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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Personal Papers of Cyrus A. Potts Relating to Jamaica Bay
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Potts, Cyrus A. (Cyrus Alvin), 1873- | |
| Title | Personal Papers of Cyrus A. Potts Relating to Jamaica Bay, | |
| Dates: | 1906-1936 | |
| Abstract: | These papers fall into two series, namely newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous documents. These are, evidently, the personal papers of Mr. Potts as gathered over a number of years when he was concerned with the development of Jamaica Bay. Another person keenly interested in the subject was Mr. Henry A. Meyer, long-time Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Docks. Evidently, Mr. Meyer loaned or gave some materials which he had collected on the subject to Mr. Potts and this would account for some letters or other items of the former individual being found in this collection. A letter in this collection dated July 13, 1934 and written by Mr. Meyer to Mr. Potts definitely states that the latter had made available "books of newspaper clippings". It would seem that Mr. Meyer's papers are primarily the earlier dated ones. In 1930, Mr. Meyer published an autobiography, Looking Through Life’s Window, a few chapters of which detail his interest in the subject. | |
| Extent: | 2 boxes, .7 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | P-3 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
Cyrus Alvin Potts, according to an undated 1936 issue of the “Long Island Daily Press" was born in Illinois on January 18, 1873. He was an avid student of the Bible and in 1923 published A Dictionary of Bible Proper Names. Later when he moved to Jamaica, he opened a real estate office at 162-20 Shelton Avenue.
Sometime around 1925 he became interested in Jamaica Bay and the various plans proposed by individuals to utilize the full potential they believed the area possessed for commercial development. In a letter to the editor of the "Brooklyn Eagle" printed in the August 14, 1932 issue of that paper, Mr. Potts wrote "For more than six years I have labored incessantly to bring about the development of Jamaica Bay and the marsh lands adjoining and adjacent thereto, and it is most gratifying to see you taking an active part in the advocacy of the development. I am convinced that there is no other question of greater importance before the people of the City of New York and especially the residents of Kings and Queens Counties, than the immediate development of Jamaica Bay".
Jamaica Bay was rather picturesquely described by columnist, Sarah Wilford, in the November 20, 1935 issue of the "Long Island Daily Press” as a huge semi-circular bite out of the mainland of Long Island. Half of the arc is in Brooklyn and half in Queens and its broad mouth is completely sheltered by the Rockaway Peninsula". Most proposals for its development called for the creation of a "Free Port”. Basically a free port is (as described by Mr. Potts in an article in the November 28, 1933 issue of the “Long Island Daily Press”) "a restricted area where goods can be unloaded, stored, manufactured and reshipped to foreign trade zones without payment of customs duties. Import duties would be paid only on such parts of merchandise as left the restricted zone and entered into domestic commerce”.
Sometime in the early 1930s, Mr. Potts became president of the Jamaica Bay Association, and throughout the decade he and like-minded individuals carried on a campaign for the general improvement and betterment of the area. His specific campaign for a free port met with defeat in 1936 when Stapleton, Staten Island was chosen. It is not known when Mr. Potts died.
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Scope and Content Note
Because of the presence of a relatively large number of earlier dated items, the collection can shed some light on some of the very earliest proposals advanced for the development of Jamaica Bay, and not only those during the 1930s the period in which Mr. Potts was most active in this regard.
These papers fall into two series, namely newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous documents. These are, evidently, the personal papers of Mr. Potts as gathered over a number of years when he was concerned with the development of Jamaica Bay. Another person keenly interested in the subject was Mr. Henry A. Meyer, long-time Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Docks. Evidently, Mr. Meyer loaned or gave some materials which he had collected on the subject to Mr. Potts and this would account for some letters or other items of the former individual being found in this collection. A letter in this collection dated July 13, 1934 and written by Mr. Meyer to Mr. Potts definitely states that the latter had made available "books of newspaper clippings". It would seem that Mr. Meyer's papers are primarily the earlier dated ones. In 1930, Mr. Meyer published an autobiography, Looking Through Life’s Window, a few chapters of which detail his interest in the subject.
This collection reflects only on the development of Jamaica Bay and reveals nothing of Mr. Potts’ other interests. The newspaper clippings are arranged in chronological order from 1927-1937, and undated. These clippings in one way or another concern Jamaica Bay and the surrounding area. They are about l25 in number with the greatest amount being undated, and only about 6 being for the 1920s. Most clippings are from the "New York Times" and the "Long Island Daily Press". Several have no identification.
The Miscellaneous Documents are arranged in chronological order as follows (numbers in parenthesis Indicate the approximate number of items found for each year). A few items though actually undated have been assigned a specific date on the basis of internal evidence. A very small amount of duplicate material exists, 1909-1936, undated.
These documents are all in typescript (some in print) and consist principally of letters received; carbon copies of letters sent; memoranda and reports. Actually all of the reports are copies. There are also some copies of letters which do not involve Mr. Potts, but rather others. Several items have various notes or comments written on them. It is unfortunate that a very large percentage is undated. Undoubtedly, however, some approximations can be obtained from internal evidence. Among the documents are the following:
Extract from Minority Report of the Jamaica Bay Improvement Commission, Dec 27, 1909 to the New York City Bd. of Estimate and Apportionment
Statement of Federal, State and Municipal Legislation Establishing a Harbor at Jamaica Bay -Mar 6, 1906-Mar 4, 1913
A Brief by N. B. Killmer in Opposition to the Development of Jamaica Bay by the City on the Assessment Plan as Suggested by Some One 1918
Letter from Commissioner of Docks, Murray Hulbert to Meyer requesting that an estimate be prepared “of the cost of improvement of Jamaica Bay …" (copy of Meyer’s report included) 1918
Letter from Meyer to Mayor Hylan thanking the Mayor for attending a hearing concerning Jamaica Bay development. Apr 19, 1918
Letter from Meyer to the secretary of Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce tendering his resignation from the Chamber. May 8, 1919
Letter from E.A. Holmberg of the John J. Harvey Co. to Meyer stating that "Any man of business mind who is familiar with shipping conditions In New York…” must come to the conclusion that Jamaica Bay is absolutely the only solution of the shipping condition of New York". Feb 17, 1919
Copy of questionnaire regarding Jamaica Bay
Map of Jamaica Bay Feb 10, 1930
Excerpts from Report of Chief Engineer of Dept. of Docks. Jun 1930. "The City of New York and the U.S. Government have spent a considerable amount of money toward creating a harbor in Jamaica Bay ..".
Letter from Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to Potts stating, "I can readily agree with you that there have been delays and disappointments in the development of Jamaica Bay...". “I think you will agree with me that the theory upon which port developments are made is a gradual process of evolutionary development based upon the demands of commerce". Jun 17, 1931
Document titled "Advantages of Jamaica Bay", by Nathan D. Shapiro. 16 brief advantages are indicated. Aug 12, 1932
Letter written by Potts to three individuals commenting on the establishing of a "bathing beach at or near one of the lagoons extending from Jamaica Bay toward Sunrise Highway". Jul 27, 1932
Letter from Meyer to Potts stating "It does my old heart good to see you so keen and alive in helping to bring about the recognition due Jamaica Bay". Feb 27, 1933
Letter from Count Felix Luckner to Meyer giving his opinion on the subject of Free Ports. Jan 9, 1933
Letter from the City Fusion Party to Potts stating that his suggestions are most pertinent...". May 29, 1934
Letter from Potts? to the president of the Perry Realty and Development Co. stating that "Mayor LaGuardia proposes to expend $310,000,000 on City projects ...". It has occurred to me that now would be a most opportune time to develop Jamaica Bay ...". Dec 29, 1934
Letter from Commissioner of Public Works to Potts stating that "Substantial progress has been made by the City of New York and the Federal Government in the development of the cooperative project for the improvement of Jamaica Bay as a modern deep water terminal…” Feb 26, 1935
Address of Major General E.M. Markham, Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army, before the National Rivers and Harbors Congress, Washington, D.C. May 2, 1935
Public Notice issued by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board Examiners Committee, Sep 30, 1935
Minutes of meeting held by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, Mar 6, 1906
Letter from Commissioner of Docks to Potts stating that " The reason the City of New York presented the Staten Island site is that that site possesses all the requirements and may be put into use in the shortest possible time". Jan 24, 1936
Press release issued by the United States Department of Commerce stating that the Chairman of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board" announced today a grant to the City of New York (for) establishing, operating and maintaining a foreign-trade zone at Stapleton, Staten Island, New York. Jan 29,1936.
Listing, several pages in length of both former and present owners of various lots, presumably in the Jamaica Bay area. Undated
Report upon Disposal by Sale of Surplus Land in Jamaica Bay Area, by Henry A. Meyer, Deputy Dock Commissioner. Undated
Report titled "Marsh Lands Adjoining and Adjacent to Jamaica Bay". Undated
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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 Personal Papers of Cyrus A. Potts Relating to Jamaica Bay, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
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 deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. 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
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- 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
- Potts, Cyrus A. (Cyrus Alvin), 1873-
Subject Places:
- Jamaica Bay (N.Y.)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
