Project Overview
The NYC Municipal Archives has launched a new processing and digitization project, Processing and Digitizing Records of the New York City Commission on Human Rights. It is supported by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives as part of their Documenting Democracy initiative. The project will enhance public access to a significant series of records created by the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Key activities of the project include rehousing and processing 268 cubic feet of records, digitizing the earliest 53 cubic feet, publishing digitized materials, an online finding aid, social media content and blog posts, and curating a digital exhibit that showcases both the collection and the project’s progress. Project activities commenced in March 2025 and will be completed in March 2026.
An Equal Chance Booklet, published by New York State Commission Against Discrimination, 1951. NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
About the Collection
The collection spans 268 cubic feet and covers the years 1944 to 1976, bringing together the records of the New York City Human Rights Commission (1962–1976) and its predecessor organizations—the Mayor’s Committee on Unity (1944–1954) and the Committee on Intergroup Relations (1955–1961). It provides a comprehensive record of the research, policymaking, investigations, legal actions and studies that shaped New York City’s efforts to address discrimination over three decades.
The Mayor’s Committee on Unity (1944-1954)
In 1944, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia created the Mayor's Committee on Unity by Executive Order in response to citywide concerns about race relations following riots in Harlem during the 1930s and early 1940s. The Committee focused on:
· Recommending and endorsing legislation beneficial to the causes of race relations.
· Investigating and recommending action in New York City neighborhoods where tensions were acute.
· Advising groups and agencies on how to adapt their programs to meet demands created by racial and religious conflict.
· Exerting the pressure at their disposal to bring about desired changes in agency programs.
· Extinguishing the little fires of conflict before they reach conflagration proportions.
· Conducting research and investigations to determine the causes of intergroup differences.
Mayor’s Committee on Unity Program and Purpose Document, October 18, 1946. NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
These early materials consist of The Mayor’s Committee on Unity’s meeting minutes, topical reports, original research, surveys, correspondence, speeches, programmatic planning, interviews, press coverage, financial reports, conference proceedings, and legal documents.
The Commission on Intergroup Relations (1955-1961)
In the mid 1950s, the Mayor’s Committee on Unity evolved into the Commission on Intergroup Relations. The Committee had been privately funded and relied on donations. It lacked permanent city agency status. As its mission became more essential and long-term sustainability grew uncertain, the city formalized its work by establishing the Commission on Intergroup Relations as a permanent, city-funded agency.
Does the Light Reach Harlem pamphlet, published by City-Wide Citizens’ Committee on Harlem, 1950. NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
The Commission on Human Rights (1962-Current)
In 1962, the Commission on Intergroup Relations was renamed the Commission on Human Rights. With the passage of the New York City Human Rights Law in 1965, the Commission gained the authority to prosecute discrimination in private housing, employment, public accommodations, and equal pay. This is the largest series in the collection, comprising 215 cubic feet of case files used in legal proceedings. Due to concerns about protecting personal privacy, this series will not be digitized.
The Puerto Rican Migration... a Report, published by The Committee of Puerto Ricans in New York City, 1955. NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
Step 1. Surveying
Before the collection can be processed it will be surveyed. Surveying involves looking through a sampling of the boxes to determine a general timeline and content themes. The archivists aim to create a potential organization scheme for the collection during the survey. In the initial survey of the NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, the archivists determined that the collection would be broken down into three main series that represented the three different entities and eras highlighted above.
Step 2. Processing and Re-Housing
Once surveyed, project staff will process and rehousing the collection. Rehousing involves placing materials into stable, preservation-quality containers—specifically, acid-free folders and boxes—to protect them from damage and ensure long-term storage. This work is time-intensive, as it requires archivists to review and handle every item within the collection’s 268 cubic feet of records.
During processing, archivists evaluate the materials according to several criteria:
-Descriptive Information
Archivists identify and record key details about each folder’s contents, including topics and date ranges. This information is written on the physical folders and entered into a spreadsheet that forms the basis of the online finding aid’s inventory.
-Historical Information
In addition to folder-level descriptions, archivists gather contextual details for the finding aid’s narrative section. This includes identifying significant individuals involved with the Commission, major projects, the Commission’s evolving role in the city, and recurring themes. This content will help researchers better understand the collection’s significance and structure.
-Personal and Privacy Information
Archivists must flag any personal information found in the records, such as addresses, salaries, social security numbers, or other sensitive data. These materials are reviewed to ensure appropriate privacy protections, including redactions if necessary.
=Outdated Terminology
Given the collection’s focus on civil rights and marginalized communities, attention to language is critical. Archivists identify outdated or offensive terms and apply reparative description practices. This involves referencing current guidelines to ensure respectful and accurate folder titles that reflect both historical usage and contemporary understanding.
-Conservation Issues
Archivists also monitor the physical condition of materials. They watch for issues such as mold, deteriorating newsprint, bug damage, or degrading materials such as dried out rubber bands, rusty paper clips, or old tape. Items needing repair are set aside for conservation treatment before rehousing.
Step 3. Digitization
As noted above, only the first series of the collection—totaling 53 cubic feet—will be digitized during this project. The digitization specialist will scan, review, and edit the digital files for quality, then name and upload them to the online repository. The materials will be accessible to the public, after the full collection has been processed and open for research.
Prejudice pamphlet, by Willard Johnson, Published by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1952. NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
Step 4. Writing the Finding Aid
The finding aid brings together all the information gathered during collection processing and transforms it into a structured, accessible guide for researchers. The finding aid provides essential context, including a historical overview of the collection’s development, a narrative of the Commission’s evolution, profiles of key individuals, and documentation of the Commission’s major contributions. The finding aid also situates the collection within broader historical movements, highlights themes relevant to current research trends, and includes comprehensive subject terms to support discovery.
Step 5. Publishing the Finding Aid and Uploading the Inventory Online
The final step is to publish the finding aid and folder-level inventory in the Municipal Archives’ online repository for public access. The online finding aid includes introductory material such as historical and biographical notes, a description of how the collection is organized, and a detailed inventory of folder titles and dates. This final product will help researchers understand the collection’s historical context and include a folder inventory.
Keep Your School All-American poster, Published by the Institute for American Democracy, 1950. NYC Commission on Human Rights Collection, NYC Municipal Archives.
-Conclusion
The New York City Commission on Human Rights collection holds immense value for understanding how one of the nation’s most dynamic cities confronted systemic injustice across multiple decades. Comprised of meeting minutes, topical reports, original research, surveys, correspondence, speeches, programmatic planning, interviews, press coverage, financial reports, conference proceedings, and legal documents, the records document New York City’s governmental response to racial unrest, religious intolerance, and discrimination from the World War II era through the height of the civil rights movement. As a city at the forefront of social change, New York City’s Commission on Human Rights played a significant role in shaping national conversations around equity and democratic values. The Municipal Archives expects the collection to attract a wide range of users—from students and scholars to advocacy groups and public agencies—who are invested in exploring the roots and ongoing impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Its interdisciplinary relevance spans history, sociology, public policy, law, urban planning, critical race theory, gender studies, and beyond, offering deep insights into both historical and contemporary struggles for justice.
Look for future articles that will update project progress.