Preliminary Guide to Environmental Sources - New York City

Research: Topics: Environment: Preliminary Guide to Environmental Sources

Preliminary Guide to Environmental Sources

Local Government Repositories

City of New York. Municipal Archives. New York City Department of Records and Information Services.
31 Chambers St., Room 101, New York, N.Y. 10007.

Federal Writers' Project. New York (N.Y.). HOW WE KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN records, 1916-ca. 1938, (bulk 1937).
.25 cubic foot.
Series is comprised of manuscripts, notes, clippings, press releases, and reports. The first seven folders in the series contain articles on topics of sanitation. The articles, interfiled with research notes and related printed material, are unnumbered and unlisted. Printed material constitutes the contents of Folder 8. The series arrangement continues with draft publication manuscripts, followed by administrative records at the end. The articles were not indexed during the original project.

The records contain information on sanitation, for example garbage collection, street cleaning, sewer systems, epidemics, disease, personal cleanliness, and pollution in New York City. Broadly related areas documented include water supply and public health. The records also include background material on sanitary conditions throughout history.

The records document efforts to gather information needed for a history of New York City sanitation, a contemporary analysis of issues and concerns, and the operation of city agencies with broadly defined sanitation responsibilities. There are five complete draft manuscripts, but there is no evidence that any material was ever published.

NYNV90-a1015 is a record group-level description of the Works Progress Administration records.

NYNV90-a1017 is a collection-level description of the American Guide Manuscripts materials of which this series forms a part.
Kings County (N.Y.). Old Town records, 1645-[ca.1920].
12 cubic ft. 625 volumes.

Microfilm available at Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, N.Y 11238.

Series is comprised of records of the six original towns of Kings County including Flatlands, 1661-1895, Flatbush, 1659-1894, New Utrecht, 1659-1895, Gravesend, 1645-1894, Bushwick, 1660-1825, and Brooklyn, 1785-1823, and the later town of New Lots, 1857-1886. Also included are bound and loose original documents, copies and translations, dating from circa 1890 to 1920, made by the County Clerk's Office. Records include minutes, deeds, including the deed for the purchase of Coney Island in Gravesend in 1654 from an Indian named Guttaquoh, town histories, assessment rolls, reports, permits, including permits to plant oysters, and diagrams of oyster beds, accounts, documents of openings and improvements of many streets, records of the births of slaves and slave manumissions, records of births, marriages, and deaths, records of mortgages, wills, tax lists, records concerning troops, election records, and jury lists. Agencies represented include the Oyster Board, Flatlands, health boards, police commissioners, fire departments, schools, town boards, courts, town clerks, highway commissioners, improvement boards, town supervisors, sewer commissioners, Overseers of the Poor, town treasurers, water boards, and Electric Light Plant, Gravesend. Also included are town charters for Flatbush, New Utrecht, and Gravesend, 1645-1686.
New York (N.Y.). Board of Health. Minutes, 1798-1896, [microform].
7 microfilm reels; 35mm.

Series is comprised mainly of minutes plus donation record books and a couple of cash books. There are 1832 minutes regarding Cholera, and minutes from the Common Council Committtee on Health, dated 1803 and from the Sanatory Committee, dated 1849.

An index, circa early 1830s, to the proceedings is available at the beginning of the records.

Reproduction Note: Microfilmed. New York (N.Y.). NYC Municipal Archives, Micrographics Unit, 1988: 7 microfilm reels; 35mm.

Originals held by the NYC Municipal Archives.
New York (N.Y.). City Council. Council Member (Greitzer). Subject files, 1969-1991.
28 cubic feet.

Accession is comprised of reports, memos, and correspondence.

The material deals with community issues and projects that Ms. Greitzer took a stand on (the majority of the issues pertain to the district she presided over). The correspondence are mainly from constituents voicing opinions on community issues, such as the Prison Barge Program and sidewalk cafes. There are also important issues outside the community, such as the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

Finding aids: Container list.
New York (N.Y.). City Council. Council Services Bureau. Legal Services. Subject files, 1963-1972.
3 cubic feet.

Ernest Neufeld was Executive Director of the Queens Office of Borough President from 1961-1962. Afterwards, he became head of the Legislative Finance Unit and later, the Legal Services Office of the Council Services Bureau.

Series consists of correspondence, memos, drafts of reports and speeches on city government administrative, legal and financial issues, clippings, extensive files of reference materials on pollution and sewerage and other records relating to issues before the City Council. All of these records appear to have been created by Ernest Neufeld, head of the office variously titled the Legislative Finance Unit and later the Legal Services Office of Council Service Bureau.

Finding aids: Folder list.
New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Environmental Protection. Photographic subject files and miscellaneous photos, 1929-1985, (bulk 1960-1985).
12 cubic feet.

Series is comprised of over 1,000 black and white photos and about 3,000 negatives. Included are 142 glass plate negatives, with prints, slides, contact negatives, and color prints. Subjects reflect different departments and city agencies but also refer to areas under the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) jurisdiction such as sewage, pure water and air pollution.

The oversized mounted photos have been placed in separate storage containers. Also included is a set of black and white 8x10 photos depicting 1920s scenes of New York City and Brooklyn. The photographs belong to DEP but were in the possession of the Department of General Services before being transferred to the Municipal Archives.

Finding aids: Item list.

NYNV91-a587 is the agency history record of the Dept. of Environmental Protection.
New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Health. Commissioner. Subject files, 1929-1981.
629 cubic feet.

Accession is comprised of information relating to administrative health policies, procedures, and public health issues. It also contains executive orders and materials on public health education, environment health services, personal health, chief medical examiner, district health, and correspondence.

These files were maintained by the Commissioner's Office.

Finding aids: Container list.
New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Health. Environmental Health Services. Deputy Commissioner. Subject files, 1936-1946, 1974-1983.
92 cubic feet.

Comprised of reports, memoranda, policy and procedure documents which relate to the environmental health program. Also included are summary reports and executive orders relating to radiation control, pest control, food and drugs, sanitary inspections, and all expense budgets which justifies the E.H.S. program. Records dated from 1947 to 1973 are missing.

Special permission must be obtained by the Director of the NYC Municipal Archives to view the part of the collection from 1974 to 1983.

Finding aids: Container list
New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Sanitation. Office of Public Affairs. Photograph Bureau. Index to photographic records, 1939-1969.
7 volumes.

Series consists of 7 bound volumes arranged chronologically as follows:

Volume 1 (1939-1942)
Volume 2 (1942-1950)
Volume 3 (1950-1954)
Volume 4 (1954-1959)
Volume 5 (1959-1963)
Volume 6 (1960-1963)
Volume 7 (1964-1969)

Volume 1 begins the numerical sequence of the index with item No. 500.

Finding aids: Container list.
New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Sanitation. Office of Public Affairs. Photograph Bureau. Photographic records, ca. 1920-1969, (bulk 1930-1949).
35 cubic feet.

Series consists of 4x5 inch negatives, 8x10 inch negatives and gelatin dry plate negatives, and photographs. Subjects depicted include collection trucks, land fills, snow removal, and the World's Fair, 1939-1940.

Finding aids: Container list.

NYNV91-a593 is the agency history record of the Dept. of Sanitation.
New York (N.Y.). Health Dept. Records, 1914-1958.
15 volumes.

Series is comprised of annual reports, indices of building addresses by street of health areas and health center districts in the five boroughs of New York City, copies of the Sanitary Code and Supplements, a report to the Mayor on Fluoridation and a report of costs and expenditures of the Health Dept.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1978-1989 : Koch). Assistant to the Mayor (Jordan). Subject files, 1979-1981.
6 cubic feet.

Series consists of correspondence, memoranda, staff notes, reports and other records comprising Deborah Jordan's subject office files. Most of the material relates to environmental issues and deregulation. Jordan worked under Executive Administrator Ronay Menschel.

Finding aids: Folder list.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1978-1989 : Koch). Committee on the Year 2000. Subject files, 1984-1988.
13 cubic feet.

The New York City Committtee on the year 2000, created by the Mayor in 1984, was intended to initiate a public dialogue on what the City's policies and priorities should be as it enters the 21st Centruy. The 24 member Committee, chaired by Robert F. Wagner Jr., concerned itself with issues such as education, economic development, transportation, housing, neighborhood preservation, capital needs, health care, and the environment.

Accession consists of correspondence, clippings and reference materials.

Finding aids: Container list.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1978-1989 : Koch). Office of Operations. Environmental Control Board transfer project files, 1979-1981.
2 cubic feet.

Series consists of memos, correspondence, staff notes, reports, bills, local laws, executive orders, departmental orders, agendas, minutes, directives, news clippings, charts, fee schedules, bidding specifications, a contract, personnel actions and administrative forms. These records document the role played by the Office of Operations in overseeing the transfer of adjudication of health, consumer and sanitation code violators (illegal peddling, dumping, spitting, etc.) from the Criminal Courts to the Environmental Control Board of the Department of Environmental Protection.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1966-1973 : Lindsay). Action Center. Complaints, 1970-1971, (bulk 1971).
The Mayor's Action Center serves as a clearinghouse for problems, complaints and inquiries directed to the Mayor's Office. Subjects include air pollution, electricity, social services, sanitation, traffic and water resources.

NYNV90-a668 is the agency history of the Mayor's Office.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1966-1973 : Lindsay). Departmental correspondence, 1968.
[4] cubic feet.

Notes: Subjects in this series range from air pollution to U.S. presidents.

NYNV90-a668 is the agency history of the Mayor's Office.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1954-1965 : Wagner). Departmental correspondence, 1954-1963.
70 cubic feet.

Subjects include air pollution, courts, various municipal agencies, public works, state legislatures, and labor.

NYNV90-a668 is the agency history of the Mayor's Office.
New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1954-1965 : Wagner). Departmental correspondence, 1962.
2 cubic feet.

Consists of departmental correspondence files belonging to Mayor Robert Wagner covering the year 1962. Included are files pertaining to Air Pollution, the Teachers Retirement System, and the various City agencies, sucha s Office of Cultural Affairs, Comptroller, Board of Education, Municipal Archives, Fire Department, Department of Sanitation, and the Transit Authority.

New York (N.Y.). Mayor (1954-1965 : Wagner). Departmental Correspondence, 1962. NYC Municipal Archives. NYNV90-a668 is the agency history record of the Mayor's Office. Location: Municipal Archives. NYC Dept. of Records and Information Services. Chambers Street Room 101, New York, N.Y. 10007.

Control No.: NYNV91-A343
New York (N.Y.). Mayor. Reception Committee. Open records of the Committee for a Quiet City, 1954-1958.
5 cubic feet.

The Mayor's Reception Committee is the predecessor of the current Office of Special Projects and Events which is under the auspices of the Mayor's Office.

Series is comprised of original carbon copies of correspondence, minutes, memoranda, and reports from individuals, manufacturers, and private companies, either requesting information or expressing a desire to comply with the regulations established by this committee. Additional correspondence is included from city officials involved in the implementation of these regulations. Publicity information, press releases, clippings, pamphlets, and flyers generated by the committee is also included doucumenting the original development, objectives, and everyday activities of this mayoral attempt to respond to community concerns.
New York (N.Y.). New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee. Water Quality Management Program. Minutes, 1975-1978.
2 cubic feet.

Series consists of ring binders containing typed minutes of Executive Committee meetings, Policy Committee minutes, Task Force Meeting minutes and attached progress reports, agendas for meetings (some annotated with handwritten minutes of the meeting), and correspondence pertaining to CAC meetings, committee members and other committee business. In addition, there are some unfiled minutes and correspondence.

New York (N.Y.). New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee. Water Quality Management Program. Minutes, 1975-1978. NYC Municipal Archives.

NYNV90-a966 contains subjects files dated 1975 to 1978 of the New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee, Water Quality Management Program.

NYNV90-a967 contains printed materials from 1975 to 1983 of the New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee, Water Quality Management Program.
New York (N.Y.). New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee. Water Quality Management Program. Printed material, 1975-1983.
1 cubic foot.

Series consists of printed material collected by the Citizens Advisory Committee and Water Quality Committee chairperson, Sister Frances Kress, dealing with such matters as water pollution control and ocean waste disposal. This material includes the "Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 106-Mile Ocean Waste Disposal Site Designation", the "1981 Report of the Interstate Sanitation Commission on the Water Pollution Control Activities and the Interstate Air Pollution Program", and a NOAA Technical Memorandum "Contaminant Inputs to the Hudson-Raritan Estuary".

Finding aids: Item list.

New York (N.Y.). New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee. Water Quality Management Program. Printed Material, 1975-1983. NYC Municipal Archives.

NYNV90-a965 contains minutes from 1975 to 1978 of the Water Quality Management Program of the New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee.

NYNV90-a966 contains subject files from 1975 to 1978 of the Water Quality Management Program of the New York 208 Citizens Advisory Committee.
New York (N.Y.). Office of the Comptroller. Superintendent of Scavengers. Journal of accounts (Street sanitation accounts), 1805-1806.
.5 cubic foot.

Restricted access; advance notice required. Accession consists of one 17 x 8 inch volume (138 p.) containing accounts for cash, carting, contingencies inspectors, manure, mud machine, and sweeping. It also contains individual accounts for 98 carters.
New York (N.Y.). Office of the Mayor (1978-1989 : Koch). Deputy Mayor for Policy and Physical Development. Subject and departmental files, 1983-1987.
58 cubic feet.

Files contain correspondence, reports, memos, newsclippings, and staff notes. Subject headings include Cultural Affairs, Homeless, Environmental Protection, Landmarks, Sanitation, and Probation. These files belonged to Robert Esnard, Deputy Mayor for Policy and Physical Development.

The May 26, 1989 accretion to this series is comprised of the following, in addition to the types of records mentioned above: telegrams, resumes, correspondence tracking sheets, invitations, chronological files, local laws, legislative bills, booklets on transportation, court trial transcripts, petitions (on the closing of Brighton Beach), timesheets, drawings, block and lot applications, and drafts on construction management contracts. This set of materials are dated from 1984 to 1987.

Finding aids: Container list.

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