The records of New York City Mayors are one of the most-researched collections in the Municipal Archives. Dating from 1826 through 2021, the materials document the highs and lows of the City and its government. In addition, mayoral papers pre-dating 1826 may be found in the Common Council collection because the Office of the Mayor was part of the Council.
Edward I. Koch, campaigning, n.d. Edward I. Koch Congressional Papers, NYC Municipal Archives.
The Mayor Edward I. Koch collection totals more than 800 cubic feet and consist of correspondence, memos, briefing papers, photos, videos, scrapbooks and more. Much like Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, Koch seemed to read every document, and several contain scrawled responses or comments. Serving as Mayor from 1978 through 1989, Koch presided over the city’s recovery from the fiscal crises. The voluminous collection offers insight into the strategies to bring the City back, including massive cuts to services, and the eventual financial stability that led to further investment in government operations.
In an interesting twist, the Municipal Archives also holds the records from Koch’s Congressional service which immediately predated his election to the mayoralty. The 373 boxes containing the records of Congressman Ed Koch were transferred to the Municipal Archives where they have remained, untouched and unprocessed since 1982. The records went directly from the National Records Center to the Municipal Archives at the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS), at that time headed by Mayor Koch’s close friend and supporter, Eugene Bockman.
Beginning with a January 24, 1968 media release titled, “KOCH TO RUN FOR CONGRESS FROM ‘SILK STOCKING’ DISTRICT” and concluding with images and notes documenting his successful run for Mayor in 1977, the records offer insight into the work of one of New York’s most unique and productive government officials.
A brief review of the Koch Congressional Collection by the Municipal Archives, conducted in August 2018, shows that the collection contains photographs, negatives and slides; audio and video tape, brochures and printed materials; correspondence files; subject files; campaign materials; issue mail; scrapbooks; press clippings and personal material.
Press Release, 1968. Edward I. Koch Congressional Papers, NYC Municipal Archives.
The Koch Congressional records document the actions of a very involved member of Congress during a critical period in our nation’s history and have direct relevance to issues being debated and legislated today. Highlights include correspondence related to war in Vietnam, the crises faced by urban areas, and the pending impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon.
Constituent Correspondence, 1977. Edward I. Koch Congressional Papers, NYC Municipal Archives.
The Congressional records complement the Mayoral collection, showing both the evolution and consistency of Congressman and Mayor Ed Koch’s views on such issues as housing, gun control, foreign aid, food insecurity and immigrant rights.
The New York Archival Society, a non-profit that supports the work of the Municipal Archives, has launched a project to raise funds to process and digitize this vital collection in order to make these records publicly available. New York Archival Society - Ed. Koch Congressional Project