Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September. It serves to recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers. It has been a national holiday since 1894, but according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in New York City, on September 5, 1882. 

Would the Municipal Library and Municipal Archives collections include documentation to support this statement? Regular readers of For the Record will know the answer. This week’s article describes how to explore Library and Archives collections to discover relevant records.  

As a first step, researchers are encouraged to consult the Municipal Archives’ online Collection Guides. Entering “Labor Day” into the search box yields 76 entries, most citing recent mayoral collections in which “Labor Day” is a subject heading. Several entries point to digitized New York Police Department Special Investigations Unit surveillance films of The 1968 Labor Day Parade highlighted in For the Record.

However, based on the “Labor Day” search, none of the entries target nineteenth-century records. What collections are there to research 1880s New York City? There are many, of course—Almshouse records, Building Department files and plans, tax assessment ledgers, Old Town ledgers, several criminal court and district attorney series, but two with the most potential for the Labor Day research are records of the legislative branch, and the mayor’s collections.

The Municipal Archives’ holdings of legislative collections date to the early 1600s and extend into the 21st century. The Archives recently applied to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to fund a project that would improve intellectual control over this large quantity of material (estimated at more than 10,000 cubic feet) and to plan processing and reformatting. The types of material that can be found within these series are very diverse. There are petitions, accounts, letters, rough minutes, remonstrances, communications, proclamations, maps, proposals, invitations, and reports of all kinds from city residents, as well as public agencies and private businesses and institutions.  

The several series within the greater collections created by the legislative bodies are accessible for research, but pending improved description and arrangement activities, locating relevant materials may sometimes require a more creative approach. The 1882 Labor Day document quest places the search in the records of the Board of Aldermen, as the legislative body was known at that time. One way to identify possible documents in this collection is to check the printed proceedings, or minutes, of the various legislative bodies. For the earliest time period, the printed Proceedings of the Common Council (in two sets, 1674-1776, and 1784-1832) include meticulous cumulative indexes. This greatly facilitates research in the associated collections. After 1832, each volume of the Proceedings, which generally covers several months, is indexed. The printed and published Proceedings are located in the Municipal Library. 

Based on the 1882 time frame for the Labor Day research, vol. CLXVII of the Proceedings, from July 3 to September 26, 1882, was a good place to start. The index under “L.” reveals an intriguing entry: “Labor and Trades-Union Association, preamble and resolution to tender sympathy to workingmen in their movement for independence from monopolies,” page 319. Turning to page 319, there is the text of a Resolution submitted by Ferdinand Alderman Levy. It starts, “Whereas, This day has been selected by the various Labor and Trades-Union Associations in this city as a day of demonstration of their strength, and a chosen opportunity to express their feelings upon the labor question in an orderly and the most forcible manner. . .” etc.

Is there more? With knowledge of that Resolution, the next step is the original papers of the Board of Aldermen in the Municipal Archives. Although the records have not been processed, they are generally arranged chronologically into folders pertaining to standing and special committees. The 1882 document boxes included a folder labeled “Resolutions.” And again, success—the original handwritten “Resolution of sympathy on behalf of the workingmen, by Alderman Levy, Board of Aldermen, September 5, 1882.” The reverse of the document is a handwritten draft of the resolution. It is unclear who wrote and edited the draft—likely Alderman Levy, but the edits show the evolution of the Board’s sentiment in the matter. For example, in the first paragraph, “and Trades Unions” is added to the first sentence, and in the second paragraph, the words laboring man, and Central Labor Union are crossed-out and replaced by workingmen. The paragraph concludes, “. . .  heartfelt and earnest sympathy in their movement for independence and freedom from Corporate monopolies and their power influences.”

The Early Mayors’ records are the other significant resource for researching 19th century New York City. The collection includes mayoral correspondence and documents from 1826 through 1897, and totals 157.5 cubic feet. Originally assembled by Rebecca Rankin during her 32-year tenure as the Director of the Municipal Library between 1920 and 1952, the Early Mayors’ records became a core collection in the Municipal Archives when it opened in 1952 and remains one of the most important series documenting nineteenth-century government and policies.

The 1882 date places the Labor Day research in the administration of William R. Grace (he served two non-consecutive terms; 1881-1882, and 1885-1886). Returning to the Collection Guide, and searching the Early Mayors Records collection and clicking on “External Documents” pulls up the Finding Aid for Mayor Grace’s subject files and at least one possibility in box 96, folder 2, labeled “Board of Aldermen.” And again, success in the folder—one item, similar to the Board of Aldermen document—a handwritten “Resolution requesting the Mayor and the Commissioners of Public Parks to grant permission to the Workingmens Central Labor Union to hold a mass meeting in and around Union Square. Submitted by Alderman Levy.” The reverse repeats the request and adds the date for the requested event—the evening of Wednesday, the 5th of September. A further notation states “Adopted, a majority of all the members elected voting in favor thereof. Signed F.J. Twomey, Clerk.”  Further examination of the document shows that the resolution had been proposed on July 3, 1882, with the final version fixing September 5 as the day requested for the Union Square demonstration.

Based on this evidence, it seems clear that the U.S. Department of Labor’s statement is accurate. Whether it was based on research in Municipal Archives and Library collections is not known, but we can add that these collections would likely provide additional material to research the bigger picture—what was happening with the labor movement in the City during this period that triggered the designation of the special day.

In the meantime, For the Record wishes everyone an enjoyable day honoring the American worker—first celebrated in New York City, 141 years ago.