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Susan E. Lyman research notes on Gracie Mansion

Call Number

MS 3082

Date

1950-1976, inclusive

Creator

Lyman, Susan Elizabeth, 1905-1976

Extent

2 Linear feet in 2 boxes

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English.

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This collection consists mainly of the research notes, drafts, correspondence, and illustrations from Susan E. Lyman's unpublished book about Archibald Gracie (1755-1829) and Gracie Mansion.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collection consists mainly of the research notes, drafts, correspondence, and pictorial material from Susan E. Lyman's unpublished manuscript about New York City merchant Archibald Gracie (1755-1829) and the history of Gracie Mansion, now the city's mayoral residence.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.'"

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.

Related Materials

The library holds copies of the the following books by Lyman:

"The Face of New York" (1955).

"The Story of New York" (1966).

"Lady Historian: Martha J. Lamb" (1969).

The library also has a copy of "New York City's Gracie Mansion: a history of the mayor's house," by Mary Black (1984), which is based on Lyman's manuscript.

Collection processed by

Marybeth Kavanagh

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:47:32 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

Processed by Marybeth Kavanagh.

Repository

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