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Robert Moses Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Moses, Robert, 1888-1981.
Title: Robert Moses Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1937-1972
Quantity: 14.0 linear ft.
Abstract: The papers of the American city planner and administrator of the Triborough Bridge Authority and the Power Authority of the State of New York include bound and unbound reports containing articles, speeches, and clippings by and about Moses. Much of the material concerns transportation improvements and hydroelectric plants at Niagara Falls and Messena.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

As New York's controversial "master builder," Robert Moses played major role in molding the state's physical environment. He occupied a variety of state and city posts, including president of Long Island State Park Commission and chairman of State Council of Parks (1924-63), New York City parks commissioner (1943-60), chairman of New York State Power Authority (1954-63), and chairman of Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (1954-63). Between 1924 and 1968, Moses developed public works costing $27 billion, including eleven bridges, 481 miles of highway, 658 playgrounds, seventy-five state parks, and such projects as Jones Beach, Shea Stadium, the United Nations, and Lincoln Center. He died in West Islip, New York in 1981. [from Current Biography Copyright (c) by The H. W. Wilson Company]

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Robert Moses Papers comprise one series: General files. These files are largely bound volumes, Reports, and brochures, magazine articles, speeches, and news clippings written by or about Robert Moses. They are arranged by year. Later articles and miscellaneous, 1967-1972, are not bound.

Many of these records deal with transportation improvements as well as other accomplishments in New York City. Robert Moses was also instrumental in the hydroelectric power programs in New York State and there are papers concerning power plants at Niagara Falls and Messena.

Also included throughout the collection are copies of Moses' Newsday newspaper column and several articles of correspondence with George Zabriskie.

Notice: The material in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U. S. Code).

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Moses, Robert, 1888-1891.

Corporate Bodies

Power Authority of the State of New York.
Triborough Bridge Authority.

Subjects

City planners -- United States.
City planning -- New York (State) -- New York.
Hydroelectric power plants -- New York (State) -- Messena.
Hydroelectric power plants -- New York (State) -- Niagara Falls.

Genres and Forms

Articles.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Reports.
Speeches (documents)

Occupations

City planners.
Transportation.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Robert Moses Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Finding Aid Information

Created by: CAK
Date: Sep 1979
Revision history: 15 Feb 2007 - converted to EAD (AMCon); 15 Sep 2015 - condensed inventory (MRC); 26 Aug 2021 - OS material rehoused into OS 1 and 2 (MRC)

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Inventory

General files
Bound reports
Box 1 Reports 1937-1938
Box 1 Reports 1938
Box 1 Reports 1938-1939
Box 1 Reports 1939-1941
Box 1 Reports 1940-1942
Oversize 1 Reports 1942-1943
Oversize 1 Reports 1946
Box 2 Reports 1947
Box 2 Reports 1948
Box 2 Reports (volume I) 1949
Oversize 2 Reports (volume II) 1949
Box 2 Reports 1950
Box 2 Reports (volume I) 1951
Box 3 Reports (volume II) 1951
Box 3 Reports 1952
Box 3 Reports 1953
Box 4 Reports 1954 - 2 volumes
Box 4 Reports 1955
Box 5 Reports 1956 - 3 volumes
Box 6 Reports 1957 - 3 volumes
Box 6 Reports 1958 - 2 volumes
Box 7 Reports 1958 - 1 volume
Box 7 Reports 1959 - 3 volumes
Box 8 Reports 1960 - 4 volumes
Box 8 Reports 1961 - 1 volume
Box 9 Reports 1961 - 3 volumes
Box 9 Reports 1962 - 3 volumes
Box 10 Reports 1962 - 5 volumes
Box 10 Reports 1963 - 2 volumes
Box 11 Reports 1963 - 3 volumes
Box 11 Reports 1964 - 3 volumes
Box 12 Reports 1964 - 1 volume
Box 12 Reports 1965 - 3 volumes
Unbound reports
Box 13 1966 Articles and speeches
Box 13 1966 Newsday column and miscellaneous
Box 13 1966 Tribourough
Box 13 1967 Newsday column, articles and miscellaneous
Box 13 1967 Speeches
Box 13 1967 Tribourough brochures
Miscellaneous
Box 14 Articles etc. 1968-1972 (5 folders)
Box 14 Zabriskie correspondence

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