1914 Time Capsule Collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Collection of material from a Time Capsule created in 1914 by the Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association.
Biographical / Historical
The term "time capsule" was first used at New York World's Fair in 1939, but the practice of preserving materials in a sealed box to help future generations understand the past dates back to at least 1876, when a proto-time capsule was introduced at the Philadelphia Exposition. In 1914, another early time capsule was created by a group of merchants called the Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association. It was launched on May 23, 1914 as a part of the tri-centennial celebrations of the New Netherland Company's chartering in 1614 and the beginnings of Dutch North American colonialism. The time capsule was placed in a richly ornamented bronze casket which was ceremoniously enclosed by a former mayor and entrusted to the New York Historical Society. The chest was to remain sealed until the year 1974, the bicentennial of New York's appeal for the colonies to form a union, but it was forgotten in a storage site until the late 1990s. Historians decided to wait until the 100th year anniversary to open it since they had already missed the intended date. Upon its opening on October 8th 2014, it was possibly the oldest unopened time capsule in the world.
To keep the tradition alive, N-YHS created a new time capsule in 2014 with the help of local students, who selected items that reflect life in the early 21st century for the education of New Yorkers a hundred years in the future.
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into three series by subject: 1. Publications and pamphlets 2. Newspapers 3. Loose documents
Scope and Contents
The time capsule included books, pamphlets, newspapers, medals, and a copy of a pre-Revolutionary War letter from 1774. A telegram from Governor Martin Glynn to his successor in 1974 was also enclosed, with a message expressing "hope and good will" that the challenges he faced would be solved by then. Other items include a portrait, lithograph, and related loose documents. All items in the time capsule have been very well preserved.
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Conditions Governing Use
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Location of Materials
Provenance
Gift of the Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association, 1914.
About this Guide
Repository
Series I: Publications and pamphlets
Scope and Contents
This series contains a variety of bound volumes and publications which have been individually listed.
A History of The Bank of New York, by Henry W. Domett, 1784-1884
Arbitration Records of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, 1779-1792, 1913
Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, 1768-1902
Yearbook of the Holland Society of New York, 1913
The New York Historical Society, 1804-1904
Constitution of the New York Stock Exchange, 1914
Marine Society of New York, 1913
The New York Stock Exchange, by Francis L. Eames, 1894
Yearbook of the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York , 1899
Eagle Almanac, 1914
Yearbook of the Daughters of the Cincinnati, 1910 - 1911
The New York Society Library, Shareholders and Officers, 1914
New York Produce Exchange Report, July 1, 1912 - July 1, 1913
The World Almanac and Encyclopedia, 1913
American Art in Bronze and Iron, 1910
The New York Stock Exchange Directory, January, 1914
25th Annual report of board of managers of the Coffee Exchange of the city of New York, 1907
The Commercial Tercentenary of New York , 1614-1914
Program of ceremonies connected with the unveiling of the tablet at the Merchants Coffee House, May 23, 1914
History and Reminicences of Lower Wall Street and Vicinity, by Abram Wakeman, 1914
Portraits for incorporation into History and Reminicences of Lower Wall Street and Vicinity, by Abram Wakeman
Illustrations for incorporation into History and Reminicences of Lower Wall Street and Vicinity, by Abram Wakeman
Bank of Manhattan - History, Origin, Progress
Bank of Manhattan - Historic buildings now standing in New York which were erected prior to 1800
New York Society Library - Annual Report, 1914
New York Society Library - History, Charters, By-Laws, 1910
New York Society Library - List of shareholders, officers, and benefactors
117th annual report of the New York Hospital of the State of New York
St John's Lodge No.1 A.Y.M, 1914
St John's Lodge, By-laws, 1910
St John's Lodge, Archives, 1911
St John's Lodge, Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary, 1907
St John's Lodge, Proceedings of the Centennial Celebration, 1869
St John's Lodge, Proceedings of the Sesqui-Centennial Celebration, 1908
New York Public Library, Central Buildings Guide
Simmons' Spice Mill, May, 1914
The Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, May, 1914
Daughters of the Cincinnati, Annual Meeting Report, 1914
Saint Andrews Society of the State of New York, Annual Report, 1913
Saint Andrews Society of the State of New York, roster of membership, 1911
Sons of the revolution, Reports and Proceedings, 1911-1912
Series II: Newspapers, May 1914
Evening Telegram , May 15, 1914
Evening Mail, May 19, 1914
Deutches Journal, May 17, 1914
The World Paper, May 17 & 18, 1914
New York Tribune, May 17 & 18, 1914
The Globe and Commercial Advertiser, May 2 & 15, 1914
The Standard Union, May 19, 1914
The New York Times, May 23, 1914
New York Herald, May 15, 1914
Series III: Loose Documents, 1914
Documents relating to the Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association
Scope and Contents
Includes medal for the Vice President of the Association