Found 2 collections related to Ely, Robert Erskine, 1861-

Town Hall was founded in 1894 by six prominent suffragists under the name League for Political Education to continue the struggle for women's rights by raising political consciousness. Robert Ely was director of the League from 1907 to 1937. The Town Hall building, erected with funds raised by public subscription, was opened in 1921 as "a meeting place, clearing house for ideas, forum, lyceum, concert hall, school, and college." In 1935 George Denny, associate director of the League and later president, created America's Town Meeting of the Air, a radio program to foster discussion of political, social and economic concerns. The name of the institution was changed in 1938 to The Town Hall, Inc. and in 1956 it became affiliated with New York University. Collection contains correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports, financial records, transcripts, publicity materials, photographs, and scrapbooks of newsclippings concerning the League for Political Education and Town Hall, Inc. League for Political Education records consist of correspondence and minutes, 1935-1937, of the executive and other committees. Records of America's Town Meeting of the Air, 1935-1956, include general correspondence, letters from listeners, office memoranda, audience mail reports, speakers aid materials, correspondence of the director of radio and television operations, publicity materials, photographs, and newsclippings. Collection contains Town Hall records, such as correspondence, financial and legal papers, transcripts of lectures, printed matter, and photographs, from the Historical Dept., Concert Dept., Short Courses Division, and other units of the institution. less

Albert S. Bard (1866-1963) was an attorney and civic activist in New York City. A graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School, Bard came to New York City in 1893, where he engaged in the practice of corporation and general law until a few years before his death. From 1901-1935 (or 1938) he practiced with his partner, Leighton Calkins (1868-1955), under the firm name of Bard & Calkins at 25 Broad Street. Bard continued to practice law until 1960. Bard was an energetic participant in civic and urban affairs and a member of numerous civic and professional organizations, to which he contributed his legal expertise. As a preservationist, he opposed many of Robert Moses' plans for the development of New York City. He successfully organized opposition to the Brooklyn-Battery Bridge project and was instrumental in the preservation of Castle Clinton. Bard also retained life-long affiliations with his hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, and the schools he attended. The Albert S. Bard papers include correspondence, notes, reports, draft legislation, printed material, photographs and posters documenting his decades of participation in urban affairs, especially in matters relating to city planning, good government, billboard advertising, and ballot reform. Bard's civic affiliations represented in the collection include the Citizens Union of New York, City Club of New York, the City Fusion Party, the Fine Arts Federation of New York, the Honest Ballot Association, the Mayor's Billboard Committee, the Municipal Art Society, and the National Roadside Council, among many others. Personal and family papers include Bard's personal correspondence and letterbooks, appointment books recording his professional and social activities, a typescript genealogy of the Bard family, a few photographs, and printed memorabilia. less