Guide to the Washington Square Park Redevelopment Collection
1952-1966
MS 678
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-3400
New-York Historical Society
Collection processed by Tiffany Schureman
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on May 21, 2022
Description is in English.
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | Washington Square Park Redevelopment collection |
|---|---|
| Dates [inclusive]: | 1952-1966 |
| 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. |
| Quantity: | 0.63 Linear feet (2 boxes) |
| Location: | Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit. |
| Language: | The documents in the collection are in English. |
| Call Phrase: | MS 678 |
Historical Note
| Missing Title | |
|---|---|
| 1952 | New York University announces plans to redevelop Washington Square Park Southeast area. |
| 1954 | Washington Square Park Committee announces its plan to fight the project. |
| 1958 | Washington Square Park converts from being open to all traffic to only being open to bus traffic. |
| 1959 | Washington Square Park completely closed to traffic. |
| 1964 | New York University reveals design of library on Washington Square South. |
| 1965 | New York University asks the City Planning Commission to review proposal of campus expansion, including the library. |
| 1966 | Community Planning Commission holds public hearing on the project. |
| 1973 | New York University's Bobst Library completed. |
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.
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
Access Points
Subject Names
- Abrams, Charles, 1902-1970
- Dean, Sidney W., Jr.
- Hayes, Shirley, 1921-2001
- Koch, Ed, 1924-2013
- Wittenburg, Ruth
Subject Organizations
- Association of Village Homeowners
- Community Planning Board No. 2 (New York, N.Y.)
- Greenwich Village Association (New York, N.Y.)
- Lower West Side Civic League
- Save Our Square Committee
- Washington Square Neighbors
- Washington Square Park Committee (New York, N.Y.)
Subject Topics
- City planning -- New York (State) -- New York.
- Discrimination in housing -- New York (State) -- New York.
- Housing
- Land use, urban
Subject Places
- Greenwich Village (New York, N.Y.)
- Washington Square Park (New York, NY)
Administrative Information
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.
Processing Information
Processed by Tiffany Schureman, before 2011.
Container List
Series I: Community Organizations, 1953-1966
Scope and Contents noteThis 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. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box: 1 | Folder : 1 | Association of Village Home-Owners |
1966 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 2 | Community Planning Board #2 |
1965-1966, Undated | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 3 | Greenwich Village Association |
1953, Undated | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 4 | Lower West Side Civic League |
1953-1954 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 5 | Save Our Square Committee |
1966 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 6 | Washington Square Park Neighbors |
1954-1955, Undated | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 7 | Washington Square Park Committee |
1954, 1958, Undated | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 8 | Other Community Organizations |
1953-1966, Undated | |
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Series II: New York University Publications, 1952-1966
Scope and Contents noteThis 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. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 9 | Materials Regarding Redevelopment of Washington Square Park |
1952-1966, Undated | |
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Series III: Government Documents, 1956-1966
Scope and Contents noteThis 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. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 10 | City Planning Commission |
1966 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 11 | Manhattan Borough President's Office |
1966 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 12 | City of New York Publications |
1956, 1958, 1966 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 13 | State of New York Publications |
1957, 1960 | |
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Series IV: Letters and Statements of Opposition, 1953-1966
Scope and Contents noteThis 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. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 1 | Letters and Statements Regarding Development |
1953-1966, Undated | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 2 | Letters to Shirley Hayes |
1953, 1966, Undated | |
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Series V: Other Material, 1953-1966
Scope and Contents noteThis 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). |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 3 | Clippings |
1952-1966 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 4 | Notes |
Undated | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 5 | Map |
1965 | |
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