Executive Committee records

1895- [bulk 1897-1930]

The Executive Committee, one of the original standing committees of the Board of Trustees, takes general charge of the administration of the affairs of the N.Y.P.L. Corporation. It is empowered to act on behalf of the Board of Trustees in between Board meetings. Records of the Executive Committee consist of handwritten, typewritten and printed documents as well as photographs and architectural drawings. Minutes are records of the meetings of the Executive Committee. To 1949 they are bound in volumes and early volumes include photographs of the Carnegie sites under construction. From 1967 the minutes are typewritten and loose. There are no minutes for the period 1950 to 1966. The Letterbooks consist of three volumes, 1902-1903, 1903-1906, and 1912-1928, of official letters written by the Executive Committee. Many of the letters are signed by John Shaw Billings or Edwin H. Anderson, who as Directors of the Library also served as Secretary to the Executive Committee. The bulk of Letters Received concern library construction and finances. The General Files are arranged alphabetically by subject. They relate to various Library matters but especially the construction of the Carnegie branch libraries and the Central Building, operations of the Circulation and Reference Departments, and finances. Central Building Files relate to the design, construction and maintenance of the Central Building, which were overseen primarily by the Executive Committee. Assorted Records include correspondence regarding the appointment of John Shaw Billings, as well as printed agreements between the City of New York and the Library regarding a pension plan for employees.