Author and/or editor of seven books on Brooklyn, New York, its history, culture, and people and ontributor to other books, publications and mixed media. Official Brooklyn Borough Historian appointed by Borough President Howard Golden from 1993 until 2002. He has held several city and state appointed positions and serves on advisory and foundation boards. In 1999, he was named a Centennial Historian of the Year. From 1972 until 1999, he was archivist/director of the Kingsborough Historical Society.

His weekly column, "Historically Speaking," appears in "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle" in print and on line. It deals with Brooklyn neighborhoods, historical events, individuals and places.

In addition to his writings, he has appeared in television, radio, and podcast documentaries about Brooklyn and has spoken at the Smithsonian Institution about Coney Island. Manbeck has been giving talks on Brooklyn subjects for the New York Council for the Humanities for over 20 years.

He is a member of the Kingsborough Community College Foundation board, the advisory board of the Wyckoff Homestead, and the executive board of Friends of Thirteen (PBS).

In his spare time, he works on his Brooklyn novel.

Selected Reviews

Non-fiction

The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn
"surprising rewards" The New Yorker; "charming and highly accessible form" The New York Times Book Review

Photography

Historic Photos of Brooklyn
"a resonant collection" The New York Times; "another beautiful entry" SoHo Journal

Essays

Brooklyn: Historically Speaking
"readable and rewarding"- Hendrik Krogius, Brooklyn Daily Eagle