HomeThe Bronx County Archives Finding AidsBronx Borough President Annual Reports, 1910–1939

Bronx Borough President Annual Reports, 1910–1939

Information, Description, and Finding Aid

Collection Information

Reference: MS-BBPAR

Dates: 1910–1939

Extent: 1 linear ft. across 1 archival box

Finding Aid Information

Creator(s): Steven Payne, Ph.D., Librarian and Archivist

Date created/updated: May 28, 2020

Biography

When The Bronx became one of five boroughs under New York City’s 1898 consolidation, the office of Borough President was created in each borough to strike a balance between centralized and local municipal authority. The first Borough President of The Bronx was Louis F. Haffen, son of Matthias Haffen, the founder of Haffen Brewery. In significant ways, Haffen’s three-term tenure, 1898–1909, shaped the focus and function of the Bronx Borough President for decades. Himself an engineer, Haffen devoted much time and energy to the development of Bronx roadways and transportation infrastructure. Haffen was removed from office in August 1909 for maladministration (though he was subsequently exonerated) and was succeeded by John F. Murray, who temporarily filled the office for the remainder of the term and did not seek re-election. Subsequent Bronx Borough Presidents include Cyrus C. Miller (1910–1913), Douglas Mathewson (1914–1917), Henry Bruckner (1918–1933), James J. Lyons (1934–1961), Joseph F. Periconi (1962–1965), Herman Badillo (1966–1969), Robert Abrams (1970–1978), Stanley Simon (1979–1987), Fernando Ferrer (1987–2001), Adolfo Carrión, Jr. (2002–2009), and Ruben Diaz, Jr. (2009–2021). 

This collection contains the Annual Report issued each year by the Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx during the full terms of Miller, Mathewson, and Bruckner, and the early years of Lyons. The issues of the Annual Report under Miller and Mathewson contain detailed discussions of every aspect of borough administration. Starting in 1917, however, the Annual Report becomes much shorter and is comprised primarily of a series of tables and figures detailing municipal expenses, public works, and infrastructure improvements. This trend continues until the 1940s, when the Annual Report again becomes a more extensive document.

Description/Scope and Content

The collection consists of twenty-eight bound volumes of Annual Reports issued by the Office of the Bronx Borough President for each year between 1910 and 1939 (the Annual Reports for 1922–1924 are combined into one volume).

Provenance

Materials in this collection were transferred to the Society by the Brooklyn Public Library on October 23, 1979.

Preferred Citation

[Item name or description,] Bronx Borough President Annual Reports, box _, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.

Points of Access

  • The Bronx -- Borough President -- Annual Report
  • City planning -- infrastructure projects
  • Individuals -- Miller, Cyrus C. -- Mathewson, Douglas -- Bruckner, Henry -- Lyons, James J.
  • Politics and political parties, The Bronx, New York -- Democratic Party

Related Collections

Container List

Box

Folder

Contents

Date

1

1

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1910

1

2

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1911

1

3

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1912

1

4

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1913

1

5

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1914

1

6

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1915

1

7

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1916

1

8

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1917

1

9

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1918

1

10

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1919

1

11

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1920

1

12

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1921

1

13

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1922–1924

1

14

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1925

1

15

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1926

1

16

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1927

1

17

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1928

1

18

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1929

1

19

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1930

1

20

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1931

1

21

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1932

1

22

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1933

1

23

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1934

1

24

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1935

1

25

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1936

1

26

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1937

1

27

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1938

1

28

Office of the President of the Borough of The Bronx, Annual Report

1939