La Guardia Memorial House records, 1899-1993

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#0376
Bib ID:
4079914 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
La Guardia Memorial House
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
4 linear feet (9 boxes)
Language(s):
English .
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Scope and Content

The LaGuardia Memorial House Records document the settlement's activities from its earliest years as "The Home Garden" to its current social service programs for the youth of East Harlem. They offer a unique view of the first wave of the settlement movement in America, and document social conditions, demographic change, political activity, philanthropy and social work in East Harlem over a 90 year period. The records include: annual reports, board minutes and correspondence, headworker correspondence, financial records, fundraising information, and photographs.

The first three decades of the settlement are documented by annual reports, board minutes, correspondence, newsletters and program files. Of particular interest is administrative correspondence from 1919-20, which provides insight on the vigorous "Americanization" work the settlement undertook in this period; and Fresh Air Camp records which evidence the ethnicity of program participants. Records from subsequent years are much less complete. They include brochures and newsclippings describing settlement activities, biographical information on board members including Edward Corsi, and photographs of settlement staff, programs and participants.

  • Series I: Administration

    Annual reports, Board of Directors minutes and biographical information, brochures and promotional materials, correspondence, financial records, headworker files, and program information. Folders arranged alphabetically. Documents arranged chronologically, except in correspondence files where existing alphabetical document arrangement has been maintained.

  • Series II: Audio-Visual Materials

    Black and white and color photographs of settlement staff, board members, programs and participants. Folders arranged alphabetically by subject. Photographs arranged chronologically when possible.

Arrangement

Arranged into two series.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); La Guardia Memorial House records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material-- Other Repositories

Edward Corsi Papers, Syracuse University.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Records: Source of acquisition--La Guardia House. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--09/29/1994. Accession number--M-94-09-29.

Gift of La Guardia Memorial House, 1994.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Sponsor Information

Records processed with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission by James Moske and Holly MacCammon of LaGuardia and Wagner Archives.

Processing Information

Records Added to RLIN HR 05/13/2002.

The LaGuardia Memorial House Records were identified for preservation by the New York City Settlement House Records Survey of LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, LaGuardia Community College, The City University of New York. The survey was funded by a 1993-94 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The survey was conducted by: Richard K. Lieberman, Director, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives; Sarah Lederman, Project Coordinator; and James Moske and Holly MacCammon, Project Archivists. Emily Marks and Suzy Edelstein of United Neighborhood Houses lent invaluable assistance to the project. Julius C. C. Edelstein has provided inspiration and guidance from its inception.

Donation of the records was coordinated by: Jean Ashton, Director, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University; Bernard Crystal, Curator of Manuscripts, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University; and Jim Soler, Executive Director, LaGuardia Memorial House. The records were processed and this finding aid prepared by James Moske and Holly MacCammon of LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Finding aid written by James Moske, October 2001. This Finding Aid is dedicated to Peter Pascale, LaGuardia Memorial House board member and former Executive Director, whose affiliation with the settlement spans seven decades.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2014-09-10 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Historical Note

During the late 1800s Manhattan's East Harlem experienced a dramatic increase in population and economic activity as transportation lines were extended into the area and new housing was constructed. Successive waves of Irish, German Jewish and Italian immigrants moved into tenement buildings and formed a vital community establishing small businesses benevolent societies and fraternal organizations. But the dense concentration of population also gave rise to a host of urban problems poor housing inadequate health care lack of educational opportunities and crime.

Such an increase in the social problems attending urban growth had led reformers and philanthropists in England to establish Toynbee Hall the first settlement house in 1884. Originally distinguished by the commitment of educated upper and middle-class volunteers to settle in working class communities in order to understand their problems first-hand the settlement model was imported to the United States in 1886 when Neighborhood Guild was established on New York's lower east side. American settlement houses were in the vanguard of efforts to provide social services in their neighborhoods through such programs as kindergartens day care hot lunches health clinics visiting nurses camps playgrounds and arts education. In addition the settlements joined Progressive-era reform movements for improved housing public health and sanitation.

In 1898 Anna C. Ruddy a Canadian who had done missionary work in East Harlem for the previous eight years decided to establish a settlement house in the neighborhood. Ruddy opened The Home Garden in a tenement on East 115th Street but soon moved to 322 Pleasant Avenue where the settlement was legally incorporated in 1901. Its early focus was on programs for children including clubs a day nursery and classes in sewing cooking and carpentry. There was also a strong religious emphasis through Bible classes and a Sunday school. During the 1910s under the leadership of Headworker Bertha Muriel Gage the settlement broadened its focus to the adults of East Harlem through mother's clubs debating groups and citizenship classes. Children's activities were expanded to include Fresh Air Camp a Boy Scout troop and health care by hosting a district nurse sponsored by Henry Street Settlement. To facilitate these activities the settlement moved to larger quarters at 405 East 116th Street and eventually to 311-316 East 116th. In 1916 the settlement's name was changed to Haarlem House.

During the 1920s and 30s East Harlem's demography began to shift as Puerto Ricans and African-Americans moved into the neighborhood. Many other ethnic groups remained as well reflected by a 1926 news clipping which reports that people of 27 different national origins participated in Haarlem House activities. Italian-Americans were well represented among these and Director of Men's Work Edward Corsi coordinated many citizenship programs oriented to them. Corsi also served briefly as Executive Director of the settlement before going on to a political career that included positions as U. S. Commissioner of Immigration and New York State Industrial Commissioner. In 1955 he returned to the settlement as Executive Director then joined its Board of Directors.

In 1956 Haarlem House was re-named LaGuardia Memorial House in honor of former East Harlem congressman and New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. During this period the settlement operated a music school and worked to improve relations between Puerto Rican and Italian-American youth in the area. In 1967 LaGuardia Memorial House transferred title of its East 116th Street property to the New York City Housing Authority which built new housing for senior citizens on the site as well as a new community center facility which has since been operated by the settlement. In 1973 Peter Pascale became Executive Director of LaGuardia Memorial House. Pascale had grown up in East Harlem using the settlement and first joined its staff as Athletic Director in 1931. Both he and his successor Jim Soler maintained the agency's historic commitment to the youth of East Harlem through such programs as day care after school recreation summer day camp and athletics.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Administrative records CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Annual reports CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Brochures CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Bylaws (administrative records) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Certificates CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Financial records CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lists (document genres) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Memorandums CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Newsletters CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Photographs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Reports CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Slides (photographs) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
minutes (administrative records) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
negatives (photographs) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Haarlem House (New York, N.Y.) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Home Garden Settlement (New York, N.Y.) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
United Neighborhood Houses of New York, Inc. (New York, N.Y.) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Place
East Harlem (New York, N.Y.) -- History CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
New York (N.Y.) -- History CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
New York (N.Y.) -- Social conditions CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Child welfare workers CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Community centers -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Human services -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Immigrants -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Public housing -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Public welfare -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Social service -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Social settlements -- New York (State) -- New York CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Social workers CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Women social workers CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID