Washington Square Park Redevelopment collection
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Abstract
This is a collection of records of various community organizations fighting the redevelopment of Washington Square Park and the surrounding area. Their efforts included closing the park to traffic, fighting the construction of NYU's library and university housing, and the creation of more parkland. The collection contains letters and statements of opposition from local community groups and individuals. Also included are government documents and New York University publications relating to the potential redevelopment.
Historical Note
Missing Title
Arrangement
Most of the collection is arranged by organization. The letters from individuals and to Shirley Hayes are arranged chronologically. The papers are arranged into the following series:
Series I: Community Organizations
Series II: New York University Publications
Series III: Government Documents
Series IV: Letters and Statements of Opposition
Series V: Other Material
Scope and Content Note
This collection is comprised of materials relating to Washington Square Park's history from 1952 to 1966. The issues that these papers cover are the traffic through the square, New York University's new library and housing project, parkland and park use. The collection consists of letters and statements of opposition, community organizations' records opposing the redevelopment, government documents and New York University publications. Also included are letters to Shirley Hayes, a local community leader who was instrumental in getting the park closed to traffic.
Subjects
Organizations
People
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
This collection should be cited as the Washington Square Park Redevelopment Collection, MS 678, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by Tiffany Schureman, before 2011.
Repository
Series I: Community Organizations, 1953-1966, inclusive
Scope and Contents note
This series contains a variety of materials from various community organizations that supported the Washington Square Park and Greenwich Village community. Most of these community organizations supported the closing of the park to traffic and not building the New York University library. Materials include newsletters, letters, minutes, reports, petitions, and meeting flyers.
Association of Village Home-Owners, 1966
Community Planning Board #2, 1965-1966, Undated, inclusive
Greenwich Village Association, 1953, Undated, inclusive
Lower West Side Civic League, 1953-1954, inclusive
Save Our Square Committee, 1966, inclusive
Washington Square Park Neighbors, 1954-1955, Undated, inclusive
Washington Square Park Committee, 1954, 1958, Undated, inclusive
Other Community Organizations, 1953-1966, Undated, inclusive
Series II: New York University Publications, 1952-1966, inclusive
Scope and Contents note
This series contains publications produced by New York University. The materials included are chancellor's reports, student newspapers, newsletters, reports, a map, and newspapers clippings. This part of the collection gives the university's prospective on their projects.
Materials Regarding Redevelopment of Washington Square Park, 1952-1966, Undated, inclusive
Series III: Government Documents, 1956-1966, inclusive
Scope and Contents note
This series contains documents from New York City agencies and New York State agencies. The materials included are letters from the agencies, reports, meeting minutes, calendars, and law amendments. The letters show what individual members of the local government thought about the projects.
City Planning Commission, 1966, inclusive
Manhattan Borough President's Office, 1966, inclusive
City of New York Publications, 1956, 1958, 1966, inclusive
State of New York Publications, 1957, 1960, inclusive
Series IV: Letters and Statements of Opposition, 1953-1966, inclusive
Scope and Contents note
This series contains letters and statements of opposition from individuals, mostly from the Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park areas. It also includes letters written to Shirley Hayes. Hayes was influential in getting the park closed to traffic.
Letters and Statements Regarding Development, 1953-1966, Undated, inclusive
Letters to Shirley Hayes, 1953, 1966, Undated, inclusive
Series V: Other Material, 1953-1966, inclusive
Scope and Contents note
This series contains newspaper clippings, notes, and a map. The clippings do not include New York University newspapers. It is unclear who took the notes, but they do provide information on the redevelopment of the square. The map is of the proposed street changes to what was then known as West Broadway (La Guardia Place now).