Sub-series I: Snow in the Cities research files, 1921-1995
Scope and Contents
This sub-series consists of the research notes for Blake McKelvey's book Snow in the Cities: A History of America's Urban Response.The materials date between 1921 and 1995, with a bulk of the materials dated between 1975 and 1978. The materials consist of research notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, mechanicals, and chapter drafts.
Dates
- Creation: 1921-1995
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this sub-series.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is held by the Office of the City Historian, Rochester Public Library. Copyright of the papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors’ heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder[s] of copyright and the Office of the City Historian before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library’s usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Administrative History
City Historian, Blake McKelvey began his research on the history of urban snow removal during the end of his time as City Historian. THe manuscript was finished circa 1978. McKelvey struggled to find a publisher for the book until it was eventually published by the University of Rochester Press in 1996.
Publisher's note: "The regular phenomenon of heavy snowfalls in the North American cities of the `snow belt' has had a marked influence on the communities affected; individuals and city authorities have both sought for ways to cope with the influence of snow storms on daily life. Making use of both official records and private and newspaper accounts from as far back as the Colonial period, the author traces the reactions heavy snows have provoked over the centuries, showing how communities have found increasingly sophisticated ways of dealing with the problems. He shows how the research prompted by the staggering costs have led to improved strategies, and details the moves towards the establishment of annual conferences on snow and its removal to pool experience and to find technological, fiscal and administrative responses to this regularly recurring phenomenon."
Extent
From the Series: 31.25 Cubic Feet (37 custom boxes, 37 clam shell document boxes, and 4 record cartons)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This sub-series consists of the research notes for Blake McKelvey's book Snow in the Cities: A History of America's Urban Response.The materials date between 1921 and 1995, with a bulk of the materials dated between 1975 and 1978. The materials consist of research notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, mechanicals, and chapter drafts.
Arrangement
This sub-series consists of three boxes.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This sub-series was created during the daily operations of the City Historian's office.
Processing Information
This project was made possible by a grant from the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund.
Processing Information
This sub-series was kept in the original order created by Blake McKelvey. The metal fasteners were removed and all acidic papers were placed in envelopes or inter-leaved with acid free paper. The oversized items were removed from their original locations and placed in OS-1. Each item in OS-1 is in it's own folder and each folder is marked with the original location of the item.
Repository Details
Part of the Office of the City Historian Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604-1896 USA USA
585-428-8095
585-428-8353 (Fax)
christine.ridarsky@libraryweb.org