Research: Topics: Environment: Preliminary Guide to Environmental Sources
Preliminary Guide to Environmental Sources
Historical Records Repositories in New York State
Staten Island Historical Society.
441 Clarke Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10306
- Miscellaneous Business and Industry Records, 1843-1983.
2.0 cubic ft.
Related photographs in Staten Island Geographic Photograph File and Miscellaneous Staten Island Photographs Collection.
Records of Staten Island business and industry including ephemera, correspondence, accounts, catalogs, letterheads and bills. Industries represented include aviation, brickmaking, candlemaking, granite quarrying, hotels, iron mining, whaling, insurance, labor unions, pharmacy, utilities, newspapers, banking, patents, ice harvesting, paint manufacturing, and fireworks.Companies include Meyer's Cigars; Gage Sandpaper; Vought Bicycle Repair Shop; C.A. Witteman Aircraft; Louis De Jonge & Sons, paper; Sun Chemical/Ausbacher-Siegle; Nassau Recycle, waste metal; Grief Brothers, barrels; and Oswald Uniform Corporation.
- Richmond County. Public Records, 1741-1912.
135.0 cubic ft.
Reproduction note: Photocopies.
Public records of Richmond County, from the County Clerk's Office. Included are coroner's reports and police records; materials on the Polly Bodine murder case, 1844-46; copies of deeds and land documents; bonds, accounts, bills and receipts, contracts, and correspondence; records from town boards of health; fishing, hunting, and oystering licenses; records of the Staten Island Railway; business licenses and petitions; papers pertaining to naturalization, courts, elections, town and village governments, and schools; vital statistics; road records; apprentice indentures of freeborn blacks, 1805-06; and records of public institutions for the poor, the insane, and for juvenile delinquents.
Provenance note: Copies of land papers from the New-York Historical Society and the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. - Vertical Files, 1860(ca.)-1984.
46.3 cubic ft.
Arrangement: Alphabetical.
Pamphlets, articles, correspondence, programs, leaflets, posters and photos relating to Staten Island business and industry, cultural life, environment, churches, schools, politics and government, and transportation and utilities.
Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences.
51 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY, 10301
Mailing address: 75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301
- Armentrout, Fred. Armentrout, Fred. Interview Tapes, 1970-1971.
2.0 cubic ft.
Taped interviews conducted by Armentrout, editor of the Staten Island REGISTER, on environmental issues, and on drug abuse. Interviews without transcripts include those with Howard H. Cleaves, ornithologist; Mollenhoff Florists and Frank Houber on the effect of pollution on flower crops; Mr. Summerville, curator of the Staten Island Zoo; Congressman John M. Murphy on power needs; Ben Caprozza of the Environmental Protection Agency; and with drug addicts and officials in drug abuse programs.
Interviews with transcripts, all pertaining to environmental issues, include those with Holt Meyer, of the City Planning Office; Congressman Edward I. Koch; Staten Island Borough President Robert Connor; Dr. Strebel of the New York Medical Center; and a roundtable discussion among physicians and environmentalists.
Access restriction: For consultation only; permission required from participants for other uses..
Finding aids: Folder list. - Behm, Hans. Behm, Hans papers, 1950-1980.
1.0 cubic ft.
Geologist.
Papers of Behm, lunar geologist for NASA in the 1960's, include photographs documenting geological specimens and features on Staten Island, 1950-65; reports and articles pertaining to environmental, lunar, and space concerns, 1960-80; and his unpublished manuscript, 'New York Blight', 1971.
Access restriction: Unpublished manuscripts restricted to consultation only; may not be copied.
Finding aids: Folder list. - Environmental Collection, 1857-1984.
31.0 cubic ft.
Printed materials such as articles, clippings, impact statements, reports, pamphlets, and newsletters, with some maps, photographs, posters, letters, manuscripts, and typescripts, pertaining to conservation and environmental issues on Staten Island and the surrounding area, 1930-present. Also materials about various environmental groups, 1857-present, including the Oystermen's Association, 1857, the Staten Island Tree Planting and Protective Association, 1897-99, and the Staten Island Civic League, 1913-30.
Finding aids: Container list.
Finding aids: Folder list.
Local subject: Fishing and fisheries. - Hollick, Charles Arthur, 1857-1930. Hollick, Charles Arthur,
1857-1930 papers, 1844-1930.
14.0 cubic ft.
Botanist, paleontologist.
Hollick, one of the co-founders of SIIAS, was a curator at the New York Botanical Garden and served on the sanitation commission for Staten Island.
Personal and professional correspondence, 1884-1927; correspondence pertaining to SIIAS and its predecessor, the Natural Science Association, 1884-1930; photographs, maps, and manuscripts on the geology and paleontology of Long Island, New York City, Staten Island, and the Hudson River Valley, 1893-1930.
Manuscripts on Staten Island water including reports and analyses of wells and ponds, 1866-1912; journals of his natural history observations on Staten Island, 1870-89; scrapbooks of Thomas Nast cartoons, and of clippings and memorabilia about Staten Island, 1880-1907, including the blizzard of 1888; clippings of his newspaper column 'Reveries of a Tramp', on the flora, fauna, and history of Staten Island, 1889-93; and articles and reports he wrote and others he collected on pollution, fires, natural history, geology, and water, 1860-1922.
There are also materials on his father Dr. Frederick Hollick, M.D., including resolutions prepared by his students and receipts for his professional licenses, 1844-70. - Planning Collection, 1905-1984.
12.0 cubic ft.
Printed materials such as reports, articles, statistics, studies, surveys, and plans pertaining to all aspects of community development for New York City, Staten Island, and other New York State locations. Specific topics include housing, industry, parks, museums, history, open space, police, environment, health, architecture, education, youth, and transportation.
Finding aids: Folder list. - Shirtbox Collection, 1915-1973.
48.0 cubic ft. (ca.)
Arrangement: Alphabetical.
Materials on Staten Island history, originally compiled by William T. Davis, primarily clippings with some circular letters, typescript articles and reminiscences, articles, copies of pertinent SIIAS correspondence, notes, bulletins, and brochures, 1915-73. Arranged alphabetically by subjects such as aviation, biographies, Community Chest, fairs and shows, ferries, forts, lighthouses, musicians, organizations, politics, real estate, sports, streets, towns, and water supply.
- Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, Fundamental Records.
Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, Fundamental Records.
Publications, 1883-1984.
5.0 cubic ft.
PROCEEDINGS, 1883-1959 and 1966-1980, which include reports of the Institute; scientific reports and records; articles on Staten Island history; and, between 1945-59, articles on art and literature. Since1966 articles have been limited to the sciences of archeology, geology, ornithology, ecology, and the environment.
BULLETIN, 1908-48, and its successors, CALENDAR, 1948-51, NEW BULLETIN, 1951-73, AT THE INSTITUTE, 1973-76, and CALENDAR, 1976-present, listing events, lectures, programs, exhibitions, new accessions, formation of new sections, the activities of the Women's Auxiliary, with occasional articles and annual reports; since 1973, it has served primarily as a calendar of events.
Finding aids: Folder list. - Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. Staten Island Institute
of Arts and Sciences records, 1881-1981.
181.1 cubic ft., 28 v.
In 1918 the Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences changed its name to the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences; in addition to the Museum and the Library/Archives collections, the Institute operates the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge, the Reeds Basket Willow Swamp, the Evergreen Street Site, and the High Rock Park Conservation Center.
Records in this group include those that were serial or persisted from the beginning of the Natural Science Association and those records generated by the Institute after 1918.
Records include papers of the directors, trustees, and other officers of the Institute, financial records, and records of the various departments, sections, and divisions that make up the Institute.
Finding aids: Folder list. - Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, James L. Whitehead,
Director. Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, James L. Whitehead,
Director records, 1950-1961.
5.6 cubic ft.
Archivist, historian.
Whitehead was Director of the Institute from 1951 to 1961, during which time the museum building wasrenovated, staff was increased, the art collection doubled, and the museum's education program expanded.Papers include correspondence, minutes, reports, memos, and other items pertaining to accessions, trust funds, Institute property, Davis lectures and wildlife refuge, exhibits, lecture series, publicity, staff, Staten Island artists and craftsmen, and relations with other museums and associations, 1950-61. Arranged with Whitehead's files are those of his assistant, Mrs. Carlin Gasteyer.
Host item entry: Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences records. - Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. Staten Island Institute
of Arts and Sciences photographs, 1910-1984.
6.3 cubic ft.
Over 3,000 photographs of staff, trustees, officers, buildings, exhibitions, programs, events, views and activities at the Davis Wildlife Refuge and High Rock Park, field trips, and nature walks; usually taken by a staff member for publication purposes or for documentation, although some were taken by local newspapers.
Host item entry: Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences records. - Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, William T. Davis
Wildlife Refuge. Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, William
T. Davis Wildlife Refuge records, 1954-1977.
1.3 cubic ft.
Records of this 260 acre marsh, meadow, and woodland park which first opened in 1955 include historic, scientific, and administrative information taken from SIIAS PROCEEDINGS, 1956-59; guidebooks, 1955-75; annual reports and miscellaneous financial records, 1956-77; clippings, 1955-73; administrative correspondence and reports to the New York State Conservation Department, the New York City Department of Parks, and other agencies, 1956-70; interpretive reports, 1955-66; student research papers, 1973; and a notebook pertaining to preliminary planning efforts, containing maps, water analyses, clippings, bird and plant lists, and photographs, 1954-57.
Finding aids: Folder list.
Host item entry: Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences records. - Staten Island Parks Collection, 1895-1983.
10.0 cubic ft.
Reports, articles, correspondence, pamphlets, brochures, maps, clippings, and photographs pertaining to historic, recreational, and wildlife parks on Staten Island, arranged into five groups: philosophy, planning, and policy, 1895-1960; the Park Association of New York City, 1929-60; parks on Staten Island, 1897-1980; Gateway National Recreation Area, 1968-82; and city, state, and federal parks, 1917-83.
Much of the material was collected for SIIAS use by William T. Davis and includes his correspondence as Chairman of the Committee on Parks of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, 1924-40, and his correspondence with the Park Association, 1929-44.
Finding aids: Folder list. - Tribus, Louis L., 1865-1930. Tribus, Louis L, 1865-1930 papers,
1905-1912.
.5 cubic ft.
Public works engineer.
Tribus was Commissioner of Public Works on Staten Island, 1902-14.
Published papers and reports on New York Bay pollution, the St. George Ferry approach, Staten Island water systems, and sewer outlets into New York Harbor, 1905-11; and negatives of photographs he took of the Proctor and Gamble works, Cedar Grove, his home and family on Staten Island, and of sanitary and hydraulic facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Michigan, 1908-12.
Finding aids: Folder list. - Tube Map Collection, 1856-1977.
40.0 cubic ft.
Large maps stored in tubes, originally secured for research and exhibition purposes, pertaining to Staten Island, the New York metropolitan area, New Jersey, and New York State with some maps for Colorado, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and the U.S. Includes aerial maps, ecological study maps prepared by McHarg Associates, the Tri-State Transportation Commission, mosaic maps for Staten Island, and lunar maps.
Finding aids: Container list. - Water Supply Collection, 1882-1980.
12.0 cubic ft.
Printed and photocopied materials, such as reports, plans, transcripts of talks, booklets, newsletters, clippings, bulletins, papers, articles, and regulations on water conservation, ecology, pollution control, and resource analysis and management arranged chronologically in twelve groupings: coastal zone management, Delaware River basin, Hudson River, Interstate Sanitation Commission, New Jersey, New York City, New York City Board of Water Supply, New York State, Passaic River, Raritan Bay, Staten Island, and wells.
