Helen Jones files on the Citizen's City Planning and Housing Council
Content Description
The Citizen's City Planning and Housing Council was a civic non-profit organization founded in 1940 to advocate for new, affordable housing in the city of Rochester, New York. The organization arose out of concern over the lack of a city government sponsored housing authority, and survived until forced to fold for lack of resources and legal action at the end of 1944. This collection consists of four folders containing a scrapbook, the by-laws and constitution, publications and minutes of the Board of Directors. It also includes some personal correspondence from Council members discussing Council affairs.
Dates
- Creation: 1938-1945
Creator
- Citizen's City Planning and Housing Council. (Author, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.
Administrative History
Following the failure of the Rochester City Council to adopt the majority report of the City Manager's Committee on Housing in 1939, Rochester, New York was left without any public housing authority. Citizen concern over this matter, due to a noted lack of safe, affordable housing throughout the city, led to discussions amongst concerned citizens over how they could try to alleviate this problem. After six months of discussion, a group of 30 Rochesterians came together to form the Citizen's City Planning and Housing Council in October of 1940. A non-partisan, non-profit organization, it advocated for tenants' rights, supported home owners of limited means, and pushed for the creation of a municipal public housing authority. Despite gaining some public interest, however, the organizatio was held back by limited funds and lack of legislative action - all of which was likely compounded by its operating during the straitened years of World War II. Lacking means to continue operating, the group dissolved on December 31, 1944. It reconstituted itself the following year as the Better Housing Association.
Extent
.125 Cubic Feet (Four binders.)
.125 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of the records of the Citizen's City Planning and Housing Council, an organization founded in 1940 to advocate for the development of new and affordable housing in the city of Rochester. The materials date between 1938 and 1945. They consist of administrative documents, bylaws, publications minutes of the Board of Directors and a scrapbook that predates the organization's formal creation.
Arrangement
This collection consists of 4 folders.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Uncertain, found in Document Case 12, Shelf 2. Possibly the gift of Helen Jones, aka Mrs. Leonard Jones, as her mailing address is on some of the materials
Condition Description
Fair, with most paper dry, slightly brittle and dirty.
- Title
- A Guide to the Citizen's City Planning and Housing Council records Resource
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Brandon Fess and Dakota Spinner
- Date
- 2020-01-27
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Local History & Genealogy Division Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604 USA
585-428-8370
585-428-8353 (Fax)
lochistref@libraryweb.org