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New York Chamber of Commerce collection

Call Number

PR 277

Date

1768-1976 (bulk, 1900-1950), inclusive

Creator

New York Chamber of Commerce

Extent

1.13 Linear feet (2 boxes plus 1 mapcase drawer)

Language of Materials

This collection is primarily visual. Any text is likely to be in English.

Abstract

The New York Chamber of Commerce Collection spans the period from its fouding in 1768, until 1976, and primarily contains photographs of the Chamber of Commerce building, as well as images of members and events.

Historical Note

The New York Chamber of Commerce was founded on April 5, 1768 by a group of merchants interested in the trade and commerce of New York City. The stated purpose of the organization was "promoting and encouraging commerce, supporting industry, adjusting disputes relative to trade and navigation, and procuring such laws and regulations as may be found necessary for the benefit of trade in general." The group received a royal charter from King George III in 1770, becoming the "Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce in the City of New York in America."

During the Revolutionary War, the membership was divided. Patriots left New York City during the British invasion while their loyalist colleagues remained, holding meetings and conducting business. Following the evacuation of the British in 1783, the patriot membership returned and quickly regained control. The group received a new charter and were renamed the "Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York."

Through the years the organization has counted some of the most powerful men in New York among its members, including more than half of the city's mayors between 1872 and 1901. The influential members of the Chamber played a large roll in shaping both New York City and the United States. The New York Chamber of Commerce campaigned for the building of the Erie Canal, supported Abraham Lincoln's campaign for president, organized the "Committee of Seventy," which helped drive the Tweed ring from power, and played a key role in creating the city's first subway system.

Source:

Grey, Peter P. The First Two Centuries: An Informal History of the New York Chamber of Commerce. New York: New York Chamber of Commerce, 1968.

Arrangement

The collection is organized in three series:

Series I. Printing Blocks
Series II. Documents
Series III. Images

Scope and Contents

The New York Chamber of Commerce Collection spans the period from 1768-1976 and primarily contains photographs of the Chamber of Commerce building, as well as images of members and events.

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: New York Chamber of Commerce Collection, PR 277, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Partnership for New York City, April 29, 2008.

Related Materials

Additional images of the Chamber of Commerce Building can be found in the Geographic File (PR 024) and the George P. Hall & Son Photograph Collection (PR 024).

Columbia University holds the archives of the New York Chamber of Commerce.

Collection processed by

Kelly McAnnaney

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:46:34 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from chamber.xml

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024