the station expansion for the New York World's Fair.
- The 1,583 Contract Four, Route 4 & 36 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Broadway Line in Manhattan (the N train, Q train, R train, and W train) from Union Square to the 60th Street Tunnel under the East River. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Broadway from Union Square to West 26th-27th Street; Section 2, Broadway from West 26th-27th Street to West 39th Street; Section 3, Broadway from West 39th Street to West 45th Street and Seventh Avenue from West 45th Street to West 51st Street; Section 4, Seventh Avenue and West 51st Street to Sixth Avenue and West 59th Street (Central Park South); and Section 5, Sixth Avenue and West 59th Street (Central Park South) to Second Avenue and East 62nd Street. There are many images of buildings along Ladies' Mile on Broadway, photographs of the Theater District, views of Central Park South, as well as many brownstones along East 60th Street, East 61st Street, and East 62nd Street.
- The 1,333 Contract Four, Route 5, Sections 1-5 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Broadway Line (the N train, Q train, R train, and W train) from Morris Street to Union Square in Manhattan. Most of the photographs are views along Trinity Place, Church Street, and Broadway from Vesey Street to Union Square. They include the Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel churchyards, Washington Square Park, and excavation work at Union Square.
- The 1,606 Contract Four, Route 9-0 photographs show the construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Nassau Street Line (the J train and Z train) from Chambers Street to Essex Street. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Centre Street from Chambers Street to Duane Street; Section 2, Centre Street from Duane Street to Canal Street; Section 3, from Grand Street to Broome Street; Section 4, Delancey Street from Mulberry Street to the Bowery; Section 5, Delancey Street from Christie Street to Essex Street. There are several photographs from 1907 that show people sitting on the benches that ran along the center of Delancey Street prior to the excavation of that street. Other photos show pushcart peddlers near Delancey Street.
- The 147 Contract Four, Route 20, Section 2 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Broadway Line (the N train) on Canal Street from Broadway to the Bowery in Manhattan. Many of the images show the busy commercial district along the north and south sides of Canal Street.
- The 768 Contract Four, Route 45 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Nassau Street-Jamaica Line from South Street to Park Row in Manhattan (the J and Z). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, from Nassau Street and Liberty Street to Park Row near the Municipal Building and the Brooklyn Bridge elevated station; and Section 2, from Broad Street and South Street to Nassau Street and Liberty Street. There are many views of buildings along Nassau Street and Broad Street, including Federal Hall, the New York Stock Exchange, and the headquarters of several major banks, insurance companies, and other businesses.
- The 545 Contract Four, Route 61 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of the 60th Street Tunnel under the East River alongside the Queensboro Bridge, connecting the Broadway Line in Manhattan with Queensboro Plaza Station in Queens (the N train and W train). There are views of East 60th Street between Second Avenue and Avenue A (Sutton Place) in Manhattan, along with many images of the Queensboro Bridge, tunneling under the East River, and construction of the elevated portion of the line in Queens. Other views include construction on Blackwell Island (now Roosevelt Island).
- The 2,787 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 78 photographs show the construction of the Eighth Avenue Line (the A train and C train) from West 68th Street and Central Park West to West 192nd Street in Manhattan. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Central Park West from West 68th Street to West 78th Street; Section 1A, West 78th Street to West 89th Street; Section 2, West 89th Street to West 101st Street; Section 2A, Central Park West from West 101st Street to West 110th Street/Cathedral Parkway, and Eighth Avenue (Frederick Douglass Boulevard) from West 110th Street/Cathedral Parkway to West 111th Street; Section 3, Eighth Avenue from West 111th Street to West 124th Street; Section 3A, St. Nicholas Avenue from West 121st Street to West 131st Street; Section 4, West 132nd Street to West 141st Street; Section 4A, West 141st Street to West 149th Street; Section 5, West 149th Street to West 160th Street; Section 6, St. Nicholas Avenue from West 160th Street to West 169th Street and Broadway, and Broadway to 173rd Street; Section 6A and 6B, Broadway and West 173rd Street to Fort Washington Avenue and West 174th Street; Section 6C, Broadway from West 173rd Street to West 178th Street; Section 7, Fort Washington Avenue from West 174th Street to West 184th Street; and Section 8, Fort Washington Avenue and West 185th Street to Bennett Avenue and West 192nd Street.
- The 1,293 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 102 photographs show the construction of a portion of the Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan (the A train and C train) from Bank Street and Greenwich Avenue to West 59th Street and Columbus Circle, and from West 60th Street and Central Park West to West 68th Street. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, from Greenwich Avenue and Bank Street to Eighth Avenue and West 18th Street; Section 2, Eighth Avenue from West 18th Street to West 28th Street; Section 3, Eighth Avenue from West 28th street to West 38th Street; Section 4, the area between Eighth Avenue and Eleventh Avenue from West 38th Street to West 48th Street; Section 5, Eighth Avenue from West 48th Street to West 59th Street; and Section 6, Central Park West from West 59th Street to West 68th Street. Views in Chelsea include the Grand Opera House, as well as several burlesque theaters.
- The 954 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 104 photographs show the construction of a portion of the Queens Boulevard Line (the E train and F train) from Eighth Avenue and 53rd Street in Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens via the 53rd Street Tunnel. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, West 53rd Street from Eighth Avenue to Sixth Avenue; Section 2, East 53rd Street from Fifth Avenue to Third Avenue; Section 3, from Second Avenue to Sutton Place, then across the East River to Welfare (Roosevelt) Island, and along Nott Avenue (now 44th Drive) and East Avenue (now 11th Street) in Queens. Most images are of 53rd Street in Manhattan from the West Side to the East Side.
- The 698 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 105 photographs show construction of the Eighth Avenue Line to Inwood in Manhattan (the A train). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Fort Washington Avenue to Dyckman Street; Section 2, Broadway from Dyckman Street to 215th Street; and Section 3, West 207th Street from Vermilyea Avenue to Post Avenue. The series includes many views of the 207th Street Yard by the Harlem River. Other views include the Isham Park Dump, Dyckman House, and a small shopping district along Dyckman Street, including the Dyckman Theatre.
- The 2,315 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 106 photographs show construction of the Concourse Line (the B train and D train) from West 155th Street in Manhattan to East 205th Street in the Bronx. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, St. Nicholas Place from West 150th Street to West 155th Street in Manhattan, across the Harlem River via the Concourse Tunnel into the Bronx, then following 161st Street to Jerome Avenue; Section 2, 161st Street and River Avenue to East 167th Street and Grand Concourse; Section 3, Grand Concourse from East 167th Street to East 175th Street; Section 4, from East 176th Street to East 183rd Street; Section 5, from East 183rd Street to Kingsbridge Road, including Fordham Road; Section 6, from Kingsbridge Road to Van Cortlandt Avenue East; and Section 7, Grand Concourse and Van Cortlandt Avenue East to East 205th Street and Webster Avenue. In addition to the numerous apartment buildings on the Grand Concourse, there are some row houses and large detached houses. The views in Manhattan show a residential neighborhood running along St. Nicholas Place. Other views include the Macombs Dam Viaduct and the Harlem River Speedway.
- The 4,468 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 108 photographs show construction of the Queens Boulevard Line (the E train, F train and M train) from Jackson Avenue to 169th Street in Queens. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Jackson Avenue and 44th Drive to Northern Boulevard and 37th Street; Section 2, Northern Boulevard from 37th Street to 53rd Street, Steinway Street between Northern Boulevard and Broadway, and Broadway from Steinway Street to 53rd Street and Northern Boulevard; Section 3, Broadway from 53rd Street to around 37th Avenue; Section 4, Broadway from around 37th Avenue to Pettit Place; Section 5, Broadway from Pettit Place to Queens Boulevard and Queens Boulevard to 55th Avenue; Section 6, Queens Boulevard from 55th Avenue to 64th Road; Section 7, Queens Boulevard from 64th Road to 71st Road; Section 8, Queens Boulevard from 71st Road to Union Turnpike; Section 9, Queens Boulevard from Union Turnpike to 137th Street (now the Van Wyck Expressway), 137th Street to Hillside Avenue, and Hillside Avenue to around 148th Street; Section 10, Hillside Avenue from around 148th Street to around 162nd Street; and Section 11, Hillside Avenue from around 162nd Street to 169th Street.