Miracle House records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection contains material from the records of Miracle House, a charity that provided housing, meals, and support services to patients and their caregivers traveling to New York City for medical treatment. The collection consists primarily of records related to fundraising, publicity, and routine business operations.
Biographical / Historical
Miracle House was founded in 1990 in response to the AIDS crisis to provide affordable temporary housing, free meals and support services to patients and caregivers of people living with AIDS in New York City. In 1997, Miracle House expanded its services to include cancer patients, and in 2005, began to include patients and their caregivers traveling to New York City for any medically related treatment options, procedures, or consultations. Starting with one studio apartment on Manhattan's upper west side, by 2004 Miracle House was operating five apartments, providing a total capacity of 5,475 rooms per year. Citing difficulties with rising costs of the New York City rental market as well as increasing administrative costs, Miracle House ceased operation in 2014.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in 2 series:
Series I. Digital Files
Series II. Other Records
Scope and Contents
The collection consists primarily of records related to fundraising, publicity, and routine business operations such as financial records, annual reports, budgets, and Board meeting minutes. There is also documentation about clinical trials taking place in New York City, client reports and testimonials, newsletters, and shopping lists for the various apartments. There are numerous event files such as photos, flyers, press releases, mailers, sponsor forms, spreadsheets of expenses, letters to donors and other marketing materials.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Use Restrictions
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
Some formats, such as CDs, floppy disks, and certain digital files, may not be accessible due to file corruption or because the library does not have the equipment or proprietary software necessary to make the information they contain accessible. A full manifest of the individual files comprising the series is available from the reference librarian on request.
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: Miracle House records, MS 3098, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Miracle House, 2014.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed in 2021 by digital archivist Margo Padilla and archivist Larry Weimer.
Repository
Series I. Digital Files
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series includes digital files of records related to fundraising, publicity, and routine business operations such as financial records, annual reports, budgets, and Board minutes. There is also documentation about clinical trials taking place in New York City, client reports and testimonials, newsletters, and shopping lists for the various apartments. The library cannot provide access to all digital files due to file corruption, lack of required software, and/or system specifications. A full manifest of the individual files comprising the series is available from the reference librarian on request.
Arrangement
The series is arranged in two subseries:
Subseries I.A. Digital Files
Subseries I.B. CDs and DVDs.
Processing Information
Digital files were delivered by the donor on a 1TB Seagate external hard drive and a duplicative 1TB Seagate internal hard drive. The collection also includes 138 CDs and DVDs. Content from the external drive was transferred to local storage using a Windows instance of Data Accessioner. Content was transferred off the CDs and DVDs using IsoBuster. Data Accessioner created and validated MD5 checksums for each file. A virus scan using ClamWin and Malwarebytes was performed. ClamWin flagged three files and they were removed from the collection. TreeSize was used to identify and remove duplicates and Visual Similarity Duplicate Image Finder was used to identify and remove image duplicates. Temporary and proprietary program files have been removed.
Subseries I.A: Digital Files, 1991-2014
Extent
Scope and Contents
Digital content was delivered by the donor on a 1TB Seagate external hard drive and a duplicate 1TB Seagate internal hard drive. Both drives contained all files and directories from the organization's server (56,379 Files, 4,091 Folders). The content consists primarily of records related to fundraising, publicity, and routine business operations.
Digital files from hard drive
Hard drives (2). RESTRICTED
Scope and Contents
This box holds the hard drive and its duplicate from which the above files were extracted. It is retained for back-up purposes only and is restricted from use.
Subseries I.B: CDs and DVDs, 1991-2013, 2004-2012, bulk
Extent
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains files from CDs and DVDs received from the donor. The content consists primarily of records related to fundraising and publicity, as well as records of routine business operations and file backups. Represented events include Miracle Paddle, Cocktails by the Bay, the Diversity Players of Harlem health fair, Miracle House Mid and Year-End Appeals, and Tea-quila! Party, a fundraiser held in Pines, Fire Island and referred to as Pines throughout the collection. Documents include numerous photos, flyers, press releases, mailers, graphics files for flyers, sponsor forms, spreadsheets of expenses, letters to donors and other marketing materials.
138 discs were received, but 22 discs were not imaged because they were either duplicates or contained copyrighted music. 116 discs were imaged to the ISO format and files were exported from the disk images. The discs were received in one wallet and some loose in one box. Each disc was numbered based on the order starting with the discs in the wallet, and any title or information written on the discs was transcribed to the filename. Each entry in this series represents one disc.
1_MiraclePaddle06MiscFiles
2_Events2006
3_Events06-07MarketingMaterials
4_2006Events
5_Pines 2007
6_[DiscError]Cabaret06
Processing Information
CD was damaged and files could not be retrieved.
7_MiracleGiftsAssets_YearEndAppeal07
8_Event06-07Continued
9_2007EventMarketingMaterial
10_MHDVD_Auction2007
11_[illegible]FilesPics
12_MiracleHouseMem09Logos
13_YE Appeal 07
14_FalsActors
15_MHCameraPix_Event
16_Throckmorton_Masks
17_MiracleHouseCocktailParty07
18_CocktailsByTheBay07_pics
19_MiracleHouseStillsFrom2007Kickoff
20_Miracle House AIDS Walk 2008
21_2008MiracleHouseKickoffOriginals
22_PinesParty2008
23_MiracleHouseVolunteers2009
24_MHImpressionism
25_MiracleHouseSummerBlastoff2009PicturesbyLKennedy_1of2
26_MiracleHouseSummerBlastoff2009PicturesbyLKennedy_2of2
27_MH Memorial Day
28_Cocktails BTB 2006
29_CBTB 07-25-2009_1of2
30_CBTB 07-25-2009_2of2
31_MH party 12_08 photos
32_MiracleHouse_PM_
33_MIRACLEHOUSE_S_0
34_CBTB 10 Low Res
35_CBTB 10 Hi Res
36_20YearsFundraiser_7-31-10
37_CocktailsByTheBay_7-30-11
38_Cocktails by the bay 2011
39_MIRACLEHOUSE_PMC_5-28-11_Bulk1
40_MIRACLEHOUSE_PMC_5-28-11_Bulk2
41_MiracleHouse22ndAnnualSummerKickoff_5-26-12_1of2
42_MiracleHouse22ndAnnualSummerKickoff_5-26-12_2of2
43_MHFoundersPinesParty91_photo
44_Miracle House 2007-10-10
45_Guests2
46_Miracle House - b_w and color
47_ChadAustinVolunteer
48_EmilysWebsiteFiles_CBTB08Apt08
49_MHApartmentPics7-06
50_MiracleHouseFeb07JoTragakiKIPCheneyBakerCohen
51_miracle house_BrunchAndCityScenes
52_MH_History_pics
53_MH_pictures_apt_clients_2004-2008
54_MIRACLE HOUSE AD
55_MiracleHousePhotos10-08-09
Processing Information
CD was damaged and only some files could be retrieved.
56_Miracle House Color
57_PictureArchives07_PlumTV
58_MiracleHousePhotosClientsVolunteers10-08-09
59_Italian family pcitures
60_AmyChanos2-22-10
61_Miracle House by Sandro Lamberti
62_Newsletters07
63_[DiscError]Plum_MorningNoonNightShow_20060528
Processing Information
CD was damaged and files could not be retrieved.
64_Plum_MorningNoonNightShow_20060729
65_Plum_MorningNoonNightShow_20070527
66_OldCampaignPosters
67_RyanChristiQuigley9-13-06
68_MiracleHouse_5A_DanAndPat
69_MarketingMaterials
70_[DiscError]MiracleHouse
Processing Information
CD was damaged and files could not be retrieved.
71_MiracleHouseonNBCNews
72_mh poster
73_Tri-fold Brochure
74_MiracleHouseOnNBCNews
75_[DiscError]MiracleHouse_Spring07Newsletter
Processing Information
CD was damaged and files could not be retrieved.
76_BackupMH_Events2003-2006
77_AnnualReport2006
78_AnnualReport2006MiscFiles
79_MiracleHouseBackup
Processing Information
CD was damaged and only some files could be retrieved.
80_WelcomePackageFitch
81_MiracleHouse12-07Fitch
82_MHBackupQABackup
Processing Information
CD was damaged and only some files could be retrieved.
83_QBSJan-Mar07
84_QBSApril-June07
85_Backups_JaniceHaleyJune07
86_MHBackupTrifoldBrochureNewslettersPaddle06TxtFiles
87_ExEmployeeBackup
88_MiracleHouse501c3Files
89_MHNewWebsiteFilesAndDesign
90_MiracleHouseAnnualReport2008
91_MH T-Shirt
92_MiracleHouse_10-7-10_SandroLamberti
93_20YrMontage
94_MiracleHouseSandroLambertiPhotography
95_MHClientsAndStaff_10-6-12_SandroLanberti
96_MiracleHouse_7-25-11_SandroLamberti
97_MiracleHouseElbaJorgeLeslieRollins_SandroLamberti
98_MiracleHouse_HopeAwayFromHome1998
99_MiracleHouseReception_HomeOfMarilynSuder
100_ThrockmortonFineArt
101_InternetSections
102_MiracleHousePostcard
103_AngelFlight2003
104_MIRACLE HOUSE AD
105_MiracleHouse_HopeAwayFromHome2005
106_YearEndAppealForMiracleHouse2004
107_MH_MEM_INUITE_04_05-06-04
108_MH_MEM_INUITE_04_05-07-04
109_MHAnnualReport04_8-31-04
110_MiracleHouseOnNBCNews
111_LifetimeTVMiracleHouse_10-7-2004
112_MiracleHouse
113_MHSpringAppeal08Files
114_MHAnnualReport08TextFiles
115_MHAnnualReport08Pictures
116_MiracleHouse10-25-13SandroLambertiPhotography
CDs/DVDs. RESTRICTED
Scope and Contents
This box holds the CDs and DVDs from which the above files were extracted. They were retained for back-up purposes and are restricted from being opened to access the digital files. However, the physical media itself can be requested and examined for context.
Series II. Other Records, 1990-2014, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series includes the formats other than digital files in the collection. This principally includes publicity and fundraising event brochures, announcements, invitations, programs, newsletters, and other similar print matter. There are several chronologically sequenced scrapbooks that trace the organization's history from 1990-2010 with photographs, print matter, news articles, and the like. There are guest comment books and many letters of appreciation from guests, extracts of which were often published under the heading "love letters" in Miracle House's newsletters, which are also in the series.
Arrangement
The series is arranged by format.
"Love letters" [Letters of appreciation] (8 folders), 1995-2006, inclusive
Guest comment books (3 folders), 1996-2014, inclusive
"Miracle House Update" [newsletter], 1992-2000, inclusive
Fundraising: Summer Kickoff programs (2 folders), 2008-2014, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Also includes print-outs of some photos from the 2009-12 galas.
Fundraising: Bed & Breakfast Campaign, Phase II, 2003, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes background on the campaign, talking points, budget, etc.
Publicity materials, 2003-2005, inclusive
Publicity materials (2 folders), circa 2009-2011, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes, among other documents, brochures with annual reports for 2009 and 2011, publicity pieces tied to the 20th anniversary (2010), and Miracle House's dinner menu at the Pompon Diner and printed directions to various hospitals.
Publicity: "At Home" magazine article, 2004
Scope and Contents
Holds the Fall 2004 issue of "At Home" magazine with article "Miracle on 43rd Street" article concerning the design of Miracle House's rooms (pages 99-104).
Proposed property purchase, 2011, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Documents related to the proposed acquisition by Miracle House of the former Rice High School building at 74 West 124th Street.
Miracle House lapel pins, undated, inclusive
Photograph album, 1990s?, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Album includes uncaptioned photographs; they appear to be of various staff events, such as Halloween and other holiday gatherings.
Videocassettes. RESTRICTED, 2006, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
4 cassettes: "Miracle House, Nita Pippins, 4/26/06" in 3 parts on 3 cassettes; and "Miracle House: Hope Away From Home." The videos are restricted from use because of their fragility and N-YHS's lack of equipment to play them. For further information, contact the manuscripts curator at manuscripts@nyhistory.org.
Hard drives (2) RESTRICTED
Scope and Contents
The hard drives are for back-up contingency purposes only and may not be used except by digital processing staff. The files from the drives are available for research; see Series I.
Scrapbooks (2), 1992-1999, inclusive
Scrapbooks (3), 1990-2000, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Box holds the annual scrapbook for 2000 plus a two scrapbook set commemorating the organization's 10th anniversary with photos and other documents spanning 1990-2000.
Scrapbooks (2), 2001-2002, 2006, inclusive
Scrapbooks (4), 2007-2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The 2008 scrapbook holds a DVD of the memorial Mass for Helen Sweetser at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Oversize items, 1990-1994, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes the following items:
* Photograph of AIDS awareness ribbon composed of roses. Photographer: Susumu Sato, gift from Sato to Miracle House. Signed, dated 1994, numbered 9/40.
* Drawing, front elevation of 156 West 95th Street, initialed G.H., dated 7/5/91.
* Gouache on Mylar, graphic for the Hamptons Hoe-Down, first fundraiser in Hamptons, 1991.
* Photograph, at 1st fundraiser in Pines, 1990.
* 4 posters, with varying content, on the theme of "I believe in miracles."