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