Scope and arrangement
This microfilm collection documents La Guardia's career as a congressman from New York City, 1917-1921 and 1921-1933; president of New York's Board of Aldermen, 1919-1921; and three-term mayor of New York, 1933-1945. The two largest portions of the papers are the congressional and mayoral correspondence files. Included are letters received and carbon copies of responses written either by La Guardia, or by his secretary on his behalf. Clippings, greeting cards, printed House bills, invitations, photographs, memorandums, notes, press releases, printed material, and telegrams are included among the correspondence.
The Fiorello H. La Guardia papers are arranged in six series:
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This series is divided into two parts. First, the General Correspondence is organized chronologically, with the letters filed alphabetically within each year. Correspondence from La Guardia's period as president of the Board of Aldermen is included on roll 1. Second, the Subjects Correspondence is filed alphabetically by subject, and chronologically within each subject. These files consist primarily of letters received from constituents requesting help with employment, naturalization, and other problems, and from citizens around the country offering their opinions on La Guardia's stands on issues before Congress. Prohibition is a major topic.
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This series consists largely of correspondence with members of the public who wrote requesting help with education, employment, immigration, prison terms, and other problems; suggesting appointments for various city offices; and offering appreciation, birthday greetings, congratulations, get well messages, ideas, and opinions. Very little appears to document the daily operations of city business.
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Socialist assemblymen, transit, schools, political news, markets and food, women, police, miscellaneous (1920).