Susan E. Lyman research notes on Gracie Mansion
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Abstract
This collection consists mainly of the research notes, drafts, correspondence, and illustrations from Susan E. Lyman's unpublished book about Archibald Gracie (1755-1829) and Gracie Mansion.
Biographical / Historical
Susan Elizabeth Lyman was born in New York City on November 18, 1905. She graduated from Smith College in 1929 and received a MA from Columbia University in 1933. She was curator of manuscripts at the New-York Historical Society from 1939 to 1946, and from 1949 to 1959, she worked at the Museum of the City of New York, helping to develop the "Please Touch" room for children. Lyman was also a writer and authority on the history of New York City, publishing "The Face of New York" (1955), with photographs by Andreas Feininger; "Young Folks' New York" (1960); and "The Story of New York" (1966). She also published "Lady Historian: Martha J. Lamb" in 1969. Lyman died in 1976 from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by topic.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists mainly of the research notes, drafts, correspondence, and pictorial material from Susan E. Lyman's unpublished manuscript about New York City merchant Archibald Gracie (1755-1829) and the history of Gracie Mansion, now the city's mayoral residence.
In the course of her research on Archibald Gracie, Lyman gathered information about his family, friends, and business associates, including Alexander Hamilton, David Lambert, David Parish, Ezra Weeks, Oliver Wolcott, Rufus King, Washington Irving, DeWitt Clinton, and Esther Rogers Gracie, as well as other members of the Rogers and Gracie families. Her notes on these figures are part of the collection.
Lyman's illustrative material includes copy photographs of portraits of Gracie and many of his associates, along with images of Gracie's ships and his other New York properties. There are also interior and exterior images of Gracie Mansion, as well as some maps and family trees sketched by Lyman.
A completed, typewritten manuscript is included in the collection. It should be noted that Lyman's manuscript served as the basis for Mary Black's book "New York City's Gracie Mansion: a history of the mayor's house," published for the Gracie Mansion Conservancy by the J.M. Kaplan Fund, 1984. In a note, Black states that her book is "based on the historic structures report by Joan R. Olshansky...and on the unpublished manuscript by Susan E. Lyman, 'Archibald Gracie and his Mansion.'"
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers. Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use.
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
The collection should be cited as: Susan E. Lyman Research Notes on Gracie Mansion, MS 3082, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Jean B. Wells in 1982. Wells was Lyman's literary executor.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by Marybeth Kavanagh.