Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association Records
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Abstract
The Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association Records document the efforts of a voluntary charity organization to provide relief to the families of the victims of the tragic fire in 1876 that killed more than 300 people in the Brooklyn Theatre. The collection is mainly comprised of the investigations conducted into the claims made by surviving relatives of those killed in the fire and the financial documents of the association.
Historical Note
The Brooklyn Theatre at the corner of Washington and Johnson Streets was one of Brooklyn's first successful legitimate theaters. On the night of December 5, 1876, approximately 1,000 people were watching a popular melodrama, "The Two Orphans." Many were crowded into the modestly-priced upper gallery seats. At 11:15 PM, shortly after the opening of the last act, a fire broke out, apparently caused by scenery touching the gas lights. The actors urged the audience to remain in their seats, but as the flames grew more noticeable, many rushed for the doors. There were few exits from the galleries, and panic ensued as hundreds rushed for the two narrow stairways. Many were trampled or collapsed, further jamming the stairs. The theater was destroyed within fifteen to twenty minutes and neither police nor observers at the scene were aware of the large number of people trapped in the building. Firemen were unable to enter the theater until the next morning, when they discovered the large number of bodies. More than 300 lives were lost, and many of the bodies could not be identified. It was the worst common disaster in Brooklyn's history, and the city went into a period of mourning. On Saturday, December 9th, the City of Brooklyn held a public funeral for 100 of the victims who were buried in a mass grave atop Battle Hill in a plot donated by Green-Wood Cemetery. Three crowded memorial meetings were held simultaneously around the city on the following day, with hundreds of mourners unable to enter the meetings.
A relief committee took shape as soon as the extent of the tragedy became known, with Mayor Frederick A. Schroeder appointed to receive contributions. Schroeder was assisted by Daniel Chauncey, treasurer, and the Reverend Dr. Alfred P. Putnam as secretary. The Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association raised $47,455.47 to aid the families of the victims, contributions coming from across the nation as the disaster became publicized through newspapers. A committee of prominent citizens dispensed assistance after volunteers visited the homes of families in need and certified their worthiness for assistance. Aid went to 800 individuals in 188 families. Families were removed from the rolls as they no longer needed assistance, and the committee also reduced levels of aid at its discretion. Bi-weekly stipends continued until March, 1879, at which time the funds became exhausted.
Arrangement
The Collection is divided into four series: Series 1. Administrative and Financial Documents; Series 2. Burial Records; Series 3. Case Notes; and Series 4. Correspondence. Within each series, the folders are arranged alphabetically and then chonologically.
Scope and Contents
The Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association Records contain 849 items, all from within the period 1876-1879. They consist chiefly of correspondence directed to either Mayor Frederick A. Schroeder, chairman of the committee, or to the Reverend Putnam, secretary of the committee, and internal documents, including account books and investigative forms filled out by those who visited and vetted relief applicants.
The relief association records are a unique historical resource. The volunteer visitors to the homes of recipients filled out forms giving the name, age, address, occupation, and wages of the victim along with information as to family size, rent, health, and other factors that could influence the request for assistance. These reports provide information about an under-investigated Brooklyn population, many of whom were of working class or lower middle class background.
There are two major categories of material in this collection: investigations and finances. Nearly two-thirds of the collection consists of items collected during the investigations of the sufferers. These include the forms filled out by the volunteer visitors as well as correspondence from the recipients or others pleading their cases. Approximately one-third of the collection details financial matters of the relief association. Of these one-half concern the contributions that were received by the association, and the rest involve the expenditure of the funds. Also included are 85 items from the undertakers who buried the victims of the fire. In addition, a few items relate to the internal operations of the relief association.
Subjects
Organizations
People
Topics
Places
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Materials in this collection are in the public domain.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn Theatre Fire Relief Association Records, ArMs 1977.049, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The records came to the Long Island Historical Society at the request of the Reverend Alfred P. Putnam, minister of the Church of the Savior/First Unitarian Church on Pierrepont Street and secretary of the Relief Association. The intention to donate them is indicated in the Executive Committee's Final Report, Mar. 25, 1879.
Physical Characteristics Note
The leather on the spine of all of the ledgers is flaking and the front board on the checkbook dated Oct. 17-Dec. 1, 1877 is almost detached.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The bundled records were accessioned in 1977 by Brooklyn Rediscovery as ArMs1977.049 and processed by Robert Sink in September, 1978. Further processing by Marilyn Pettit in 2006 and Katherine Christensen in 2009.
