- unitid
-
{"value"=>"2724", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"MssCol 2724", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"ca. 1828-1963", "type"=>"inclusive", "certainty"=>"approximate", "normal"=>"1828/1963"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1828
- date_inclusive_end
-
1963
- keydate
-
1828
- date_start
-
1828
- date_end
-
1963
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Serrell-Opdycke-Patrick papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"16 linear feet (37 boxes, 1 v.)"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">Stephen A. Schwarzman Building</span> <span class=\"addressline\">Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"James E. Serrell (1820-1892), Henry G. Opdycke (1870-1938), and William R. Patrick were New York City surveyors and civil engineers. Serrell was appointed city surveyor in the Street Dept. of New York, had a surveying practice in the city, and carried on experiments for improvements in the design of marine engines and propellers. Opdycke practiced engineering and consulted on the construction of the first subway in New York City. In 1899 he formed a partnership, Opdycke & Thomson, with H. Serrell Thomson and later was associated with William R. Patrick in his surveying practice. Patrick eventually assumed Opdycke's surveying business, taking possession of Opdycke's papers and the papers of James E. Serrell. The Serrell-Opdycke-Patrick papers document the evolution of property ownership and land use in New York City and the development of the city's urban infrastructure of streets and sewers especially during the latter half of the 19th century (1840s-1890s). Over one-half of the collection consists of New York City land maps and surveys arranged by city block number with collateral papers including correspondence, engineering notes and field notebooks. Papers reflect the surveying and engineering work of James E. Serrell, Henry G. Opdycke, the firm of Opdycke & Thomson, and (to a lesser extent) of William R. Patrick. Included also are personal and miscellaneous papers of James E. Serrell, Henry G. Opdycke, and William R. Patrick relating mainly to their professional careers."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"Materials in English"}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Serrell-Opdycke-Patrick papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library</p>"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>- James E. Serrell -</p> <p>James E. Serrell (1820-1892), surveyor and civil engineer, was the son of William and Anne Serrell. He appears to have been been privately educated and may have assisted in the training of his distinguished brother, Edward Wellman Serrell (1826- ), civil engineer and soldier, who reportedly received his professional education \"under the direction of an elder brother\".</p> <p>In 1845 at age 25 Serrell was appointed city surveyor in the Street Department of New York City. During the following four decades he carried on a flourishing surveying practice in New York City executing numerous land surveys, maps and engineering studies for his private, public and institutional clients. As city surveyor Serrell prepared maps, surveys, and estimates for the grading and paving of city streets, the setting of curbs and gutters, the construction of culverts and sewers, and other improvements. He also prepared assessment lists of property owners for city tax purposes.</p> <p>Throughout much of his career Serrell carried on experiments for improvements in the design of marine engines and propellers. He also advised on improving the design of the reflecting apparatus in lighthouses.</p> <p>At the outbreak of the Civil War Serrell held the rank of captain in the corps of engineers of the 11th Regiment of the New York State Militia. He does not appear, however, to have taken an active part in the war.</p> <p>Serrell had (at least) two sons, James E. Serrell, Jr. (1846-1873), and Robert A. Serrell (b. 1860). An elder brother, John J. Serrell, was also a surveyor and civil engineer.</p> <p>- Henry G. Opdycke-</p> <p>Henry G. Opdycke (1870-1938), civil engineer and city surveyor, was born in Philadelphia, the son of Dr. Washington Opdycke and Mary Jane (Abernathy) Opdycke. His parents were descended from original Dutch settlers in New York. As an engineer practicing in New York City Opdycke specialized in problems relating to vibrations in buildings and other structures caused by construction activities. He served as a consulting engineer during the construction of New York City's first subway and for its 7th Avenue line. He also fixed the coordinates for the building of Pennsylvania Station and the base line for Grand Central Station.</p> <p>Opdycke began his professional career in New York about 1893 as a principal assistant and city surveyor in the Lawyer's Engineering and Surveying Company. In 1899 he and his colleague, H. Serrell Thomson, who was also employed by the same company, formed a partnership, Opdycke & Thomson, City Surveyors and Civil Engineers, which was dissolved in April of 1905. Opdycke, however, continued his surveying practice and in later years became associated with William R. Patrick who was also a city surveyor and civil engineer.</p> <p>For use in its surveying work the firm of Opdycke & Thomson acquired the \"complete surveying plant\" (including maps, surveys, and field notebooks) of James E. Serrell, C. E. who was appointed city surveyor in 1845. The \"plant\" which was acquired from the administratrix of Serrell's Estate, was eventually purchased by Opdycke for the sum of $50. The firm also had access to the \"plant\" of John J. Serrell, C. E. who was appointed city surveyor in 1837.</p> <p>Opdycke was member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. During the early 1900s he was a consulting engineer for the American Automobile Association and the Automobile Club of America. During W. W. I Opdycke served with the A. E. F. in France as a signal officer with the rank of major. At his death he was survived by his widow, Ida Louise (Stryker) Opdycke, and a son, Barclay Opdycke.</p> <p>- William R. Patrick-</p> <p>William R. Patrick was a civil engineer and city surveyor who practiced in New York City. By 1919 he had become associated with Henry G. Opdycke in the latter's surveying and engineering work. Patrick eventually assumed Opdycke's surveying business taking possession of Opdycke's papers and the papers of James E. Serrell.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Serrell-Opdycke-Patrick Papers document the evolution of property ownership and land use in New York City and the development of the city's urban infrastructure of streets and sewers especially during the latter half of the 19th century (1840s-1890s). Over one-half of the collection consists of New York City land maps and surveys arranged by city block number with collateral papers including correspondence, engineering notes and field notebooks. The papers reflect the surveying and engineering work of James E. Serrell (1820-1892), Henry G. Opdycke (1870-1938), the firm of Opdycke & Thomson, and (to a lesser extent) of William R. Patrick, all of whom were city surveyors and civil engineers practicing in New York City. Included also are personal and miscellaneous papers of James E. Serrell, Henry G. Opdycke, and (to a lesser extent) of William R. Patrick relating mainly to their professional careers.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Serrell-Opdycke-Patrick papers are arranged in five series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2724#c1072939'>Series I. New York City Land Maps and Surveys</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The bulk of the land maps and surveys, which are arranged by block number and which are described on the Checklist of Land Maps and Surveys fall in the period from the 1840s to 1911. The bulk of the maps and surveys dated prior to 1892 were executed by James E. Serrell, city surveyor and civil engineer, who was employed by the Street Department of New York City and who also conducted his own private practice as a surveyor and civil engineer. The bulk of the maps and surveys dated between 1892 and 1905 were executed by Henry G. Opdycke and H. Serrell Thomson who were partners in the firm of Opdycke & Thomson, city surveyors and civil engineers. The firm acquired James E. Serrell's original maps, notes and surveys which they utilized in their own professional work. The bulk of the maps and surveys dated after March of 1905 (when the partnership was dissolved) were executed by Henry G. Opdycke. There are also a few maps and surveys (in the later period) executed by William R. Patrick who was also a surveyor and civil engineer.</p> <p>Filed with the maps and surveys especially in the earlier period (prior to 1892) are a variety of other papers including correspondence, notes, requests for surveys, copies of deeds; copies of court transcripts (involving litigation in which James E. Serrell appeared as an expert witness); assessment lists for street improvements (grading, paving, flagging, setting curbs and gutters), and for the building of sewers; and printed broadsides of auction sales. The correspondence (which includes a few copies of replies by Serrell) relates mainly to requests for maps and surveys from attorneys, landowners, architects, builders, merchants, realtors, and insurance companies.</p> <p>The maps and surveys executed by James E. Serrell include pen and ink drawings, frequently multicolored, on paper and on linen. Those executed by Opdycke & Thomson, by Henry G. Opdycke and by William R. Patrick are in the form of drafts on tissue paper and final blueprint drawings.</p> <p>Many of the maps and surveys executed by Serrell are keyed to his field notebooks by an annotation in the form of \"B\" followed by a number (e. g., \"B-30\" indicating field notebook #30).</p> <p>The maps and surveys are for streets, lots, and buildings in the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. Included are vault surveys, excavation surveys, possession surveys, and architects' surveys.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2724#c1073564'>Series II. Papers of James E. Serrell</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2724#c1073668'>Series III. Papers of Henry G. Opdycke</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2724#c1073671'>Series IV. Papers of William R. Patrick</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The papers of William R. Patrick consist of correspondence (1928-63) and miscellaneous papers including surveying notes and memoranda relating to his practice as surveyor and civil engineer. Surveys made by William R. Patrick are filed in Series I. (New York City Land Maps and Surveys) in the following block numbers: #603 (1927), #606 (1930), #1002 (1931), #2677 (1920), #2696+ (1921), #2815+ (1923), #2820 (1923), #2873+ (1930), #2904 (1919), #2978+ (1919), #2989 (1930), #5643 (1929-30).</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2724#c1073672'>Series V. Oversized Maps and Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Oversized Maps and Papers consist of oversized maps and surveys arranged by block number which have been transferred from Series I; miscellaneous oversized maps and surveys by James E. Serrell, Henry G. Opdycke, and William R. Patrick; oversized broadsides (1848-81) of land auctions held in New York City; and miscellaneous oversized papers.</p> <p>Included in the miscellaneous oversized papers are maps and surveys made by Henry G. Opdycke for the Automobile Club of America; an engineering drawing made by James E. Serrell depicting an unidentified mechanical device; and clippings and copies of newspapers collected by James E. Serrell. Included are copies of The Daily Graphic, Sept. 25, 1876; the Evening Telegram, Sept. 24, 1876; The New York Herald, Dec. 30, 1870; The Sun, July 9, 1870; and the Sunday Mercury, Apr. 10, 1864.</p> <p>Shelved separately are maps and engineering drawings by James E. Serrell.</p> <p>Also shelved separately is an atlas of maps of New York City copied by James E. Serrell from the original maps made by John Randel, Jr. The atlas, which contains 218 leaves of pen and ink drawings of maps embellished with water colors on parchment paper, is entitled: \"Atlas of Map of the City of New York North of Houston Street Copied from Surveys by John Randel Jr., Esq. Now on File in the Street Department\". The maps cover the area north of Houston Street to 219th Street and 14th Avenue. The names of owners of property appear on their respective lots [giant folio vol. in blue cloth binding].</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Five series: I. New York City Land Maps and Surveys; II. Papers of James E. Serrell; III. Papers of Henry G. Opdycke; IV. Papers of William R. Patrick; V. Oversize Maps and Papers</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Dorothy L. Patrick (via Map Division)</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>John D. Stinson, November 1995</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Engineering drawings by James E. Serrell which must undergo conservation treatment before research use.</p>"}
- extent_statement
-
16 linear feet (37 boxes, 1 v.)