Victorian Society in America, Metropolitan Chapter records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Since 1966, the Victorian Society in America (VSA) has been committed to protecting, promoting, and preserving Victorian-era (1837-1901) and Edwardian-era (1901-circa 1914) arts, architecture, and culture in the United States. The collection includes print and digital administrative records, correspondence, publications, and ephemera of the founding and early years of the Victorian Society in America (circa 1966-1970) and of the Metropolitan Chapter of the VSA (1970-2018).
Biographical / Historical
The Victorian Society in America (VSA) is a membership society that, since 1966, has been committed to protecting, promoting, and preserving Victorian-era (1837-1901) and Edwardian-era (1901-circa 1914) arts, architecture, and culture in the United States. The VSA is a sister society of the Victorian Society in the U.K. and often collaborates on educational programming, most notably its Summer Schools, in conjunction with the U.K. organization. The VSA is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, and is a registered nonprofit.
The VSA was founded in New York City by noted preservationists Margot Gayle, Brendan Gill, and Henry-Russell Hitchcock (who was also a founding member of the U.K. society), among others, and who were inspired to act by the demolition of New York's Pennsylvania Station [McKim, Mead, and White, extant 1910-1963]. Soon after its founding, the VSA based its headquarters in Philadelphia, PA.
In January 1970, sixty-nine members in the New York City metropolitan area petitioned the VSA for permission to organize a New York Chapter. Among the signers were professors and architectural historians: Marvin Schwartz, Adolph Placzek, George Collins, James Marston Fitch; writers: Louis Auchincloss, Clay Lancaster, Ada Louise Huxtable; architects: Giorgio Cavaglieri, Philip Johnson; and preservation activists: Mr. and Mrs. Everett Ortner and Margot Gayle. In March 1970, the Metropolitan Chapter (VSNY) began operating as a registered nonprofit Chapter of the VSA.
In the early years of the Chapter, membership and dues were paid to the VSA national organization with a portion returned to the Chapters for programming and operations. Formalization of the Chapter structure in the mid-1970s and the development and adoption of VSA Chapter-specific bylaws eventually allowed Chapters to directly receive membership dues. Members also eventually were allowed the option to join just the Chapter or Chapter and the national society—independent of each other—and Chapters could solicit funds for specific projects. (Currently, only VSNY Board Members are required to be a member of both organizations.) This change in funding structure appears to have energized the development of VSNY's membership, programming, and preservation advocacy and projects.
In 1976, the VSNY Board began recognizing excellence in publications, exhibitions, preservation advocacy, restoration, individual achievement, lifetime achievement and other categories by bestowing awards during its Annual Meeting (May). The number of award categories and awardees has grown significantly over the years. Around 1987/1988, the VSNY began awarding scholarships for individuals to attend the VSA Summer Schools in Newport, Rhode Island and, later, the Victorian Society (U.K.) Summer Schools in the United Kingdom and other destinations. The VSNY also produces public history programming, including the Hands on History series for students.
In 1983, the VSNY began publishing a semi-annual newsletter. Before founding its own newsletter, the VSNY communicated to members through the VSA's national publication, The Victorian, which is well-represented in the first half of this chronologically arranged archive.
Also in 1983, the VSNY was host to the VSA's national conference and Annual Meeting, and the Chapter organized events, tours, and social gatherings through New York City in addition to hosting the conference sessions.
The VSA was founded in preservation advocacy—and it continues to be active in preservation efforts across New York City and State. Past major education and preservation campaigns included the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District (designated 1973) and the expansion of the SoHo Historic District (circa 2006, designated 2010); Pier A (designated 1977), the last surviving municipal pier; the New York County (Tweed) Courthouse 1861-1872 (designated 1984), the second oldest surviving city government building, and Tin Pan Alley (designated 2019), comprised of five adjoining buildings along West 28th Street in Manhattan and the birthplace of American popular music.
The Chapter was also instrumental in funding a major restoration of the Sherman Monument—a gilded-bronze equestrian statue of Sherman by Augustus Saint-Gaudens which sits atop a base designed by Charles McKim—located in Grand Army Plaza at 5th Avenue and 59th Street. In 1985/1986, the Society began a campaign to raise awareness and funds for its stabilization, preservation, and restoration and held a symposium on "The Heroic Age of American Sculpture."
VSNY members, advisors, and Board members regularly present testimony at New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) hearings in support of historic site designation and protection. Circa 2015, the VSA undertook a campaign to testify for sites threatened with de-calendaring due to LPC application backlog. Members of the board also routinely attend and speak at the City Planning Commission and the City Council on issues important to VSNY's purpose.
In 2003, the Margot Gayle Fund, which underwrites grants for historic preservation, was approved at the VSNY Annual Meeting. The first award funded professional research into the cast iron buildings of Manhattan's SoHo district. This research was the basis of the VSNY's 2006 report that was used to argue for the extension of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. Activities included the publication of the report, testimony and letters of support, media outreach, community engagement, guided walking tours of the historic district, and publication of a new edition of "Cast Iron Architecture in New York City" by Margot Gayle and Edmund V. Gillion, Jr. [Friends of Cast Iron Architecture (FCIA), 1974, 1983; VSA Metropolitan Chapter on behalf of (FCIA), 2011].
VSNY produces a regularly scheduled slate of educational lectures and seminars on architecture, decorative arts, fine arts, landscape, literature, and cultural history pertaining to the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The society also organizes tours of special exhibitions; offers guided neighborhood walks; and arranges for visits to historical sites, gardens, and private homes. Tours cover sites in greater New York City area as well as nearby regions including the Hudson River Valley and Long Island, New York; Fairfield County, Connecticut; the Berkshire region in Massachusetts; Cape May, New Jersey; and other destinations.
The VSNY also sponsors events in collaboration with other organizations such as the Society of Architectural Historians, Friends of Cast Iron Architecture, Historic Districts Council, and Classical America, among other organizations.
The Society has published some compiled lists of Board members and events and tours found in this collection as well as more recent VSNY newsletters on its website, https://vicsocny.org.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
Series I: Paper-based Files, 1950s-2019 (bulk 1970-2015)
Series II: Digital Files, circa 1966-circa 2014
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the records of the Metropolitan (i.e., New York City-based) Chapter of the Victorian Society in America. These records include Board and Annual meeting minutes, treasurer's/financial reports, membership materials, event and other publicity, presentations, photographs, and more. The bulk of the records range from the 1970s to 2015 and so include both paper-based and digital formats.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
Topics
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.
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
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: Victorian Society in America, Metropolitan Chapter Records, MS 3205, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America, Inc., May 2019.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The bulk of the collection was physically arranged by VSNY at some point prior to its donation to N-YHS in 2019. In August 2022, archival intern Michelle D. Novak integrated the unorganized documents into the collection, made some modifications to the existing arrangement of documents, and rehoused/consolidated the whole. Archivist Margo Padilla preserved the digital files from the discs in the collection, working with Novak on the labeling and arrangement of those files. Novak prepared this finding aid for the collection as a whole.
Repository
Series I. Paper-based Files, 1950s-2019 (bulk 1970-2015), inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series includes the paper-based records of the Victorian Society in America, Metropolitan Chapter (VSNY), with some early records of the parent organization. Overall, the VSNY records include newsletters, Board minutes and other governance matters, financial records, event publicity, membership forms, and other material ranging from the 1970s to 2019.
The files retain VSNY's original chronological order and the coding structure used by VSNY to arrange each year's documents by subject matter. These codes (i.e, letters A to X) were used consistently to sequence the folders for newsletters, minutes, and so forth for each year. Following is a description of the content for the letter codes used by VSNY for the records. However, not all documents/codes are present in every year.
Folder Code A) Metropolitan Chapter Newsletters
VSNY began publishing a Chapter newsletter in 1983. The newsletter is published twice a year, in the spring and fall, with occasional additional issues and/or a Chapter update leaflets. The newsletter contains news and updates on VSNY's preservation advocacy; VSNY awards, scholarships, and grants; VSA Summer Schools; Board news and interviews, member news and lists; past events; and comprehensive calendar of all lectures, seminars, and tours; among other recurring features.
Folders contain as many extant copies as were delivered by VSNY and some issues are missing.
Before 1983 news from the VSA Chapters was contained within the VSA's national publication, The Victorian; see Folder Code J) National Publications.
See also:
– Series II, Digital, may contain draft articles and photos submitted to the newsletter and some PDFs of printed issues
– Issues from 2007-present are available at https://vicsocny.org
Folder Code B) Board Minutes
Contains extant monthly Board meeting agendas, minutes and, possibly, some correspondence outside of Board meetings that affect agenda items.
The VSNY Board begins its term on July 1, annually, and ends on June 30. From July to September VSNY Committees meet to plan the next year and the monthly board meetings begin in September. In earlier years, Board terms of service were limited to one year and, eventually, VSNY adopted longer, multi-year terms.
Of note, some VSNY Board Members, such as William (Bill) J. Dane, served on VSA national's board and committees, and VSNY correspondence may sometimes be commingled with national business (Folder Code K).
See also:
– Folder Code C) Treasurer's Reports
– Folder Code D) Annual Meeting
– Folder Code I) Officers and Volunteers, for committee lists, resignations and absences, and board nominations
– Folder Code K) VSA National Conference and Tours / National Board Minutes
– Series II, Digital: Contains some agendas and minutes in digital format (e.g., Microsoft Word DOC).
Folder Code C) Treasurer's Reports and Budgets
Contains annual budgets and projections, year-to-date accounting distributed at Board meetings and the Annual Meeting, paid invoices, and sometimes cancelled checks, ledgers, and receipts for petty cash.
Folder Code D) Annual Meeting
Contains flyers, postcards, and/or invitations to the VSNY Annual Meeting, held annually in May, at a historic location in New York City. The Annual Meeting is a public Board meeting and a continuation of business from Folder Code B) Board Minutes. Nominees to the VSNY Board and some administrative issues are voted on by members at the Annual Meeting. Occasionally may also contain duplicates of VSNY Award documents, speakers' scripts, and/or 35mm presentation slides. May also contain minor ephemera such as venue information, history, and correspondence about the venue.
See also:
– Series II, Digital: May contain photos from Annual Meetings, PowerPoint files, and miscellaneous Annual Meeting-related correspondence.
Folder Code E) Lectures
Contains flyers, postcards and/or invitations to VSNY-hosted lectures. May also contain administrative records as to brainstorming and planning, speaker biographies, and attendee lists. (Does not include scripts, slides, or materials from the presentation.) Note that in some programming years, the VSNY employed a Publicity Committee to send press releases to local newspapers and other media outlets to promote upcoming events. If an announcement was formatted as a press release, it may be located in Folder Code V) Media Contacts / Press Releases.
Folder Code F) Tours
Contains flyers, postcards and/or invitations to VSNY-hosted tours. May also contain administrative records as to brainstorming and planning, budgets and bills, correspondence, attendee lists, research materials, and, occasionally, tour guide scripts. Note that in some programming years, the VSNY employed a Publicity Committee to send press releases to local newspapers and other media outlets to promote upcoming events. If an announcement was formatted as a press release, it may be located in Folder Code V) Media Contacts / Press Releases.
Folder Code G) Preservation Advocacy
Contains correspondence with government agencies, planning authorities, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, and others, voicing VSNY support for restoration projects and landmark designation and identify sites and structures falling into disrepair. As preservation advocacy touches most, if not all, parts of VSNY's operations, materials may be found across numerous folders.
Folder Code H) Special Events / Parties / Fundraisers
Contains invitations and occasional photographs from events outside of the regular calendar of Lectures, Tours, Annual Meeting, and Summer Schools. Often, there were two to three special events per year, including a summer social outing, winter VSA Summer School scholarship fundraiser, and a holiday- or new year-themed tour or event.
Folder Code I) Officers and Volunteers
Contains lists of Board members and Officers; Committee assignments; descriptions of roles and responsibilities; Nominating Committee candidates, candidate resumes, and memos; and contact information. May also contain communications about Board business not discussed within the context of a Board or Annual Meeting, such as notes of absence, letters of acceptance and resignation, Board packets, and other Board management materials.
See also:
– Folder Code B) Board Minutes
– Folder Code C) Annual Meeting
Folder Code J) VSA [National] Publications
Contains printed newsletters produced by the national VSA organization. Note that before 1983, the VSNY did not produce a Chapter newsletter, so the bulk of inclusive dates are from the mid-1980s and earlier.
Folder Code K) VSA National Conference and Tours / National Board Minutes
Contains invitations, schedules and agendas, attendee packets, and information and administrative correspondence about the VSA Annual Meeting. Also contains VSA national Board Agendas and Minutes.
Folder Code L) Summer School
The VSA Summer School program is managed by the VSA (U.S.) national organization and the Victorian Society (U.K.) sister organization. VSA Summer Schools are held in the United Kingdom and other European destinations; Newport, Rhode Island; and Chicago, Illinois, and alumni of the program are enrolled in a non-regional VSA Alumni Association Chapter. Contents may include brochures and info session materials, applications and related correspondence, enrollment lists, photos, thank you notes from attendees, and other related materials. The VSNY and VSA offer scholarships to defray the costs of the program so VSA Summer School scholarship correspondence may also be filed in Folder Code N) Awards and Scholarships.
Folder Code M) Education
Primarily includes local VSNY programs such as Hands On History student engagement programs.
See also:
– Folder Code E) Lectures
– Folder Code F) Tours
– Folder Code L) VSA Summer School
Folder Code N) Awards and Scholarships
Contents include nominations, applications, and information for a VSNY Award, which began in 1976. Submission categories include, but are not limited to, recognizing excellence in publications, preservation advocacy, restoration, individual achievement, exhibition, lifetime achievement and other categories by bestowing awards during its Annual Meeting (May). The number of award categories and awardees has grown significantly over the years. Scholarship applications and correspondence concerning the VSA Summer Schools may be contained in Folder Code L) Summer School.
Folder Code O) Membership
Contains membership forms, flyers, and brochures; membership lists and/or labels; and some correspondence.
Folder Code P) Legal / Operations / Bylaws
Contains VSNY operational documents such as liability insurance contracts, space use and rental contracts, tax exemption certificates, and bylaws and bylaw updates.
Folder Code Q) Correspondence
Contains general correspondence between VSNY and members and related organizations. May also contain acknowledgement of donations to and by the VSNY.
See also:
– Folder Code D) Treasurer's Reports and Budgets
Folder Code R) VSA Correspondence with Chapters
Contents include correspondence between the VSNY and the VSA national organization regarding the filing of annual reports with the national organization (bulk) as well as some minor correspondence between chapters.
Folder Code S) Special Publications
This Folder Code is rarely used as most VSNY special publications overlap with cast iron preservation.
Folder T) Margot Gayle Papers / Fund / Projects
Contents include personal papers and ephemera collected by Margot Gayle. Contents mostly concern VSNY business but also includes some projects, advocacy, photos, and work with the Friends of Cast Iron Architecture, of which she was a founding member. In 2003, the Margot Gayle Fund was established to fund preservation awards. After Gayle's death in 2008, applications for the Margot Gayle Fund and correspondence on funded Projects make up the bulk of this Folder Code.
Please note that Margot Gayle served simultaneously on VSNY's Board as well as the Friends of Cast Iron Architecture (FCIA) and some materials produced by FCIA are included in Gayle's VSNY papers.
See also:
– Folder Code G) Preservation Advocacy
– Folder Code X) Cast Iron Advocacy
Folder Code U) Stationery
Contains extant samples of VSNY letterhead and/or envelopes. Early letterhead lists Board members and Officers and are offset printed. Later letterhead is digitally printed and without Board and Officer lists.
Folder V) Media Contacts / Press Releases
Contains NYC metropolitan area media contacts. Also includes VSNY lecture and tour announcements formatted as press releases generated by the VSNY Publicity Committee.
See also:
– Series I, Papers, E) Lectures
– Series I, Papers, F) Tours
– Series I, Papers, H) Special Events / Parties / Fundraisers
Folder Code W) Name Change
Contents include correspondence among VSNY Board members and between VSNY and the VSA national organization regarding changing the Chapter's name to better reflect New York City and the commissioning of a new logo. The correspondence concludes in 2011 with VSA national rejecting the proposed name change but approving new artwork.
Folder Code X) Cast Iron Advocacy
Contents include materials related to the research (correspondence, maps, site photos, contracts, etc.) of cast iron buildings in SoHo in preparation for a petition to designate (NYC LPC designated, 1973) and later extend (NYC LPC designated, 2010) the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District. Contents also include promotional materials and artifacts, newspaper clippings, inventories and commissioned surveys, photographs, and correspondence with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) concerning the applications. Also includes materials for walking tours and printed editions of Cast Iron Architecture in New York City by Margot Gayle and Edmund V. Gillion, Jr. [Friends of Cast Iron Architecture (FCIA), ©1974, 1983; VSA Metropolitan Chapter on behalf of FCIA, ©2011].
Arrangement
The series opens with documents about the organization's history, then moves into sets of folders arranged chronologically. As noted in the Scope Note, each set, with one or two years of documents, is further arranged by subject content. This chronological and subject arrangement follows the original order of VSNY's archive.
Some materials circa 2000-circa 2015 may be available in Series II, Digital Files. For example, Board Meeting minutes for December 5, 2005 (.DOC), are available in Series II-Digital Files, but may not have been printed for the paper-based files.
History—Legal and Founding Documents, 1966-2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes copies of incorporation papers, tax certificates, as well as rubber stamps used for check deposits and other administration.
History—VSA Stationery and Membership Materials, circa 1980s-circa 1990s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes various printed ephemera (book plates, membership cards, letterhead, envelopes, membership brochures, etc.) bearing the VSA national logo and Philadelphia address (bulk) and undated VSNY ephemera.
History—Organizational Histories (various dates) and Margot Gayle Interviews (2001), Various, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Organizational histories are undated. Among other items, includes printed transcript of interview(s) with Margot Gayle (2001).
History—William (Bill) J. Dane on VSA and VSNY and Preservation, 2002, 2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes transcripts of oral history interviews (2010) and administrative forms. Most transcripts are drafts without final corrections. See also Series II, Digital for original audio recordings and final, approved transcripts in .DOC format.
History—Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Sherman Monument Restoration, circa 1986, circa 1996, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes documents dating from the 1986 project and transcripts of oral history interviews with Billie Britz (1996?) and Margot Gayle (1996?) about the VSNY project.
History—Compiled List of Board Members, 1967-2006, inclusive
History—Compiled List of Annual Meeting Venues (Incomplete), 1982-2001, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Consists of rough handwritten notes on legal pad paper, not all venues and dates have been recorded.
History—Compiled List of VSNY Lectures + Tours, 1967-2006, inclusive
History—Compiled List of VSNY Awards, 1976-2005, inclusive
History—Dorothy Miner (1938-2008), NYC LPC Attorney, circa 2008, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Dorothy Miner (1938-2008) was chief counsel with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and her work there helped to create a legal process for landmark designations in the city. Among other items, contains obituaries, histories, and correspondence about her life and work.
VSNY Archives Committee, 2004, 2005, 2017, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, contains correspondence, planning, progress reports, budgets and retention schedules for the VSNY archives project. Bulk is from 2017.
VSA Files, 1950s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds only Folder Code T, which is personal ephemera collected by Margot Gayle, 1950s.
VSA Files, 1960s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds only Folder Code T, which is personal ephemera collected by Margot Gayle, 1960s.
VSNY Files, 1970-1973, inclusive
VSNY Files, 1974-1975, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The set holds Folder Codes: B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, O, P, Q, T, U, X
Folder Notes:
K—Among other items, includes deliberations about Chapters, dues, national representation, etc.
O—Note that at this time, all memberships were handled by VSA national with administrative discussions (K) between Chapters and VSA on best approaches for funding Chapter operations and developing Chapter bylaws.
P—See K for additional information on Chapter operations.
U—Letterhead for 1974 Board only.
X—Among other items, includes first printing of "Cast Iron Architecture in New York City" (©1974, Friends of Cast Iron Architecture) and two black and white 35mm contact sheets.
G/T/X—Note that correspondence, activities, and materials may overlap between these folders.
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes first printing of "Cast Iron Architecture in New York City" (©1974, Friends of Cast Iron Architecture); two black and white 35mm contact sheets; and deliberations about Chapters, dues, national representation, etc.
VSNY Files, 1976-1977, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The set holds Folder Codes: B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P, Q, R, T, U, X
Folder Notes
N—Among other items, includes thermal copy of first VSA Award document.
P—First by-laws for Chapters.
G/T/X—Note that correspondence, activities, and materials may overlap between these folders.
VSNY Files, 1978-1979, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The set holds Folder Codes: B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, Q, R, T
Folder Notes:
T—Among other items, includes black and white negatives and contact sheets.
VSNY Files, 1980-1982, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The set holds Folder Codes: B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, X
Folder Notes:
H—Among other items, includes color photograph prints and negatives.
VSNY Files, 1983-1984, inclusive
Scope and Contents
In 1983, VSNY was the host of the VSA National Annual Meeting. Among other items, includes planning for various events for conference attendees.
VSNY Files, 1985, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The set holds Folder Codes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, T
Folder Notes:
H—Among other items, includes party photographs by Bob Kaufman noted as "mid-1980s."
VSNY Files, 1986, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes files from the VSNY "The Heroic Age of Sculpture Symposium" and Sherman Monument preservation project.
VSNY Files, 1987, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes Sherman Monument preservation project.
VSNY Files, 1988, inclusive
VSNY Files, 1989, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes black and white print of photograph of Margot Gayle and others and signed by Mayor Koch.
VSNY Files, 1990, inclusive
VSNY Files, 1991, inclusive
VSNY Files (9 of 16 folders), 1992-1993, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes color print, black and white prints, 35mm black and white negatives and contact sheets.
VSNY Files (7 of 16 folders), 1992-1993, inclusive
VSNY Files, 1994-1995, inclusive
VSNY Files, 1996-1997, inclusive
VSNY Files, 1998-1999, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes color photo of Margot Gayle (1908-2008) with Phillip Johnson (1906-2005) and ephemera from the 1998 "Margot Gayle Birthday Bash."
VSNY Files (10 of 20 folders), 2000-2001, inclusive
VSNY Files (10 of 20 folders), 2000-2001, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes 35mm color slides of award recipient, Hudson Museum.
VSNY Files, 2002, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds a floppy disk labeled as "partially defective." To the extent possible the files have been preserved; see Series II item 2001-2002_VSNY_Membership_JEggebeen.
VSNY Files, 2003, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes 35mm presentation slides of some Award nominee projects and publications. The Margot Gayle Fund was founded in 2003 and approved by Membership at the Annual Meeting.
VSNY Files, 2004, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes 35mm presentation slides; black and white photo prints of buildings considered for landmarking; color photo print of VSA Summer School attendees; and first Margot Gayle Fund grant application.
VSNY Files, 2005, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, holds a CD with a PowerPoint presentation. The file has been preserved; see Series II item 2005_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresDeck. Also includes color photograph prints of Margot Gayle at 97th birthday party and NYC Proclamation; and materials for campaign to expand the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District.
VSNY Files, 2006, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes guidelines for Margot Gayle Fund; materials for campaign to expand the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District, proposal, walking tour, images, and PowerPoint presentation; Survey of Cast-Iron Fronts in New York City, the first Margo Gayle Fund commissioned report; contacts and letters of support; "I am A Friend of Cast Iron" fold-over metal badges; and miscellaneous research materials.
VSNY Files, 2007, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes campaign to expand the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District.
VSNY Files, 2008, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Margot Gayle died in September 2008. Among other items, includes newspaper clippings about her 100th birthday and her death. Also includes campaign to expand the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District.
VSNY Files, 2009, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes first materials for Hands On History classes; NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, SoHo-Cast Iron Historic Designation District Extension, Designation Report; and VSNY "I am A Friend of Cast Iron" fold-over metal badges.
VSNY Files, 2011, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other things, holds a CD with photos of the annual meeting. The files have been preserved; see Series II item 2011_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pics_PMargolis. Also holds a CD with a PowerPoint presentation. The file has been preserved; see Series II item 2011_TAFennimanArch_VSNY_AwardEntry. And includes copies of the third printing of "Cast Iron Architecture in New York City", produced by Friends of Cast Iron Architecture (FCIA; ©1974, 1983); and VSNY new logo sketches.
VSNY Files, 2012, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2013, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2014, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2015, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among other items, includes testimony regarding sites in the NYC Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) backlogged applications.
VSNY Files, 2016, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2017, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2018, inclusive
VSNY Files, 2019, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holds only Folder Code H (special events).
VSNY Newsletters (Redundant Copies), 1991-2014, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Individual year folders contain up to three copies of each extant VSNY newsletter. (Not all years and issues exist.) This folder contains extra copies with some copies damaged or soiled.
VSNY Annual Meeting Invitations (Redundant Copies), 2004-2018, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Individual year folders contain up to three copies of each extant VSNY Annual Meeting Invitation. (Not all years exist.) This folder contains extra copies with some copies damaged or soiled.
Series II. Digital Materials, circa 1966-circa 2014, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series consists of digital files transferred from several CDs and one 3.5-inch floppy disk in the collection. These digital records consist primarily of routine business matters such as meeting minutes, financial reports, membership management, preservation advocacy efforts, newsletters, and annual meeting presentations. Scans of some early (1960s-70s) historical documents related to the organization are here, accounting for the pre-digital year in the series' date range. Also included here are the files from a set of 3 CDs of a 2010 oral history interview of William (Bill) J. Dane.
The container list documents each of the individual CDs/floppy from which files were preserved, with a summary of their content. The title used in the container list for the media was established by the processing archivist because of the ambiguity of the original media's inscription, which is also recorded in the container list's description. A full manifest of the individual files comprising the series is available from the reference librarian upon request.
Digital files were not retrieved from damaged, duplicate, and commercially available CDs or due to disk formatting issues, though the physical media itself remains in the collection. Some of the preserved files may not be accessible due to file and/or media corruption and/or because the library does not have the proprietary software necessary to make the information they contain accessible.
Arrangement
The series opens with an entry for the physical media from which most of the digital files were preserved. (Some of the CDs were found in the paper-based files and, after the files were preserved, were left there; those are noted in the container list.) The remainder of the series lists the digital files, with each entry representing the files preserved from one CD/floppy. This is in roughly chronological order of the digital file date range.
Digital Media (RESTRICTED), circa 2000-circa 2013, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The external media carriers (CDs and floppy disk) were retained for context and may be requested, but patrons may only use the preserved digital files listed below.
1966-2014_VSNY_History-Awards-Misc, circa 1966-circa 2014, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 6.5 MB, 45 files. Original media inscription: "VSNY."
Scans of VSA (1966) and VSA Metropolitan Chapter founding documents (1970) as well as tax exemption certificates. Correspondence relating to VSNY Awards (2007-2013), including new letterhead, and miscellaneous memos, scripts, and Margot Gayle Fund administration memos.
2000-2003_VSNY_Newsletter_MiscFiles, 2000-2003, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, marked "Partially Defective," 421.4 MB, 983 files. Original media inscription: "VIC SOC #1"]
Newsletter and miscellaneous files (Bylaws.doc), bulk organized into folders:
– 2000;
– 2001 (Fall - General, Fall - Newsletter, Spring - Awards, Spring - General);
– 2002 (Fall - General, Fall - Newsletter, Spring - Awards, Spring - General, Spring - Newsletter);
– 2003 Fall - General;
– 2003 Fall - Newsletter;
– 2003 Spring - General;
– 2003 Spring - Newsletter;
– Misc Files & Duplicates;
– Vic Soc Extra Files—Note that some materials may be earlier drafts of published newsletter content.
2004_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresDeck, 2004, inclusive
Scope and Contents
File from CD, 21.3 MB, 1 file. Original media inscription: "VIC SOC ANNUAL MTG 04 FINAL". PowerPoint (PPT) presentation deck for the 2004 VSNY 37th Annual Meeting.
2001-2002_VSNY_Membership_JEggebeen, 2001-2002, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from 3.5-inch floppy disk, 910.1 KB, 33 files. Original floppy disk in Box 6, 2002, folder Code O) Membership. Original media inscription: "VSA Membership 2002-O"
Contents appear to include dependent database files, software unknown, and some files read a 0 KB and may not be useable. Created and/or administered by Janna Eggebeen. Some Word (DOC) files include Membership flyer and member correspondence.
2004_VSNY_SoHoCastIronPics_Crosby, 2004, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 39.1 MB, 48 files. Original media inscription: "VSA SoHo Crosby 3.05"
Photos of buildings along Crosby Street, SoHo, Manhattan, taken in December 2004. Photos used for SoHo Cast Iron research, survey, and application to expand the NYC LPC SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District (approved 2010). Photographer(s) unknown.
2004_VSNY_SoHoCastIronPics_Bway, 2004, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 120.8 MB, 136 files. Original media inscription: "VSA SoHo W. Bwy 3.05 (1 of 2 CDs)"
Photos of buildings along West Broadway, SoHo, Manhattan, taken in December 2004 (bulk) and March 2005. Photos used for SoHo Cast Iron research, survey, and application to expand the NYC LPC SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District (approved 2010). Photographer(s) unknown.
2004-2006_VSNY_MiscFiles, 2004-2006, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 639.4 MB, 1,146 files of various formats, including DOC, XLS, PDF, JPG, TIF, and others. Original media inscription: "VIC SOC 2004-6"
Miscellaneous files organized into folders titled:
– 2004 (sub-folders for lectures, tours, and newsletter);
– 2005 (sub-folders for lectures, tours, and newsletter);
– 2006 (sub-folders for lectures, tours, and newsletter);
– Administrative (Among other items, contains Chapter Annual Reports files with VSA);
– Agendas and Minutes;
– Annual Meeting;
– Board Member Directories;
– By-laws;
– Financial Reports, Logos, Letterheads, Etc;
– Membership;
– Preservation.
2004-2010_VSNY_Admin-MG-Event-SoHo, 2004-2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 489.7 MB, 528 files of various formats, including DOC, PUB, XLS, PPT, PDF, JPG, GIF, PSD, TIF, and others. Original media inscription: "Joyce Pres. Comm + Misc Files Melissa"
Miscellaneous VSNY files organized into folders: Margot Gayle event; Minutes; Preservation Committee; SoHo Project; as well as other unorganized files in the top-level folder. Contains materials for LPG SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District Expansion application. Authors/administrators include 2010 VSNY President Joyce Mendelsohn and Publicity Committee member Melissa Baldock.
2004-2010_VSNY_LecturePR_MBaldock, 2004-2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 69.3 MB, 157 files of various formats including DOC, JPG, PDF, and others. Original media inscription: "Lecture Comm Melissa 2009-2010"
VSNY 2004-2010 lecture communications and press releases, created and/or administered by Melissa Baldock, VSNY. Contents organized into Folders: Fall 2009, Fall 2010 lectures, Lecture Committee Administration, New Folder, Spring 2009, and Spring 2010. Contents may be further organized by presenter name.
2005_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresDeck, 2005, inclusive
Scope and Contents
File from CD, 29.8 MB, 1 file. Original media is located in Box 7, Folder 21, 2005, Folder Code C) Annual Meeting. Original media inscription: "ANNUAL MEETING 2005 FINAL." PowerPoint (PPT) presentation deck for the 2005 VSNY 38th Annual Meeting (2005-05-24).
2005-2009_VSNY_MiscFiles_TZukowski, 2005-2009, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD. Original media inscription: "T. Zukowski Victorian Society Files 2005-2009"
It is assumed that Karen Zukowski is the primary author/administrator of these files. The earliest files date from 2002. Various miscellaneous files arranged in folders:
– Boss Tweed lecture info,
- By laws,
– Cast Iron contractor,
– d'ambrosio stuff,
– images for Spring 05 Vic Soc lectures,
– johnonsteps[1],
– KSherry_summary,
– LECTURE COMM ORGANIZATIONAL,
– LettertoJeffSholeenrebylaws,
– materials for Spring 2007 pr,
– MINUTES, robertson bios,
– Rosenberg 19c article,
– schecter_author,
– spring 08 lectures,
– Stirton photos,
– Vic Soc fall 2005 images,
– Vic Soc Fall 2006 lecture information,
– Vic Soc Fall 2008 lectures,
– Vic Soc lecs Fall 2007,
– Vic Soc nominating committee#0DAD,
– Vic Soc Spring 06 lecturer resumes,
– Vic Soc Spring 08 lectures,
– Vic Soc Spring 2006 images,
– Vic Soc spring 2009 lectures,
– Zabar lecture,
– as well as other unorganized files in the top-level folder.
2006_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pres-AwardCert, 2006, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 36.6 MB, 23 files. Original media inscription: "VIC SOC ANNUAL MTG 2006"
PowerPoint (PPT) presentation file with 75 slides, and VSNY 2006 Award Certificates (DOC) for the 2006 VSNY Annual Meeting. Note that this file is a version of the 86-slide PPT file in "2006_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresDeck," and is a different size and modification date. The original media for "2006_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresDeck" was labeled "Final."
2006_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresFinal, 2006, inclusive
Scope and Contents
File from CD, 34.3 MB, 1 file. Original media inscription: "VIC SOC 2006 ANNUAL MTG -FINAL-." PowerPoint (PPT) presentation file with 86 slides for the 2006 VSNY Annual Meeting. Note that a 75-slide version of this presentation deck with the same name exists in folder "2006_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pres-AwardCert." The original media for this file was labeled "Final."
2008_MGayle_100thBirthday_Pics, 2008, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 7.3 MB, 104 files. Original media inscription: "Margot Gayle 100th B-Day 2008." Digital images (JPG) taken at the 100th birthday party for Margot Gayle (1908-2008) on May 14, 2008. Most photos are named, in some part, for those depicted in them. Photographer(s) is unknown.
2008_VSNY_GCT_Pic_JonathanWallen, 2008, inclusive
Scope and Contents
File from CD, 367.7 KB, 1 file. Original media inscription: "VIC SOC Fall 2008 Lecture; Warren + Wetmore GCT; Tennoyer + Walker; Lamps(?) Grand Central Terminal; Photo by Jonathan Wallen"
Contains one digital image (JPG) showing a ramp and lighting fixture within Grand Central Terminal (GCT). Digital image by Jonathan Wallen. Image may have been used in the Fall 2008 Lecture about Warren + Wetmore, architects of Grand Central Terminal (1913).
2009_VSNY_AnnualMtg_PresDeck, 2009, inclusive
Scope and Contents
File from CD, 24.0 MB, 1 file. Original media inscription: "19 May 2009; Victorian Society Metro Chapter Presentation @6:30 pm. Problems? Call: 212-849-8376 Jackie K." PowerPoint (PPT) presentation deck for the 2009 VSNY Annual Meeting (2006-05-03).
2009_VSNY_NominatingCom_KZukowski, 2009, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 2.8 MB, 60 files of various formats, including DOC, DOCX, XLS, PAGES, and PDF. Original media inscription: "Metro Chapter—Victorian Society Nominating Committee files from Karen Zukowski, May 20 2009."
Administrative records and correspondence regarding candidates for VSNY Board. Contents arranged in Folders: 2008 Nom Comm, 2009 Nom Comm, and orientation docs, Nom Comm.
2010_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pics_PMargolis, 2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 79.5 MB, 50 files. Original media inscription: "Victorian Soc. Annual Meeting Eldridge St. Shul; Paul Margolis PaulM@att.net 5/11/10"
Photos taken at the VSNY 2010 Annual Meeting, held at the Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue (2010-05-12), and showing various speakers and guests. All images enclosed in a folder named "Victorian Soc. Choices 5-11-10." Photography Credit: Paul Margolis.
2010_VSNY_HistoryInterview_BDane-01, 2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 1.2 GB, 6 files. Original media inscription: "VSNY Bill Dane Oral History-Disk 1/1 2010"
One of three related media items containing an oral history interview of William (Bill) J. Dane (1923-2019) by Jeffrey P. Sholeen (1953-2022), recorded on December 4, 2010, in Chelsea, Manhattan. Contains final agreement forms, AIF files of recorded interview, and final transcript (inclusive of Dane's corrections).
2010_VSNY_HistoryInterview_BDane-02, 2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 691.6 MB, 12 files. Original media inscription: "VSNY Bill Dane Oral History-Disk 1 of 2 2010"
Second of three related media items containing an oral history interview of William (Bill) J. Dane (1923-2019) by Jeffrey P. Sholeen (1953-2022), recorded on December 4, 2010, in Chelsea, Manhattan. Contains (assumed) working files including agreement forms, RoxioRestore.exe file, AIF and AIF.SPN processing files.
2010_VSNY_HistoryInterview_BDane-03, 2010, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 504.3 MB, 10 files. Original media inscription: "VSNY Bill Dane Oral History-Disk 2 of 2 2010-Audio transcript from interview w/Jeff Sholeen on December 4, 2010 Chelsea NYC"
Third of three related media items containing an oral history interview of William (Bill) J. Dane (1923-2019) by Jeffrey P. Sholeen (1953-2022), recorded on December 4, 2010, in Chelsea, Manhattan. Contains (assumed) working files including RoxioRestore.exe file, AIF and AIF.SPN processing files and copy of final transcript DOC file.
2011_TAFennimanArch_VSNY_AwardEntry, 2011, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from two CDs, 161.3 MB, 60 files. The original CDs are filed in Box 10, Folder 11, 2011, Folder Code N) Awards and Scholarships. No original media inscription.
Thomas A. Fenniman Architect VSNY Award entry materials showing before, during, and after restoration of St. Francis Xavier Church. Digital images (JPGs) supplied by Thomas A. Fenniman Architect.
2011_VSNY_MGayleHistory_GVSHP, 2011, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 4.7MB, 23 files. Original media inscription: "Margot Gayle GVSHP Panel 3/2/11"
Historic images, various dates, of Margot Gayle (1908-2008) used at a panel discussion hosted by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (2011-03-02). Photographer(s) unknown.
2011_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pics_PMargolis, 2011, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Files from CD, 384.3 MB, 209 images. Original CD filed in Box 10, Folder 3, 2011, Folder Code C) Annual Meeting. Original media inscription: "Victorian Society Annual Meeting 5/17/11; Photos: Paul Margolis"
Digital images (JPG) taken at the 2011 VSNY Annual Meeting (2010-05-17) of speakers, awards, and attendees. Folders include all photos and a subfolder, "Vict. Soc. Choices 5-17-11." Photography Credit: Paul Margolis.
Duplicate Files Media
Scope and Contents
Contains contents of CDs which contained duplicate copies of files, digital images, etc.
Folder "WIBWY2005"
Original Media Inscription: "W. BWY 2005." [CD, 120.6 MB, 136 files] Duplicate of contents of "2004_VSNY_SoHoCastIronPics_Bway."
Folder "VictorianSociety2005"
Original Media Inscription: "VSA Victorian Society 2005." [CD, 120.8 MB, 136 files]Duplicate of contents of "2004_VSNY_SoHoCastIronPics_Bway." Scope and Contents
FOLDER "VSNYAnnualMeeting20110517"
Original Media Inscription: "VSNY Annual Meeting May 17, 2011 Consulate General Republic of Poland 233 Madison Avenue; Photos: Paul Margolis." [CD, 223.5BM, 117 files] Duplicate content with "2011_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pics_PMargolis." [CD, 384.3 MB, 209 files] Note that the file size discrepancy is due to "2011_VSNY_AnnualMtg_Pics_PMargolis" containing set of these images AND a folder with duplicates of images selected by VSNY.
FOLDER "VicSocArchives2004-2006"
Original Media Inscription: "VIC SOC 2004-6." [CD, 639.4 MB, 1,146 files] Duplicate content to "2004-2006_VSNY_MiscFiles."
FOLDER "VicSocArchives2004-2006"
Original Media Inscription: "VIC SOC 2004-6." [CD, 639.4 MB, 1,146 files] Duplicate content to "2004-2006_VSNY_MiscFiles."
FOLDER "VicSocArchives2004-2006"
Original Media Inscription: "VIC SOC 2004-6." [CD, 639.4 MB, 1,146 files] Duplicate content to "2004-2006_VSNY_MiscFiles."
FOLDER "WIBWY2005"
Original Media Inscription: "W. BWY 2005." [CD, 332.9 MB, 138 files] Content is duplicate of "2004_VSNY_SoHoCastIronPics_Bway."
FOLDER "AnnualMeetingPPTPresentation_2005"
Original Media Inscription: "ANNUAL MTG 2005 FINAL." [CD, 29.8 MB, 1 file] Content is duplicate of "ANNUAL MTG 2005 FINAL"
Scope and Contents
Contains contents of CDs which contained duplicate copies of files, digital images, etc.