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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Councilwoman Julia Harrison Records, Subgroup Councilwoman Julia Harrison's Secretary Records
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Councilwoman Julia Harrison's Office | |
| Title | Guide to the Councilwoman Julia Harrison Records, Subgroup Councilwoman Julia Harrison's Secretary Records, | |
| Dates: | 1977-2001(Bulk 1984-2001) | |
| Abstract: | The subgroup Secretary’s Records, Subject Files (1977-2001, 2 boxes) documents the inner workings of the office of New York City Councilwoman Julia Harrison, presenting the collective work of Ms Harrison’s staff, including Joann Pesvaento and Cynthia Chou. An example of series documenting activities of Councilwoman Harrison’s district office: Cynthia Chou (2 folders, 1993-1996, 1997-1998). Examples of series documenting activities of Flushing government activities are: City Council (2 folders, 1989-1992, 2001), Community Board (4 folders, 1984-1991,1987-1989,1992-1995, 1996-1998), Community Development Agency Neighborhood Advisory Board (1 folder, 1995-1996), Funding Request (2 folders, 1989, 1995), State Agencies (1 folder, 1987-1990). Examples of series documenting Flushing community activities are: Bland Houses Youth Program-Reimbursement (1 folder, 1997), Ethel Chen-Election Dispute (1 folder, 1993), Chinese Staff and Workers Association (1 folder, 1997), Coalition for a Planned Flushing/Business Improvement District (1 folder, 1996-1997), Elder Avenue Crossing (1, folder, 1991-1995), The Flushing Local Development Corporation (1 folder, 1977), John Liu (1 folder, 1999), Libraries (1, folder, 1993), New York Times Article Controversy (1 folder, 1996), Melissa Tang (1 folder, 1995), and YM-YMHA (1 folder, 1991). The example of series documenting correspondence with constituents is: Constituent Concerns and Services (25 folders, 1986-1992, 1994-2001.) | |
| Extent: | 2 boxes, 2 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | H-21 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
The office of New York City Councilwoman Julia Harrison employed several executive secretaries and assistants in various capacities over the years including, Ardelle Donohue, Louise Hennessey, Joann Pesavento, Cynthia Chou and Margaret Bena. The secretary’s duties included, the handling of correspondence, keeping records, maintaining communications between Councilwoman Harrison and various community groups and constituents.
The bulk of the records are the files of Ms. Cynthia Chou, Ms. Harrison’s primary liaison for the Chinese-American community in Flushing. Ms. Chou worked for Ms. Harrison during the 1990’s, while working as a financial specialist for the New York Life Insurance Company. In addition, she also held positions as President of the Queens Chinese Women’s Association, and Deputy Director of the Chinese Immigrant Services Inc. at various times during her tenure with Ms. Harrison. Ms. Chou also serves as a board member for the Coalition for a Planned Flushing and as a charter member of the Business Improvement District of Flushing.
The following are brief profiles of some of the items featured in the collection.
The James A. Bland Houses Community Center is a residential program designed to provide a constructive environment for the children of the Bland housing complex.
Ms. Chen was a candidate for Ms. Harrison’s city council seat in 1993. It was discovered that the signatures on her ballot petition were improperly filed and notarized; as a result of this Ms. Chen’s name was removed from the election ballot.
The Chinese Staff and Worker Association (CSWA) was founded in 1979 by a cross section of employees and employers from industries such as garment and construction. The CSWA led a boycott of the Jing Fong Restaurant in order to end the sweatshop conditions which included: stolen wages, tips and long working hours. In 1997, their efforts were met with success when the New York State Attorney General filed a $1.5 million lawsuit which was later settled for $1.4 million.
The Coalition for a Planned Flushing was founded in 1990 by Julia Harrison in order to facilitate the development of the Flushing area. The Coalition was also the key sponsoring organization of the Flushing Business Improvement District. It was established in October of 2003 in order to create an atmosphere for economic growth through involvement of community business.
In 1996, Ms. Harrison ignited a controversy about the changing nature of the Flushing community with remarks she made in a New York Times article. Many people deemed the remarks inflammatory and anti-Asian.
The tragic death in 1995 of Melissa Tang, a Flushing elementary school student killed by a drunk driver became an inspiration for Ms. Harrison in spearheading DWI legislation in the city council.
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Scope and Content Note
The subgroup Secretary’s Records, Subject Files (1977-2001, 2 boxes) documents the inner workings of the office of New York City Councilwoman Julia Harrison, presenting the collective work of Ms Harrison’s staff, including Joann Pesvaento and Cynthia Chou.
The records contain thirty-eight series in the form of budget allocations, correspondence, ephemera, meeting records, news clippings in both Chinese and English, and press releases. The following is a description of a selection of the collection contents described above. The accompanying inventory contains a complete listing of all records of the collection including those described in the scope and content notes. The inventory and scope and content note are to be consulted jointly for a complete accounting of the records.
The Bland Houses Youth Program Reimbursement Series (1 folder, 1997) contains correspondence, handwritten notes and messages. The correspondence detail the efforts of the Councilwoman’s office to maintain and acquire funding for the athletic and social activities of the youth program.
The Chen, Ethel-Election Dispute Series (1 folder, 1993) contains news clippings in Chinese and English detailing the election fraud.
The Chinese Staff and Worker Association Series (1 folder, 1997) contains correspondence, handwritten notes and messages. An item of note includes a letter to Ms. Harrison from CSWA Executive Director Wing Lam thanking her for her assistance with the successful boycotting of the Jing Fong Chinese Restaurant.
The City Council Series (2 folders, 1989-1992, 2001) contains meeting minutes, memoranda and agenda that document the activities of the City Council, budget statements, newsletters, news clippings, pamphlets, press releases and council reports. The material from 1989-1992 include, a newsletter from Councilwoman Harrison concerning the redistricting of her council seat, which would reduce the districts size. The date span also contains an audit report on license fees for the American Golf Corporation Clearview Park Golf Course and instructions on how to write a health care proxy. The materials from 2001 include a guide to the organizational structure of the city council and its members, a listing of city agency contact information and a memorandum on obtaining birth and death certificates, which were of special concern in the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy.
The Coalition for a Planned Flushing/Business Improvement District Series (1 folder, 1996-1997) contains correspondences, memorandum, news clippings, booklets and flyers.
The Community Board Series (4 folders, 1984-1991, 1987-1989, 1992-1993, 1992-1995, 1996-1998) contains three sub series Community Board Queens County (1 folder, 1984-1991) Community Board 3 Records (1 folder, 1987-1989) and Community Board 7 Records (2 folder, 1992-1995, 1996-1998), that documents the activities of the Flushing District Community Boards and contain meeting minutes, memorandum, agendas, correspondence reports, handwritten notes, news clippings in both Chinese and English. The Community Board Queens County sub series, contains community board meeting minutes for June 10, 1991, which include a list of attendees and their votes on the selected agenda, a memo on guidelines for parades and street closings, a report on population statistics by council district, and a document concerning the community board budget process. The Community Board 3 Record sub series contains correspondence and meeting minutes. Topics discussed at the meetings were education, parks/recreation, youth service planning, police and sanitation. The Community Board 7 Record sub series contains meeting minutes and agendas, Chinese news clippings, handwritten notes, a draft of the conceptual design for the Laurelton-Cross Island Greenway Conduct for pedestrian bridges and bicycle pathways, a Skyline Rezoning Map for Flushing, and Downtown Flushing Access Plan: the Flushing Pedestrian Project documentation.
The Community Development Agency Neighborhood Advisory Board Series (1 folder, 1995-1996) contains correspondences and memoranda about the 12 member board which serve the Flushing community.
The Constituent Concerns and Services Series (25 folders, 1986-1992, 1994-2001) contains correspondence, handwritten memorandum and letters, flyers. The items chronicle the day-to-day efforts of Ms. Harrison’s staff to address the issues that confront the councilwoman’s constituency.
The Chou, Cynthia Series (2 folders, 1993-1996, 1997-1998) contains correspondence, handwritten notes and Chinese newspaper clippings. The materials were maintained by Ms. Chou and document the relationship between Ms. Harrison and the Chinese-American community of Flushing.
The Elder Avenue Crossing Series (1 folder, 1991-1995) contains correspondence, news clippings and flyers that chronicle the efforts of residents and Ms. Harrison to bring attention to community leaders of the dangers of this street crossing.
The Flushing Local Development Corporation Series (1 folder, 1976-1977) contains correspondence and news clippings. It traces the formation of the first organization dedicated to the revitalization of Flushing. Items of note are an article about the formation of the Corporation and a study of the proposed program for the redevelopment of the business and residential districts.
The Funding Request Series (2 folders, 1989, 1995) contains handwritten messages, notes and correspondence from constituents for assistance in obtaining funding for various community based programs and businesses. The items included are a listing of funding awards for fiscal ear 1990. Also included are copies of contract evaluation performance reports for various youth programs including, information on contact, field visits and program activities.
The Libraries Series (1 folder, 1993) contains correspondence, detailing the concern of teachers and students over proposed budget cuts to library services and materials.
The Liu, John Series (1 folder, 1995) contains correspondence and news clippings. The news clippings feature an early profile of the future Flushing councilman.
The New York Times Article Controversy Series (1 folder, 1996) contains correspondence and news clippings in Chinese and English. The folder contains extensive print media coverage of the reaction to Ms. Harrison’s comments and the challenges to her political career.
The Tang, Melissa Series (1 folder, 1995) contains correspondence and news clippings in Chinese and English.
The YM-YMHA Series (1 folder, 1991) contains correspondence, news clippings, pamphlets and flyers.
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Arrangement
The series, sub series and sub sub series are arranged in alphabetical order by subject and the folder contents are arranged in chronological order.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Councilwoman Julia Harrison's Secretary Records, Subgroup of the Group Councilwoman Julia Harrison Records, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library
Provenance
The records were donated to the Queens Borough Public Library by Councilwoman Harrison.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and show their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
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Archives at Queens Library -
Queens Borough Public Library -
89-11 Merrick Boulevard -
Jamaica, NY 11432 -
Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Names:
- Chen, Ethel
- Chou, Cynthia
- Harrison, Julia, 1920-
- Liu, John
- Pesvaento, Joann
- Tang, Melissa
Subject Organizations:
- Bland Houses (New York, N.Y.: Housing project)
- Chinese Staff and Workers' Association
- Coalition for a Planned Flushing
- Flushing Local Development Corporation
- New York (N.Y.). City Council
Subject Topics:
- City planning
- Urban Development
Subject Places:
- Flushing (New York, N.Y.)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
