City Club of New York records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection documents the work of City Club of New York from 1892 to 1978. City Club of New York was a social and civic organization that worked towards legislative reform, city development and preservation, and welfare related issues including public health and education. Much of the collection is minutes and correspondence for the Club, Board of Trustees, and the club's committees, as well as materials related to the Club House up through 1943. These records include petitions, reports, bulletins, financials, membership materials, and proposed policy and legislative proposals of City Club and its various committees. The materials document the internal work of the club and its external publications, press releases, and dealings with various government and civic leaders.
Administrative History
The City Club of New York was founded in 1892 as a gentlemen's social and civic club in Manhattan with the purpose of "providing through the facilities of a social club, means of intercourse and co-operation among citizens, officials and organizations interested in the city's welfare." For 50 years they maintained a Club House for members at 55 West 44th Street that included a library, dining room and bar, office space and rooms rented to members and other organizations. At its peak around the 1920s, the club had over 1000 members.
City Club's civic work was for nonpartisan reform of New York government, both at the state and city level. Through the creation of over 70 committees and sub-committees, they lobbied for parks, playgrounds, improved housing conditions, hospitals and healthcare, education reform, and renovations of streets, transit, and the ports of New York. They also pushed for reform of various agencies including the New York Police Department, the courts, and the Parks Department. Their numerous publications, pamphlets, and circulating bulletins detail not just the work of the committees, but City Club's opinion on countless civic and legislative matters.
City Club lobbied in favor of the protection and preservation of historic buildings and parks throughout the city including the Old Assay building façade, Castle Clinton, Central Park, and Washington Square Park. Their position on various redesigns, rezoning, and renovations placed them continuously in contact with Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, most notably in opposition to his proposal to redesign Washington Square Park. While they became well known for opposing many of Moses's plans, they worked in favor of many others and honored Moses numerous times. They allied themselves with several other civic groups including Women's City Club of New York, the National Municipal League, and Citizens' Union.
In the 1940s City Club's purpose and plans shifted after the foreclosure of the Club House and subsequent move to the Hotel Russel in 1943. The social club with a civic purpose pushed forward a primarily civic agenda up until the 1950s when declining membership prompted a discussion of the dissolution of the Club. Dissolution was deemed not an option by younger members and in 1951 City Club underwent reorganization. The influx of younger members and increased membership to the Board and Committees solidified City Club's place as a civic organization.
In 1954 City Club gave up its offices at Hotel Russel and moved into the office of a member of the Board of Trustees. The move to an office space without a dining room or other social areas permanently solidified City Club's place as a solely civic organization. In 1959 City Club Comments, a newsletter edited by I. D. Robbins, began, and was circulated to both members and non-members. The Comments replaced the solely informative City Club Bulletin with political and social commentary written by and for readers of the newsletter. The organization remained a men's club until 1973 when the first female members joined.
City Club suspended its activities in 2003 due to funding, and in 2009 dissolved but retained their corporate charter. In 2013 it resumed its work under the guidance of Michael Gruen, the new president, with a renewed focus on urban development and preservation in New York City.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in four series.
Series I. Bound Minutes Books, 1892-1894,1904-1943
Series II. Records and Correspondence Files, 1890-1957
Subseries II.A. Trustee and Executive Committee Files, 1930-1953
Subseries II.B. General Correspondence, 1945-1952
Subseries II.C. Committees, 1937-1954
Subseries II.D. Events, 1941-1952
Subseries II.E. Club History, 1890-1951
Subseries II.F. Bulletins, 1938-1953
Subseries II.G. Miscellaneous, 1943-1957
Series III. Scrapbooks, 1911-1953
Series IV. Publications, 1892-1950,1959-1978
Scope and Contents
The City Club of New York records detail the Club's history and civic work from 1892 through to 1978. Most of the materials are from 1900 to 1957, and consist of minutes and materials from the club and its various committees including published and internal reports, legislation, correspondence, membership rosters, news clippings, and their bulletins. The materials consist of bound minute books and publications, files of correspondence, minutes, and other records, booklets, pamphlets, newsletters, ephemera, and four scrapbooks.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Use Restrictions
This collection is owned by the New-York Historical Society. The copyright law of the United States governs the making of photocopies and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials. Unpublished materials created before January 1, 1978 cannot be quoted in publication without permission of the copyright holder. Photocopying undertaken by staff only. Limited to 20 exposures of stable, unbound material per day.
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: City Club of New York records, MS116, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Permanent deposit by City Club of New York, 1954. Later accruals in 1959 and approximately 1978.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by archival intern Cathy Sheehan in June 2019.
Repository
Series I. Bound Minutes Books, 1892-1894, 1904-1943, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The materials in this series are the bound volumes of minutes of City Club's Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, annual meetings, and miscellaneous committees up to 1940. Minutes from after 1940 were not bound and are located within the Records and Correspondence Files series. The volumes include minutes, correspondence, financials, reports of the committees, and other materials.
The Board of Trustee minutes contain financials, committee reports, correspondence and other materials. Executive Committee minutes also include various committee updates, resignations, elections, membership updates and financials of the Club. There are volumes for Minutes of the Club which contain updates, election results, reports, membership, and notices of meetings. One volume of Minutes of the Club is combined with membership minutes for that year. Membership minutes include updates on elections, resignations, transfers, dropped members, reinstatements, member rosters, and miscellaneous related materials. There is one volume of City Affairs minutes, and five volumes of Legislation Committee minutes which contain lists of legislation the committee was monitoring and their position on it: favor, opposed, or no action.
The volumes of Miscellaneous Committee Minutes contain the minutes of various committees, special committees and sub-committees. There are variations in how committee names are presented. The topics of committees include city affairs, legislation, city planning and development, finance, public health, nominations, courts, parks, education, housing, transit and transportation, taxation, port development, employment, the re-chartering of New York, and the House Committee. Other various temporary special committees, sub-committees, and committees are noted at the volume level.
Arrangement
The volumes are arranged in chronological order within committee groupings: Board of Trustees, Executive, Membership, Committees. Several binders were taken apart due to damage and placed into folders with the front cover. All materials placed into folders are according to original order within the binder.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1904, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes letter regarding dual membership at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, letter regarding Croton Aquaduct and water supply, and memorandums.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1905, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes and materials regarding the New York and New Jersey tunnel franchise, membership dues by borough, the preservation of trees in Central Park and newsclippings, records of City Club pamphlets and papers destroyed by the assistant secretary, Library Committee reports, and materials on pool rooms and illegal gambling.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1906, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes, finances, materials regarding Rapid Transit, 11 page resignation of the Secretary due to mismanagement of club and civic actions, committee reports, voting suggestions for legislation, membership and dues list, report of the Special Committee on the financial condition of the Club, and inventory of club house rooms.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1907, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes resignations and materials regarding proposed elevated loop, finances, membership materials, and proposed amendments to Club constitution.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1908, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials regarding Atlantic Telephone Company's possible monopology (monopoly), finances, Rapid Transit Railroads report, amended by-laws and house rules, snow removal reports, and membership reports.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1909, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes finances, memnbership materials, reports to the Board regarding East River bridges, report regarding plans to build a stadium in Morningside Park, report by Special Committee on telephone practices, correspondence, and news clipping regarding finances.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1910, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes notes regarding Women's Suffrage luncheon, City Club Realty Company, real estate, finances, public health, and correspondence.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1911, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes committee rosters, transit memorandums and report on future subway platforms for longer trains, correspondence, letter regarding women dining in private rooms to not interfere with male members, report on committee on Women's Auxiliary, report regarding ballot marks and validity, taxicab ordinances, letter protesting allowing women to wear hats at luncheons, letter requesting the removal of coroners as undertakers and report, and proposed amendments to code of criminal procedure.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Jan-June, 1912, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence regarding invitations, report on number of passengers needed to meet expenses for interborough subway, and report suggesting a hospital for contagious diseases be built in the Bronx.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees July-Dec., 1912, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report on Eleventh Avenue subway, pamphlet arguing for a contagious disease hospital in the Bronx, correspondence and map of proposed Third Avenue subway entrance, collection of reports of Courts Committee with proposed amendments, amendments to Club constitution including Club purpose.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1913, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report on Interborough Transit Company contract, correspondence regarding closing of Savoy and Dewey theatres by Fire Commissioner, correspondence to Fire Commissioner regarding the Carnegie Lyceum's lack of exits and map of theatre, correspondence regarding incorporation and leasing of Century Opera House for popular opera, memorandum for preservation of St. John's Chapel, correspondence regarding removal of elevated railway and hand drawn maps.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1914, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes draft of charges for removal of John Voohris for inefficiency, pamphlet proposing construction of a new East River from Flushing to Jamaica Bay and filling in of the East River, and correspondence regarding film censorship of a film including a prostitute as heroine.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1915, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence about membership, Executive Committee minutes, letter from Court House Board that a new court house location has been acquired after 27 years of discussion, correspondence and map of proposed Fulton Street elevated railway, and denied request for women's suffrage group to come and speak before election day.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1916, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes transcript of meeting to hear charges against member Benjamin Marsh for his actions and motion to investigate the Board of Trustees, response letters from Marsh, correspondence regarding purchase of new Clubhouse, and letter regarding "daylight savings movement."
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1917, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes charges against Edward Swann District Attorney, pamphlet on proposed daylight saving time, reports on creation of a State Farm Colony for Vagrants, Memorandum on New York Central track relocation, and reports on war ambulance fund.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1918, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes allowing organizations to utilize City Club space for meetings that include women members, formation of a committee to discuss democratic elections and women's work in the club, discussion of Prohibition and the Club's stance, amendments to by-laws regarding service men and "allied German sympathizers," correspondence regarding members being potential German sympathizers, privileges of women at City Club, and a copy of City Club Reconstruction Program.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1919, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes petitions to limit women's privileges at the club, correspondence regarding tax exemption, and report on proposed cross Jersey canal.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1920-1921, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report "Justice and the Poor" and news clipping, drawing of proposed buildings for west side for garment workers, December Bulletin, release on Governor's traction bill on transportation, notice of dissolution of Century Opera Company, and notice on Armistice Day dinner.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1922-1924, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes statement from Citizens Committee of America on the state of hospitals for wounded men and establishment of a hospital for tuberculosis treatment, correspondence regarding New Netherland Bank account, release on proposed improvements around Grand Central Station, education program developed by City Club, memorandum on transit bill, City Club Bulletins, and minutes regarding the need for more parks and facilities for New York's growing African American population.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1925-1927, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes regarding transit legislation, removal of religious curriculum from public schools, letter regarding how to make the club more economical in its functions, plans to purchase the remaining City Club Realty stock, proposed New York state constitutional amendment to Article VIII, suggestions to the State Reorganization Commission, materials regarding proposed legislation, and three-page program regarding changes for schools, subways, and tenements.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1928-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes on proposition for the creation of a city museum, release supporting the West Side improvement plan, civic fund and membership report, correspondence regarding release about Consolidated Gas Company's history and its financials, 23 page memorandum on the Consolidated Gas Company controversy, and minutes on creation of a committee to report on Communists meetings.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1931-1932, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes copy of act to create a Bureau of Municipal Affairs, estimates for repair of the clubhouse, minutes about Osborn plan to create avenue through Central Park, copy of resolutions of directors of City Club Realty Company, City Club Bulletins, Report on Judicial Councils and foldout, report on mortgage foreclosure receiverships, reform of supplementary proceedings, and simplification of foreclosure suits.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1933-1934, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes regarding proposed bills on minimum wage, letter to Board of Estimate and Apportionment regarding the City's financial problems, correspondence to New York Grand Jury regarding racketeering, City Club Veteran Reference Amendment, memorandum on the conference on transit unification, and colonization plan of removal from New York due to unemployment.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees (6 folders), 1935-1940, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes memorandum on city rezoning, Trustee resignation letters, statement on proposed recreation planning for N.Y. World's Fair 1939, report on mortgage moratorium, report on club affairs regarding debt and the club's future, memorandum on scope of program for City Club's future, materials on Washington Square Park renovations, materials on foreclosure of the City Club building, and report on proposed "V Plan."
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1940-1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes proposed civic program (1940-1941), Luncheon Menu (1942), materials regarding absence of students for religious education in public schools, comment on the proposed rapid transit fare increase (1942), note of admission of African Americans to City Club (March 30, 1942), and minutes of Special Committee on membership regarding continuance of City Club.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1904-1907, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes discussing potential elevated road extensions, a police bill, adjustment of lease from City Club Realty Company, notes on Board of Education hearing on eye glasses for school children, and Atlantic Telephone Franchise materials.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1908-1910, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes discussion of Ahearn investigation and cost to City Club, transit bills, copy of section 1829 of the Penal Law, and letters regarding John Fox's payment for services to the club.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1911-1912, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes pamphlet "The So-called Gaynor Charter", copy of Section 109 of the Building Code, letter regarding proposed changes to the city charter, card advertising City Club charter conferences (1911), resolution on fire protection and pledges of support, correspondence regarding committee updates and reports, letter to members on subway expansion, and copy of insurance policy for City Club property.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1913-1915, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes letter regarding plans for waterfront property improvements and report, announcement of Committee on Popular Opera and other materials, correspondence with National Board of Censorship, correspondence regarding Kenyon Law and Herrick Bill to act against houses of prostitution as public nuisances, contribution letter (1914), materials regarding proposals to save the facade of the Old Assay Building, memorandum on Horton-Stoddard Bill by Citizen's Union, resolutions on quarantine control from American Board of Medicine, 15 page letter response to New York Edison Company's electricity report, and State Constitutional changes pamphlet from Citizen's Union.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1916-1917, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes reorganization of Committee work, letter and hand drawn map of potential new club house site, and letter from Mayor and draft to endorse breaking off of diplomatic relations with Germany.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1918-1919, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes war time housing report, statement from City Club on Terminal Improvement Commission, and draft of report on Vault Rentals.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1920-1927, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes hearing on the proposed St. Lawrence ship canal, report of Committee on Automobile Accidents, letter regarding Coney Island bathhouse, dissolution notice of Century Opera Company, letter regarding proposed subway through Central Park, and report on New York State government reorganization.
Minutes of the Executive Committee, 1934-1940, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes release on Robert Moses protest and rumors, and plans for club finances.
Minutes of the Club, 1904-1907, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes transcript of special meeting on City Club constitutional changes and the Elsberg Rapid Transit Bill (1905), transcript of annual meeting 1906 including discussion of rapid transit bills, ballot reform, franchises, bridge problems, and parks, and proposed amendments to the constitution (1907).
Minutes of the Club, 1908-1912, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report on election laws (1908), bills considered by Board of Trustees, report of committee on fire protection, annual reports of Board of Trustees, and copy of address by Frederic Howe "The Police, Excise and Gambling Evil."
Minutes of the Club & Membership Committee, 1913-1916, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Combined volume of minutes of the club and minutes of the membership committee. Includes Annual reports.
Minutes of the Club, 1917-1935, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes memorandum on relocation of New York Central Railway tracks, letter to members on club updates (1918), annual reports, and copies of Club Bulletins.
Minutes of the Membership Committee, 1904-1907, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report on changes in membership rules.
Minutes of the Membership Committee, 1908-1912, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes letter protesting City Club becoming a haven for Hebrew members who are barred from other clubs, news clipping regarding the suicide of member Siegfried Hayman at City Club, and annotated list of Life Members.
Minutes of the Membership Committee, 1917-1919, inclusive
Minutes of the Membership Committee, 1920-1923, inclusive
Minutes of the Membership Committee, 1924-1928, inclusive
Minutes of the Membership Commmittee, 1929-1932, inclusive
Minutes of the City Affairs Committee, 1914-1915, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence regarding city affairs. Topics include: hospitals, electric signs, heights of buildings, copy of municipal financing address from Edmund Fisher, vault rentals, speed regulations, proposal of long term budget for New York City, Court House site, water supply, and telephone franchises.
Minutes of the Legislation Committee, 1905-1907, inclusive
Minutes of the Legislation Committee, 1909-1914, inclusive
Minutes of the Legislation Committee, 1915-1919, inclusive
Minutes of the Legislation Committee, 1920-1930, inclusive
Minutes of the Legislation Committee, 1931-1936, inclusive
Minutes of the House Committee, 1892-1894, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes House Rules and furnishings of the Clubhouse.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1904-1907, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes foldout of Hotel Astor Banquet floor diagram and diagrams of Grand Ball room, and materials from the Special Committee on the financial condition of the club.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, A-C, 1908-1913, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report on stage coach companies and Fifth Avenue Transportation company route map of Manhattan (1913).
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, D-Po, 1908-1913, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes of Committee on "Negro Problem" discussing the need to investigate safe and sanitary housing conditions for African Americans in Harlem, and minutes from Fire Protection committee.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, Pu-Z, 1908-1913, inclusive
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1914, inclusive
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1915, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes and materials from Committees on Labor Problems, Correctional Institutions, and Pending Amendments to the Constitution. Documents found loose in the volume were removed to the following folder.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, Courts, 1915, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Loose materials from Volume 51 - Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, A-C, 1916-1917, inclusive
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, D-M, 1916-1917, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes House minutes and correspondence protesting women smoking inside the Club House, and minutes from the Committee on Immigration.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, N-W, 1916-1917, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes from Committee on Nuisances, Pensions, and the Special Committee on State Farm Colony for Vagrants.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, A-D, 1918, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes sub-committee on advertising in subways.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, E-Z, 1918, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from committees on Employment Exchanges, and Industrial Relations and Reconstruction.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1919, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes State Retrenchment and Reorganization Committee, and House Committee minutes regarding proposal for no smoking during lectures when women are present.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1920-1921, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes of the Committee on Automobile Accidents and the Committee on Restoration of City Hall Park.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1922-1924, inclusive
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1925-1927, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes of several special committees: Special Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Special Committee on Crime Problem, Special Committee on New Club House, and Special Commitee on Use of Public School Buildings.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1928-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from the Special Committee appointed to report with regard to Communist Meetings, Special Committee on Suburban Affairs, and sub-committees of the City Committee including: City Departments, Markets, Taxation and Budget. Documents found loose in the volume were removed to the following folder.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1928-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes the loose materials from volume 61, Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees (1928-1930).
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1931-1932, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from the sub-committee on Housing and Height of Buildings, and Special Committee on Magistrates' Courts.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, 1933-1935, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Parks Committee minutes regarding the Moses Bill to centralize the Park Department and allow Robert Moses to maintain his position, and minutes regarding proposed redesign of Washington Square Park.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, A-L (3 folders), 1936, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Materials were removed from original binder. Includes sub-committees on Port Commerce, Public Utilities, Social Welfare, and minutes from a lecture from the Crime Prevention Committee discussion of sterilization as a form of crime prevention.
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees, M-Z, 1936, inclusive
Minutes of Miscellaneous Committees (3 folders), 1938-1940, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials regarding proposed Brooklyn Battery Bridge/Tunnel, the proposed redesign of Washington Square Park, dog control in the city, and materials from the sub-committee on regulations for neon signs.
Minutes of Various Committees (4 folders), 1936-1938, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from sub-committees on Public Relief, Narcotics, and the World's Fair, and minutes from the Constitutional Convention Committee and Aviation Committee.
Series II. Records and Correspondence Files, 1890s-1957, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series includes all records and correspondence of City Club, primarily from 1930-1957. These materials include minutes from the Board of Trustees and Committees past the years of the bound volumes of Series I, correspondence, materials from events, pamphlets, reports, City Club Bulletins, news clippings, and all membership materials from this period. Included are reports and materials related to various civic issues in New York City and petitions to legislators. These topics include voting recommendations, subway fare raises, transit strikes, trials, housing, civil defense, education, and municipal affairs.
Arrangement
The materials in the series have been organized into seven subseries according to the contents of the files and original boxes.
Subseries II.A. Trustee and Executive Committee Files
Subseries II.B. General Correspondence
Subseries II.C. Committees
Subseries II.D. Events
Subseries II.E. Club History
Subseries II.F. Bulletins
Subseries II.G. Miscellaneous
The original order of materials within folders has been retained, much of which is reverse chronological order. The folders were primarily in somewhat alphabetical order with some chronological order of groupings, with separate boxes for Board of Trustees materials and miscellaneous files. All files are now arranged according to their contents, with some folders condensed and labeled as such. The original separation of Trustee materials and miscellaneous files was retained through Subseries II.A. Trustee and Executive Committee Files and Subseries II.G. Miscellaneous.
Subseries II.A. Trustee and Executive Committee Files, 1930-1953, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The materials in this subseries are the minutes and materials of the Board of Trustees and Executive committee including correspondence, reports, financial information, and several miscellaneous files related to civic issues including voting information, education, and plans to redevelop Washington Square Park.
Arrangement
The materials are arranged in chronological order within subject groupings including minutes, Treasurer's documents, and individual's files. The contents of folders are in their original order which is primarily reverse chronological, and some folders were condensed to include related material.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1941-1943, inclusive
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1942-1943, inclusive
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1943-1944, inclusive
Women's City Club of New York, 1941-1942, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes financials, correspondence, and minutes related to Women's City Club and shared spaces of the Clubs.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1945, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes and condolence letter to Eleanor Roosevelt regarding FDR's passing and membership.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1946, inclusive
Resolution - Judges have Lawyers for Secretaries, 1946, inclusive
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1947-1949, inclusive
Minutes of the Board of Trustees (2 Folders), 1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes plan to dissolve City Club and subsequent reorganization plan.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1952, inclusive
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1953, inclusive
General Folder Trustee Transfer File, 1947-1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Trustee rosters and correspondence.
Voting Information Schedule 1, 1947, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Club Bulletin and press release with voting recommendations for amendments and propositions.
Board of Trustee notices, 1951-1953, inclusive
Trustees Miscellaneous, 1941-1942, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence, notices, and minutes.
Tax Information, 1913-1942, inclusive
Sugar Rationing, 1941-1942, inclusive
Finances, 1942-1943, inclusive
Treasurer Receipted Bills, Dues Letters to Members, Dues Contribution Lists (2 Folders), 1950-1953, inclusive
Treasurer's Reports, 1945-1949, inclusive
House Budgets, 1941-1943, inclusive
Petty Cash, 1950-1953, inclusive
Washington Square Materials, 1939, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes memo, correspondence with Robert Moses, and proposed plans for remodeling of Washington Square Park.
U.S. Office of Education, 1930-1941, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence and publications from Office of Education.
Executive Committee, 1945-1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes and correspondence.
Howard C. Kelly President, 1942, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence and memorandum.
Office Secretary, 1950, inclusive
Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. - President, 1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes bill and correspondence.
Extra Sheets and Proof for Bulletin, 1947, inclusive
President's Letters to Members, 1951-1953, inclusive
Tax Reports, State Sales Tax, Gift Tax information Returns, 1933-1940, inclusive
Subseries II.B. General Correspondence, 1945-1952, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The materials in this subseries are all of the general correspondence files of the City Club from 1945 to 1953. These materials include letters regarding requests for information, invitations, meeting notifications, membership dues letters, advertisements, and condolences.
Arrangement
General correspondence is in its original order within each folder in reverse chronological order. The files were arranged in chronological order within this subseries.
General Correspondence (3 folders), 1945, inclusive
General Correspondence (4 folders), 1946, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes letters to Joseph Addinizio regarding legislative representation for City Club.
General Correspondence (4 folders), 1947, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes letters regarding plans for rezoning the neighborhood of the United Nations (February 1947), 2 letters in German (September 1947).
General Correspondence (4 folders), January 1948- November 1948, inclusive
General Correspondence (2 folders), December 1948-1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes discussion of consolidation of City Club with Citizens Union (May 1949), payment to Joseph Addinizio, and petitions to preserve Castle Clinton.
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1950-1952, inclusive
Subseries II.C. Committees, 1937-1954, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes the minutes and correspondence of various City Club committees which were not bound. These materials include general committee rosters, correspondence, copies of reports and memorandums, and membership information.
Arrangement
The folders were arranged according to committee in chronological order, and the contents of folders are in their original order.
City Club Committees, 1950-1954, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Committee rosters, correspondence to members, membership blank, membership procedures.
Committee Preferences, 1950-1953, inclusive
Committee Appointments and Committee Meetings, 1950-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Committee Appointment Letters, Committee rosters, notices of committee meetings, and committee report blank.
Awards Committee and Forbes Luncheon, 1937-1945, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes awards protocol, correspondence, recipient information, and invitations.
Special Committee to Revise By-laws and Constitution, 1950-1951, inclusive
City Affairs Committee, 1936-1947, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes minutes, correspondence, Report of Courts Committee (1935 and 1938), and reports on the New York City Transit System and the Necessity for an Increased Fare.
City Affairs Committee (2 folders), 1951-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes press releases, Municipal affairs committee minutes, and act to establish a Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.
City Planning Commission, 1948-1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes City Affairs Committee materials, and Board of Transportation News (1948-1949).
Special Committee on Civil Defense Against Atomic Attack, 1950-1951, inclusive
Legislative Correspondence, 1945, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes proposed amendments stamped Joseph F. Addinizio and Proposed rules for State Commission Against Discrimination.
Correspondence - Legislation, 1947, inclusive
Committee on Legislation (3 folders), 1946-1948, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes proposed amendments January 8-9th, 1947 and State Legislature Bulletins 1947.
Letter and Weis Legislation Committee Report, 1947, inclusive
Calendars, 1946-1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes current and deferred legislative calendars.
Assembly Bills on the Calendar, 1947, inclusive
Assembly Bills not on the Calendar, 1947, inclusive
Legislation Committee, 1949-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes special calendars, rosters, and correspondence.
Court Clerk Salaries - Study by Edward Goodell, January 1941, inclusive
Citizens' Union, 1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes report and materials from Citizens' Union.
Special Committee on Police Reporting Procedures, 1950-1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence, statistics, remarks by Allen Will Harris, and reports.
Committee on Law Enforcement, 1950-1951, inclusive
General Membership Figures, 1941-1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes membership income, rosters, and invitations.
Membership and Resignations, 1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence, rosters, and membership changes.
Annual Meeting Membership Folder, 1945-1947, inclusive
Membership Meetings, 1950-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence with speakers and invitations to lectures.
Membership Figures, February 1945-February 1947, inclusive
Report to Membership, June 1949-October 1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Letter to Membership Luncheon October 4.
Prospective Membership and Rejected Membership Applications, 1950-1951, inclusive
Membership Rosters, 1947-1949, inclusive
Membership - General, 1949-1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes letters to membership, correspondence, rosters, and potential new member pages.
Copies of Weis' Reports Paid Membership, 1947-1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes daily club receipts and summaries.
Military Absentee Letter, February 1946, inclusive
Membership Material, 1948-1949, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes rosters and daily receipts.
Nominating Committee, 1941-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence and election nominations for Board of Trustees.
Letters to Members, 1945-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes nomination letters, Action on Election Ballot Amendments and Proposal #1, and City Club updates.
Special Committee on Increase of Membership, 1950-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Membership Drive April 1953 Mr. Seeler materials, Membership Drive 1952 Mr. Cook materials, and correspondence.
Committee on Transportation and Traffic, 1950-1952, inclusive
Program Committee, 1951-1953, inclusive
Speakers, 1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence and text of addresses from speakers.
Special Meetings, 1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes invitations for special meeting with Citizens' Union.
Form Letters, 1940-1941, inclusive
Subseries II.D. Events, 1941-1952, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The materials in this subseries are all related to large scale events held by City Club including anniversaries, lectures, and conferences. These materials include invitations, correspondence, attendee lists, response cards, and several photographs.
Arrangement
Materials in this subseries are arranged chronological by event with the exception of the Lecture Series folder that spans multiple years, and the original order of the materials within each file has been retained.
Hospital Presidents V Plan Conference (2 folders), 1941, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from conference and City Club's proposed medical plan for New York City.
50th Anniversary, 1942, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes newsclippings regarding traffic patterns.
Club Luncheon, 1946-1947, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from luncheons: November 18, 1946, January 29, 1947, and postponed April 19.
Hosts for Club on Tuesdays, 1950, inclusive
60th Anniversary Dinner Mr. Samuel H. Ordway Jr., 1952, inclusive
60th Anniversary, 1952-1955, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs from Anniversary dinner, membership kit letters, and A Practical Program for Replanning the City of New York (1955).
Response Cards, 1952, inclusive
Lecture Series, 1940s-1950s, inclusive
Subseries II.E. Club History, 1890s-1951, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes materials related to the history of City Club and its locations, including inventories of furniture and materials, correspondence, pamphlets and booklets, bills, and liquor licenses.
Arrangement
The folders in this subseries are arranged in primarily chronological order, with the original order of materials within the folder.
History of City Club, 1890s-1940s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes pamphlets, Board of Trustees records, Harper's Weekly (1895), and handbook list of members.
Liquor Information, 1933-1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes liquor licenses for Club dining room, and liquor inventory.
Organizations Solicited for City Club Dining Room, 1940, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence regarding pictures loaned for the dining room.
Reorganization of City Club (move) and Hotel Russel, 1944-1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Materials regarding the move to Hotel Russel.
Inventory - City Club, November 3, 1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Inventory of Furniture and Furnishings at 55 West 44th Street.
Subseries II.F. Bulletins, 1938-1953, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains Bulletins and releases put out by City Club, and sample materials used for printing. This includes copies of the circularizing City Club Bulletin, materials regarding Michael Quill and the transit strike, and several press releases.
Arrangement
The folders in the subseries are arranged primarily by their original order, though the publicity releases have been arranged in chronological order, as well as the City Club Bulletins. Several folders were condensed according to their contents and are labeled.
Printing Styles, 1950s, inclusive
Ouster of Quill Letter to City, 1946, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes newsclippings and letter to city regarding Michael J. Quill and transportation strike.
Publicity Releases (2 folders), 1940-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes releases and The Press Speaks booklet on tax relief, release proposing mandatory car mufflers, voting, waterfront crime, and investigation of Mayor William O'Dwyer.
City Club Bulletins - Circularizing, 1938-1947, inclusive
Bulletins - Sample Specimens, 1940s, inclusive
Municipal Reference Library Notes, 1950s, inclusive
Subseries II.G. Miscellaneous, 1943-1957, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The folders and materials of the last subseries contain the miscellaneous and "to be filed" folders of the Records and Correspondence Files series. These materials have been kept in their original file order according to their groupings of To be Filed materials and miscellaneous materials. The folders contain minutes from the Board of Trustees and committees, correspondence, copies of invitations, press clippings, reports, photographs, stamps and materials regarding City Club's office relocation in 1954.
Arrangement
The materials in this subseries retained their original order for files and the contents of each file.
Miscellaneous - To be Filed, 1954, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes full text Report of the Sub-committee on Waterfront Crime of the Municipal Affairs Committee.
To be Filed, 1950-1954, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes: photographs from 60th Anniversary Dinner, requests for information, address by Allen Will Harris, correspondence with the National Municipal League regarding City Club records given to New York Public Library, gift acknowledgement from New-York Historical Society for Anniversary Reports of Harvard College Classes, relocation and urban development, and correspondence.
To be Filed, 1953-1954, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes: correspondence, requests for information, minutes (1953-1954), notice of office move, and minutes regarding move and deposit of City Club materials to New-York Historical Society.
Miscellaneous - City Club, 1953-1957, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Board of Trustees minutes and materials, 1955 member list, remarks by Benjamin J. Buttenweiser, Legislation Committee materials, release regarding Mayor Wagner's performance, Nominating Committee materials, and financials.
Miscellaneous Reports, clippings, etc., 1943-1951, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes: newspaper clippings, reports, civil program pamphlets, memorandums, and City Club Bulletins.
Matters to be Taken care of - E. H., 1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes: Notes for Miss Harft, correspondence, membership roster, list of addresses, City Club code of accounts, and Board of Trustee minutes.
Rubber Stamps, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Four rubber stamps: Trustee Copy for your information only, Past Due - Please Remit, Trustees, Property of City Club.
Series III. Scrapbooks, 1911-1953, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series contains four scrapbooks which span from 1912-1953. The first three of the scrapbooks contain a mixture of items including news clippings, minutes, reports, and ephemera from 1912-1941. The fourth scrapbook contains primarily news clippings that reference City Club or Club members. Note- the scrapbooks are fragile as the binding has separated from the pages, and the pages have become brittle.
Arrangement
The four scrapbooks are in chronological order of the contents and are in two record cartons and one flat archival storage box.
Scrapbook, 1911-1919, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials from 1911 up through 1919 including invitations to concerts, operas, dinners, benefits, and materials from the 25th Anniversary Dinner of the Club. Cards are included from lectures and meetings which include the topics and titles, and notices of outings, programs, and menus. There is the document of incorporation for Century Opera Company, of which City Club members aided in the foundation of, pledge cards, letters to legislators, election materials, materials in opposition to the subway expansion (1912-1913), Dental Hygiene for Public Schools report, Resolution regarding fire protection, Military State Census of 1917, and other financial sheets, membership materials, and reports.
Scrapbook, 1920-1935, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes City Club Bulletins, invitations to events including Armistice Night Dinner, Treasurer's Reports, business directory of members, member handbook, City Club Results pamphlet, annual reports, House Income and Expenses, election materials, advertisement for club amenities, reports, an "About City Club" booklet, and other ephemera.
Scrapbook, 1935-1941, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes Club Luncheon invitations and Luncheon club notices, voting recommendations, Club election materials, committee reports, City Club Bulletins, outline of civic plan (1940-1941), Club services memo, City Club advertisement materials, floor plan of City Club building, and other ephemera.
Scrapbook, 1938-1953, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes news clippings that discuss City Club and its civic efforts, and letters to members. Topics include: voting recommendations, legislation, actions towards members of the Communist Party, notice of awards given, City Club election results, City Club 50th Anniversary, obituaries, luncheons, the East Side re-zoning plan, health insurance, New York City Transit report, Michael Quill and the transit strike, re-zoning of the U.N. site, police reporting, civil defense, investigation of former Mayor O'Dwyer, and waterfront crime.
Series IV. Publications, 1892-1950, 1959-1978, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The materials in this series are the publications, releases, and reports put out by City Club. These materials are loose pamphlets and bound volumes. The Year Books of City Club contain member rosters, photographs of the Club House, the by-laws, constitution, and purpose of the club, and one contains annual reports. The Miscellaneous Publications volumes contain committee reports, addresses given to the club, reports on various civic matters including legislation, elections, transportation, the health department, police, and other publications. Other publications included in the series are numerous copies of pamphlet publications put out by City Club and its committees, and their publications to members, City Club Bulletin, which later became City Club Comments.
Arrangement
The materials in this series are arranged within boxes and as numbered volumes by format within chronological order. Generally yearbooks and reports are presented first, followed by newsletters and bulletins. Volumes that were fragile were boxed and stable volumes are shelved individually. Standalone pamphlets are ordered by year of publication within folders, ending with two reports from the 1970s. There is some degree of overlap across the formats (e.g., some pamphlets can be found both standalone in folders and in bound volumes).
Year Books (2 copies), 1892-1900, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes articles of incorporation, constitution, by-laws, house rules, purpose of club, officers, committees, members. One copy is incomplete.
Year Books, 1901-1905, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes constitution, by-laws, committees, members, deaths, and house rules.
Year Books, 1906-1910, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs of Club House, constitution, by-laws, committees, members, deaths, articles of incorporation and house rules.
Year Books and Annual Reports, 1911-1916, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs of Club House, annual reports of the Board of Trustees including committee updates and finances, constitution, by-laws, house rules, rosters, and membership.
Annual Reports- Council, Secretary, Trustees, 1894-1904, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes bound copies of annual reports given at City Club annual meetings.
The City Club of New York By-laws (3 copies), 1917, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes 3 copies of City Club's Constitution, By-laws, House rules, Members, Officers, Trustees, and Annual Report. The volumes also include photographs of the Club House.
Miscellaneous Bound Publications (2 copies), 1892-1899, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two copies of publications book, one incomplete. Topics include: the Charter of Greater New York, Legislation, Public Works, Ramapo Water Scheme and Water Supply reports.
Miscellaneous Bound Publications (2 copies), 1900-1902, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two copies of publication book, one is incomplete. Topics include the New York Charter, Ten Months of Tammany, Water Supply publications and legislation, report "What Parents Should Know" on women forced into "disorderly houses" and prostitution and the charges against Asa Bird Gardiner, New York District Attorney.
City Club's Publications, 1903, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes reports on the Police Department, Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, Department of Bridges, Health Department, Candidates for Election to Municipal Office, and Transit. Duplicates of reports available in Miscellaneous Bound Publications for 1903 below.
Miscellaneous Bound Publications (2 copies), 1903-1905, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two copies of the volume. Topics include the Health Department and city hospitals, elections, Police affairs and trials, the Raines Law Hotel and prostitution, and accompanying photographs of hospitals, watersheds, bridges, and proposed changes.
Miscellaneous Bound Publications (2 copies), 1905-1910, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two copies of the volume. Materials include reports on Transit, Legislation, Schools, an obituary booklet, Annual Reports, and a booklet on proposed preservation of City Hall Park from becoming the site of the new Court House.
Miscellaneous Bound Publications (2 copies), 1911-1916, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two copies of the volume. Materials include reports on the water supply, annual reports, employment, and legislation reports. Includes addresses from a series of dinners honoring foreign ambassadors Hon. James Bryce, British Ambassador, Count Johann H. Von Bernstorff, German Ambassador, and Address by Hon. J. Hampden Dougherty on the proposed New York Charter.
Miscellaneous Bound Publications (2 copies), 1917-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes two copies of the volume. Materials are bound copies of loose pamphlets which include report and address on the New York City Charter, City Club updates and activities, reports on City planning and growth, transit, electricity, the courts, and the proposed Hofstadter bill that would require elected officials to waive immunity in investigations.
Miscellaneous Publications Pamphlets (4 folders), 1908-1929, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Loose pamphlets, duplicates of reports in bound Miscellaneous Publications volumes.
Miscellaneous Publications Pamphlets, 1930-1932, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes copies of "Blue Laws and Fool Laws", "Subway Overcrowding", "The Untermyer Plan for Subway Unification", and "The Problem of Applying the City Manager Plan to New York".
Miscellaneous Publications Pamphlets, 1932-1937, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes copies of "An Improved Procedure for Investigating Municipal Affairs", "Selection of Judges", "Modernize the Legislature!", and "Report on Proposed Legislation Relating to Labor Unions".
Miscellaneous Publications Pamphlets, 1938, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes copies of the reports "The Next Step in Community Planning", "Solving the Mortgage Moratorium Problem", "Apportionment", "A Bill Drafting Bureau for the City Council", and "Property Assessment Review".
Miscellaneous Publications Pamphlets, 1938-1939, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes copies of reports "Home Rule", "City Residence and the Right to Vote", "New York City's Pension Problem", and "A Deposit System for Independent Nominations".
Miscellaneous Publications Pamphlets, 1940-1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes copies of reports "Regulation of Neon Signs", "Reform the Foreclosure Practice", "The Adolescent Boy and The Detention Prison", "Removal of Judges", and "First Report of the Special Committee on Civil Defense".
Report on Health and Hospitals, 1975, inclusive
Public Hearing on the Establishment of a Health Services Agency for New York City, 1975, inclusive
Bound Bulletins and Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1906-1916, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials on the New York Charter and Constitution, legislation, public health, Century Opera Company, employment, Club finances, transit, the police department, and taxation. One of two identical volumes.
Bound Bulletins and Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1906-1916, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials on the New York Charter and Constitution, legislation, public health, Century Opera Company, employment, Club finances, transit, the police department, and taxation. Second of two identical volumes.
Bound Bulletins and Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1916-1922, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials on New York Constitutional Amendments, annual reports, treasurer's reports, building regulations, and program from Century Opera Company All Star Benefit Performance honoring the Metropolitan Ambulance Unit before their departure for France with photographs of the Unit. One of two duplicate volumes, this volume includes news clipping of City Club's brief to the Judiciary Article Constitutional Convention.
Bound Bulletins and Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1916-1922, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials on New York Constitutional Amendments, annual reports, treasurer's reports, building regulations, and program from Century Opera Company All Star Benefit Performance honoring the Metropolitan Ambulance Unit before their departure for France with photographs of the Unit. Second of two duplicate volumes.
Bound Bulletins and Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1922-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes treasurer's reports and booklet on City Club's history by Henry Curran. One of two identical volumes.
Bound Bulletins and Miscellaneous Leaflets, 1922-1930, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes treasurer's reports and booklet on City Club's history by Henry Curran. Second of two identical volumes.
City Club Comments (2 folders), 1959-1978, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Comments include thoughts, suggestions, and criticisms on various topics including politics, legislation, voting suggestions, transit, city housing, police, and include new members, event schedules, Club finances, and a list of monthly issues from 1959 to 1974.