Collection ID: NPkMC-222-095

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
The Hudson River Conservation Society, Inc.
Abstract:
The Hudson River Conservation Society was founded in 1936 in order to preserve and protect scenic and historic landmarks in the Hudson Valley and seek regulation when necessary to achieve this. The Hudson River Conservation Society Collection documents the history and continued efforts of the Society as a non-profit agency, fighting for the conservation and protection of the Hudson River, its surroundings, and its environment. The Hudson River Conservation Society collection consists of correspondence, office records, reports, memoranda, newsletters, brochures, maps, newspaper clippings, press releases, opinion polls, financial records, scrapbooks, photographs, books, and other printed material.
Extent:
24 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number ], in the Hudson River Conservation Society, Inc. Collection, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College.

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of correspondence, office records, reports, memoranda, newsletters, brochures, maps, newspaper clippings, press releases, opinion polls, financial records, scrapbooks, photographs, books, and other printed material related to the founding and continuing work of the Hudson River Conservation Society as a private, non-profit, watchdog agency of the Hudson River Valley and its environment. The collection is maintained in its original order.

Biographical / Historical:

The Hudson River Conservation Society was incorporated September 3, 1936 in order to protect and maintain the beauties of the Hudson Valley, preserve its scenic and historic landmarks, eliminate pollution, develop recreational values, cooperate with industry and seek regulation where necessary to help achieve these aims, make a continuing survey of the river and its valley, and to receive funds to do so. In response to destructive quarrying at High Tor and Mount Taurus, the Hudson River Conservation Society was organized on April 15, 1936. Upon the creation of the Society, William Church Osborn served as President, with John Ross Delafield as Vice-President, Louis V. Ledoux as Treasurer and Margaret Gillmore as Secretary. Under their leadership, the Society sponsored two pieces of legislation; one created the Hudson Valley Commission to make a survey of the river and recommend a plan for its development and protection and the other permitted the State Conservation Commissioner to accept gifts of historic or scenic sites of interest.

The Hudson River Conservation Society played an active role in the preservation of historic and scenic sites in the Hudson Valley. Several purchases of land were made including the 1936 purchase of the north slope of Breakneck Mountain, which was eventually given to the Taconic State Park Commission, the Storm King section on the north face of Anthony’s Nose, which was eventually given to the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, and the 1943 purchase of High Tor which was eventually handed over to the Palisades Park Commission. The publication of Historic Houses of the Hudson Valley was sponsored by the Society. Also, under the leadership of the Society, zoning regulations were enforced in Clarkstown in order to prevent quarrying by New York Trap Rock. The Hudson River Conservation Society also discouraged the building of the Storm King By-Pass, the Hudson River Tourway and the New York-New Jersey Turnpike-Thruway Link and supported the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the development of the Taconic State Parkway. The Society has been involved in developing marinas, watershed projects, sewage systems, conservation courses at colleges, backing legislation that protects the river and surrounding areas, and increasing awareness of these issues.

Acquisition information:
The Hudson River Conservation Society Collection was given to the Marist College Library by the F.D.R. Library, where it was donated by John Winthrop Aldrich on behalf of the Hudson River Conservation Society.
Arrangement:

Collection is arranged into two series: 1. Hudson River Conservation Society Files, and 2. Scrapbooks

Materials maintain original order.

Physical location:
Please contact the Marist College Archives and Special Collections for information regarding use and access of this collection.
Rules or conventions:
DACS Describing Archives: A Content Standard. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2013.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

There are no restrictions on this collection

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Individuals requesting reproductions expressly assume the responsibility for compliance with all pertinent provisions of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. ss101 et seq. Patrons further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Marist College Archives and Special Collections and its staff in connection with any disputes arising from the Copyright Act, over the reproduction of material at the request of patrons. For more information please visit the following website: http://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number ], in the Hudson River Conservation Society, Inc. Collection, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College.

LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, United States
CONTACT:
845-575-3364
library.archives@marist.edu