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Creator
Outdoor Cleanliness Association
Call number
MssCol 2312
Physical description
18 linear feet (19 boxes and 2 map cases)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Outdoor Cleanliness Association records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The Outdoor Cleanliness Association (OCA) was formed in 1930 by a group of New York City residents as a voluntary civic association to promote awareness of the refuse disposal and pollution problems becoming increasingly apparent in the city by the 1930s. The OCA helped citizens to identify and locate proper city authorities to correct health and sanitation violations and attempted to increase public awareness through poster campaigns, school programs and fundraising events. The group discontinued its activities in 1971. Collection is largely comprised of correspondence, 1934-1969, of the Outdoor Cleanliness Association with city agencies, special interest groups and civic organizations concerning educational projects, fundraising programs and social events. Also included are minutes and reports, 1931-1968, of the annual meetings of the Board of Directors; financial records, 1940-1969; correspondence files, 1963-1969, of the OCA junior committee; directories and memoranda, 1947-1966; graphic works (mainly publicity posters); photographs of OCA members and events; and newspaper clippings, 1930-1958.

Biographical/historical information

Outdoor Cleanliness Association of the City of New York Institutional History

The Outdoor Cleanliness Association of the City of New York (OCA) was founded in 1930 by a group of wealthy Upper East Side residents as a "civic and voluntary association whose purpose was to promote a consciousness of the advantages resulting from a clean, well lighted, beautiful city."Primarily a gadfly organization, the OCA helped citizens to identify and locate the proper city authorities to correct specific local health and sanitation violations, as well as attempting to increase awareness both in individual citizens and government offices of the benefits of urban cleanliness through poster campaigns, school programs and fund raising events, such as their annual flower mart on the steps of Saint Patrick's Cathedral. While the OCA did focus on such issues as dog waste and messy sidewalks, it was one of the first civic organizations to call attention to the growing problem of urban air pollution, and participated in lobbying for the Sharky Act of New York, which for the first time made air pollution a civil offense. The organization continued its activities through 1971. Presidents of the OCA included Mrs. A. A. Claflin, Mrs. M. A. Alexander, Mrs. F. Wagstaff, Mrs. C. Reavis, Mrs. K. Morrow and Mrs. C. A. Gristede.

Scope and arrangement

The records of the Outdoor Cleanliness Association (OCA) consists of 8 series; the first of these, Correspondence, comprises the bulk of the collection, and is comprised of a number of correspondence files containing letters, memoranda, and printed matter. Included are: general correspondence; and correspondence concerning: air pollution; with city agencies (including the departments of Building and Housing, Air Pollution Control, Health, Parks, Sanitation, Traffic, Transportation, and the Board of Education); special interest groups and other community organizations; education and public awareness projects and fund-raising events; the OCA annual "Flower Hart"; social events, such as balls and dances; membership; and board meetings. The other series are the Minutes and Reports of the Board of Directors; Financial Records, comprised for the most part of check and account books; the correspondence files of the OCA Junior Committee; Graphic Works -publicity posters of OCA events, as well as a few paintings; Photographs of OCA members and events; and finally Clipping Books containing newspaper clippings (largely from society pages) concerning OCA activities and members

Arrangement

Eight series: Correspondence; Minutes and Reports; Financial Records; Junior Committee Records; Directories/Memo Books; Photographs; Graphic Works; Clipping Books

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

February 1, 1971, Received from Mrs. Charles A. Gristede

Processing information

Accessioned by CRK, 5-29-86

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328