Records of the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis, 1886-2008 | The Green-Wood Cemetery

By Julie Hunter, Jeff Edelstein, William M. Owens, Leanora Lange, Christina Neckles, Robert Walters, Haeyeun Kim, Mary See, Pratt School of Information Students

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Collection Overview

Title: Records of the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis, 1886-2008

Predominant Dates:1906-1914

Extent: 10.0 Boxes

Arrangement: The 11 series are arranged by subject. Series 1-5 pertain to the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis Records; series 6 and 7 are Walter R. Davies Law Office and Real Estate Records; series 8 and 9 are comprised of the Walter R. Davies Correspondence; and series 10 and 11 are comprised of miscellaneous items.

Subjects: Brooklyn--New York, N.Y., Brooklyn Bureau of Charities, Ferries--New York (State)--1880-1910, Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y., Lawyers--Accounting--History--20th Century, Municipal water supply--Rates--New York(State)--New York, Real estate transactions--New York(State)--Brooklyn--History, Tuberculosis--Treatment--New York (State)--Brooklyn--Finance, Tuberculosis--Treatment--United States--Finance, Tuberculosis in children--United States--Prevention--History, Walter Rappelyea Davies

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The records of the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis are contained in 10 half-foot manuscript boxes with records dating from 1886 to 2008, the bulk of which dates between 1906 and 1914. These records document the professional life of Walter R. Davies with a strong emphasis on his work as the treasurer for the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis. The bulk of the collection consists of various financial records for the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis such as invoices, checks, ledgers, receipts, cash vouchers, and tickets for the ferry boat used for the Committee’s day camp. Another substantial part of the collection consists of extensive correspondence, both personal and business-related. A smaller portion of the collection includes personal papers, including biographical materials such as clippings and materials from a scrapbook. Finally, materials that were created for an exhibition on the other former residents of 280 Washington Avenue in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn are also included.

The majority of the materials in this collection are extremely fragile and somewhat dusty because of their age and long-term exposure to conditions unfavorable to their preservation. Many of them have been enclosed in archival sleeves to allow them to be handled. Some of the writing has faded from the documents to become almost illegible. This is particularly true of the checks. Other materials, such as a few of the ledgers, have been so badly damaged that they cannot be opened. The researcher would be advised to handle documents with extreme care and may desire to wear gloves.

Collection Historical Note

The Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis worked to promote healthy behaviors in children. In 1900, tuberculosis was the third most common cause of death in the United States. The Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis was one of the many groups that formed during the early-twentieth century to address the tuberculosis problem. Beyond working as a charity that supported tuberculosis patients, the Committee also set up a day school for children with consumption (another name for tuberculosis), for which a ferry boat called the Susquehanna was used.

Walter Rappelyea Davies, whose records comprise this collection, was an attorney and Treasurer of the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities. Born in Brooklyn, NY, into the land-owning Rappelyea family, Davies later graduated from Columbia College. Beyond his duties for the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis, Davies also handled the estate of F. R. Boerum and managed several residential properties in Brooklyn.

These papers were found under the floor of Davies’ former home, 280 Washington Avenue, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, during a 2008 renovation.

Subject/Index Terms

Brooklyn--New York, N.Y.
Brooklyn Bureau of Charities
Ferries--New York (State)--1880-1910
Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
Lawyers--Accounting--History--20th Century
Municipal water supply--Rates--New York(State)--New York
Real estate transactions--New York(State)--Brooklyn--History
Tuberculosis--Treatment--New York (State)--Brooklyn--Finance
Tuberculosis--Treatment--United States--Finance
Tuberculosis in children--United States--Prevention--History
Walter Rappelyea Davies

Administrative Information

Repository: The Green-Wood Cemetery

Processing Information: Accession #: 023-2012

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Paid Invoices, 1908-1914],
[Series 2: Checks, 1899-1914],
[Series 3: Account Ledgers, 1896-1914],
[Series 4: Receipts and Cash Vouchers, 1908-1914],
[Series 5: Ferry Materials, 1897-1910],
[Series 6: Real Estate Records, 1902-1940],
[Series 7: Financial and Official Records, 1886-1914],
[Series 8: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900],
[Series 9: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913],
[Series 10: Miscellaneous, undated],
[Series 11: Warren Exhibition Materials, 2008],
[All]

Series 1: Paid Invoices, 1908-1914

This series is comprised of paid invoices for the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis, between 1908 and 1914, arranged chronologically. The bulk of the material is from July 1908 to April 1911, with no invoices for 1912-1913. Corresponding check numbers (see Series 2) are generally handwritten on the upper left corner of each invoice. The invoices are for goods and services received from vendors and suppliers including printers, stationers, butchers, grocers, dry goods and clothing, photographers, hardware stores, electricians, plumbers, and the like. Frequent vendors include: Abraham & Straus (department store), Chas. Beseler Co. (lantern slides; oxy-hydrogen gas and compressors), P.J. Collison & Co. (printers), H.A. Farnell & Brother (stationers), Ferrell & Ruth (butcher), R.F. Stevens Co. (dairy), Williamson’s Express (freight, packages, and baggage), and William Wobber (grocer).

Box 1

Folder 1: Paid Invoices, 1908
Folder 2: Paid invoices, 1909
Folder 3: Paid Invoices, January-June 1910
Folder 4: Paid Invoices, July-December 1910
Folder 5: Paid Invoices, 1911
Folder 6: Paid Invoices, 1914

Series 2: Checks, 1899-1914

This series contains checks written by Davies on behalf of the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis or the estate of F. R. Boerum. It is arranged first by the bank, then by whether the checks relate to the Committee or to the estate of F. R. Boerum. Where the number of checks from a single bank exceeded one folder, the folders are arranged in chronological order. The majority of the checks are completely or partially illegible because the ink has faded. However, the check number, endorser, date, or other information can be read on many of them. Several of these checks relate to the paid invoices contained in Series 1 and could be informative for materials in other series as well. A few of the checks are very fragile and have been enclosed in archival sleeves.

Box 2

Folder 1: Checks from the Committee, 1910
Folder 2: Checks from the Committee, 1911
Folder 3: Checks from the Committee, c. 1899-1901
Folder 4: Checks from the Committee, 1901-1902
Folder 5: Checks from the Committee, 1906-1907
Folder 6: Checks from the Committee, 1908-1909

Series 3: Account Ledgers, 1896-1914

Box 3

Folder 1: Checks from Estate of F.R. Boerum, 1910-1914
Folder 2: Checks from the Estate of F.R. Boerum, 1910-1914
Folder 3: Treasurer's Ledger, 1906
Folder 4: Ledgers, 1908-1911
Folder 5: Master Check Ledger, c. 1910 - 1914
Folder 6: Monthly and Annual Treasurer's Reports, 1910 - 1911
Folder 7: Ledgers, undated

Series 4: Receipts and Cash Vouchers, 1908-1914

The materials in this series are arranged first by type and then chronologically by payee in folder 1. The series contains cash vouchers and receipts, giving an overview of how Davies managed Committee funds. Many of the receipts were approved (or submitted) by Committee Secretary J. Jenkins and a set was submitted by Miss Emma Pond. The dues receipts also give a sense of funds coming into the committee.

Box 4

Folder 1: Ledger Book, 1896-1902
Folder 2: Ledger Books, c. 1896-1901
Folder 3: Ledger Books, c. 1896-1901

Series 5: Ferry Materials, 1897-1910

Series 5 includes materials concerning the ferryboat Susquehanna used for the day camp managed by the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis for patients. The 11 folders in this series are arranged by subject: the bulk of the items are ferry tickets and daily schedules, several articles about the ferry, 3 expense accounts of the day camp, and a paid invoice related to the ferry. The tickets, schedules, and articles range in date from 1897 to 1899 while the expense account and paid invoice are dated 1910. Some materials are undated.

Box 5

Folder 1: The Narrows Ferry Tickets, 1898-1899
Folder 2: The Narrows Ferry Tickets (Eastbound), undated
Folder 3: The Narrows Ferry Tickets (Westbound), undated
Folder 4: The Narrows Ferry - Daily Schedule, August 22, 1897
Folder 5: The Narrows Ferry - Daily Schedule, July 9, 1898
Folder 6: The Narrows Ferry - Daily Schedule, August 4, 1898
Folder 7: The Narrows Ferry - Daily Schedule, June 24, 1899
Folder 8: Articles about Ferry, undated
Folder 9: Articles about Ferry, July 1898-December 1899
Folder 10: Expense Account for Day Camp "Susquehanna", 1910
Folder 11: Paid Invoices for Repairing Ferryboat 'Susquehanna", 1910

Series 6: Real Estate Records, 1902-1940

The bulk of this series consists of real estate tax receipts from 1913. Folders are arranged chronologically in ascending order. Folder 30 contains real estate tax tables from 1912. Folder 31 contains miscellaneous real estate items, including one photographic print, with “Tax Department Photograph, ca, 1940" stamped on verso, and address “261 Waverly Ave” handwritten on verso; one real estate deed, date unknown; and one typewritten document on “The Hoffman Rule.” Folder 33 contains house agreements, 1902-1911, with the bulk from 1909-1911.

Box 6

Folder 1: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1911
Folder 2: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 3: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 4: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 5: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 6: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 7: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 8: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 9: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 10: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 11: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 12: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 13: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 14: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 15: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 16: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 17: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 18: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 19: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 20: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 21: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 22: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 23: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 24: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 25: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 26: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 27: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 28: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1913
Folder 29: Real Estate Tax Receipts, 1919
Folder 30: Real Estate Tax Tables, 1912
Folder 31: Miscellaneous, c. 1940
Folder 32: Leases - Mechanics Bank, undated
Folder 33: House Agreements, 1902-1911

Series 7: Financial and Official Records, 1886-1914

This series includes: Walter R. Davies’ oath of attorney (1886), payment receipts (1898-1900), water bills and Department of Finance (1908-1911), water rates (1906-1914), financial taxes (1907), electrical taxes (1909), and miscellaneous loans and insurance receipts (1896-1900). These are ordered chronologically, and the date range spans from 1886 to 1911. The oath of attorney, a very faded but still legible document showing that Davies was sworn into service as an attorney at the Brooklyn Kings County Supreme Court in 1886, is a highlight of this series.

Box 7

Folder 1: Walter Davies' Attorney Oath to Practice Law, 1886
Folder 2: NYC Dept. of Finance Records/Water Bills, 1908, 1911
Folder 3: NYC Water Rates, 1906-1910
Folder 4: NYC Water Rates, 1912-1914
Folder 5: Financial Taxes, 1907
Folder 6: Electrical Taxes, 1909
Folder 7: Loans and Insurance Receipts, Miscellaneous, 1896,1898-1900

Series 8: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900

This series includes personal correspondence arranged chronologically. The date range is 1891-1900, but does not include 1898. Items of note include a letter from Augustus Smith dated December 3, 1891; this letter includes an illustrated description of trip to Louisiana. The illustrations outline the various scenes in Louisiana life but it is worth noting that the illustrations themselves are fragile and deteriorating.

Box 8

Folder 1: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 2: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 3: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 4: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 5: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 6: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 7: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 8: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900
Folder 9: Personal Correspondence, 1891-1900

Series 9: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913

This series includes business correspondence arranged chronologically. The date range is 1891-1913. There is also a folder of “undated miscellaneous items”, as well as an additional folder of “pressed copies of correspondence, however these items are extremely fragile and dates and content cannot be discerned. Items of note include: a letter from Waverly Bicycle Club (October 16, 1899), letters from William Devine Bicycle Company (February 7 and 9, 1899), letters from Frederic Pratt (1910), and correspondence regarding Susquehanna Day camp. It is important to note that there is no correspondence between the years 1902 and 1907.

Box 8 (cont.)

Folder 10: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 11: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 12: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 13: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 14: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 15: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 16: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 17: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 18: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 19: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 20: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 21: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 22: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 23: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 24: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 25: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 26: Business Correspondence, 1891-1913
Folder 27: Miscellaneous Correspondence, c. 1896
Folder 28: Correspondence Press Book, c. 1906

Series 10: Miscellaneous, undated

The materials in this series are largely undated, and many are unreadable or heavily damaged. The bulk of the series is made up of fragments and heavily damaged scrapbooks, their associated newspaper clippings from 1896 to 1900, and checks and bills of unidentifiable origin. There are some individual pieces of interest that could be identified, including a J.T. Sullivan Coal, Wood, Ash business card; a bylaw template for New York State charitable organizations; and multiple copies of Harriet Smith-Davies’ obituary. The series is arranged by size and extent of damage.

Box 9

Folder 1: Scrapbook (empty) Pages and Boards, undated
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings - Harriet Smith-Davies Obituary, 1896-1900
Folder 3: Notebooks, undated
Folder 4: Miscellaneous, undated
Folder 5: Miscellaneous, undated

Series 11: Warren Exhibition Materials, 2008

These materials were used in a home exhibition at 280 Washington Place in Brooklyn, New York. The exhibition gave an overview of the previous residents and persons related to the home (including Walter Rappelyea Davies and the Pfizers). The series is comprised of labels for archival documents, biographies, reproductions of newspaper articles, and photo reproductions. The series is arranged alphabetically by name of subject: Beals, Boerum, Davies, Erbsloh, Erhart, Gulden, Hine, Muller, Pfizer, and White.

Box 10