Research


New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Housing Investigation Subject Files


Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources


Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series contains information on building suppliers, construction employee associations, and manufacturers gathered while investigating the housing industry and the construction trades. Topics include price fixing, evidence of collusion, and oligopolistic practices. Information includes correspondence, ledger books, cancelled checks and check stubs, copies of sealed bids, minute books, and treasurers' reports. Some court-related materials such as grand jury hearing or testimony transcripts are also included. Grand jury transcripts are restricted.
Creator:
Title:
Joint Legislative Committee on Housing investigation subject files
Quantity:

18.6 cubic feet

43 microfilm rolls

Inclusive Dates:
1919-1922
Series Number:
L0180

Arrangement

Alphabetical by name of association or business.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains information primarily on building suppliers, construction employee associations, and manufacturers, and reveals price-fixing conspiracies among various suppliers of both labor and material primarily in New York City's construction industry. The committee, known as the "Lockwood Committee" for chairman Charles C. Lockwood, collected these records as part of its investigation into the housing industry in general and conspiracies in the construction trades in particular.

The investigations into employer associations for roofers, plasterers, stone setters, and plumbers, along with suppliers of masonry materials, stone and gravel, and building materials are well represented. Correspondence between these associations, their ledger books, cancelled checks and check stubs, copies of sealed bids, minute books, and treasurers' reports provide evidence of collusion, combinations, or oligopolistic practices as these groups conspired to set prices which allowed all participating contractors to take turns providing the lowest bid--but a bid still higher than had there been free market competition. The trade associations masked these conspiratorial activities under the guise of their legitimate business concerns.

Some court-related materials such as grand jury hearing or testimony transcripts from the prosecution of some of these associations or combinations are also found within this series. Such grand jury transcripts are restricted.

Alternate Formats Available

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Folder list.

Custodial History

This series was originally accessioned as part of boxes 1-6, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23, 34-41, 43-45, 45a, 45b, 46, 48, 51, 52, 71, 77, 77a, 78-80 of accession -216, old collection #405.

Access Restrictions

Grand jury hearing transcripts: Restricted pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law, Sect. 190.25.4(a).

Access Terms

Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Function(s):

Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box Folder

Accretion: L0180-78
undated Ames Building Material Company, correspondence 1 1
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 2
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 3
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 4
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 5
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 6
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 7
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials 1 8
1921 June 9 Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, Grand Jury Hearing (restricted) 1 9
1905-1920 Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, bylaws 1 10
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, court records 1 11
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 12
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 13
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 14
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 15
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 16
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 17
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 18
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 19
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 20
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 21
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 22
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 23
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 24
undated Association of Dealers in Masons' Building Materials, records 1 25
undated Oversized material removed from Box 1 1A 26
undated Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials (6 folders, 1 minute book, 1 cashbook) 2 27
undated Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials (6 folders, 1 minute book, 1 cashbook) 2 28
undated Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials (6 folders, 1 minute book, 1 cashbook) 2 29
undated Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials (6 folders, 1 minute book, 1 cashbook) 2 30
1921 Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials, minutes of January 1921 term Grand Jury, also June 8 and 9, 1921 (restricted) 2 31
1921 Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials, minutes of January 1921 term Grand Jury, also June 8 and 9, 1921 (restricted) 2 32
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 2 33
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 3 34
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 3 35
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 3 36
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 3 37
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 3 38
undated People vs. James M. Ames et al, Association of Dealers in Mansons' Building Materials 3 39
undated Association of Manufacturers of Metal Covered Doors & Windows, minute book 3 40
undated Association of Marble Dealers, bound copies of correspondence 3 41
undated Association of Marble Dealers, bound copies of correspondence 3 42
undated Association of Marble Dealers, copies of sealed bids 3 43
undated Atlantic Coast Tile Dealers Association, miscellaneous correspondence 4 44
undated Atlantic Marble, DeStefano, Stadtmuller and Moran 4 45
undated Bronx MP and NYMP, ledger book 4 46
undated Brooklyn City Railway 4 47
undated Builders Associations, Contractors and Master Jobbers, testimony regarding 4 48
undated Builders Supply Bureau 4 49
undated Builders Supply Bureau 4 50
undated Builders Supply Bureau 4 51
undated Builders Supply Bureau 4 52
undated Builders Supply Bureau 5 53
undated Builders Supply Bureau 5 54
undated Builders Supply Bureau 5 55
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 56
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 57
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 58
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 59
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 60
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 61
undated Builders Supply Bureau, exhibits 5 62
undated Builders Supply Bureau, ledger book 5 63
undated Building Granite Manufacturers' Association account book 5 64
undated Building Trades Employers' Association, 2nd Red Cross War Fund Drive 5 65
undated Building Trades Employers' Association, correspondence 5 66
undated Building Trades Employers' Association, 5 67
undated Builders Supply Bureau, cancelled checks, bank statements 5A
undated Building Trades Employers' Association 6 67
undated Building Trades Employers' Association re: Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers' Association , correspondence 6 68
undated Callahan, Kingsley, Company 6 69
undated Cement Manufacturers, correspondence 6 70
undated Colonial Sand and Stone Company, correspondence 6 71
undated Colonial Sand and Stone Company, correspondence 6 72
undated Colonial Sand and Stone Company, correspondence 6 73
undated Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers Association, minute book 6 74
undated Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers Association, cash book 6 75
undated Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers Association, cash book 6 76
undated Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers Association, constitution and bylaws 6 77
undated Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers Association, constitution and bylaws 6 78
undated Composition Roofers' and Waterproofers' Employers Association, minutes and check stubs 6 79
undated Contractor's Protective Association 6 80
undated Donnelly, John, Plasterer and Moulder, check stubs 7 81
undated Elevator Manufacuterers' Association, minutes 7 82
undated Employers' Association of Roofers and Sheet Metal Workers of Greater New York, expense book 7 83
undated Employing Plasterers' Association, minute book 7 84
1917 Employing Plasterers' Association, Arbitration Board 7 85
1917-1918 Employing Plasterers' Association, Arbitration Board, correspondence 7 86
undated Employing Plasterers' Association, checks and statements 7 87
1919-1920 Employing Plasterers' Association, correspondence 7 88
undated Employing Plasterers' Association, roll book 7 89
undated Employing Plasterers' Association, treasurer's receipts, reports and correspondence 7 90
undated Employing Plasterer's Association, treasurer's receipts, reports and correspondence 8 90
1917 Employing Plasterer's Association, treasurer's receipts and reports 8 91
1918 Employing Plasterer's Association, treasurer's receipts and reports, American Red Cross Fund, United War Work 8 92
undated Employing Stone Setters Association, treasurer's book 8 93
undated Employing Stone Setters Association, also Cut Stone Contractors Association, correspondence and exhibits 8 94
undated Employing Stone Setters Association, minute book 8 95
undated George C. Ponter, Inc., New York City 8 96
undated Goodwin Gallagher Sand and Gravel Corporation 9 97
undated Goodwin Gallagher Sand and Gravel Corporation 9 98
undated Greater New York Brick, journal 9 99
undated Greater New York Cut Stone Contractors Association, day book 9 100
undated Handy Brothers, Inc., correspondence 9 101
undated Handy Brothers, Inc., correspondence 9 102
undated Hardwood Flooring Assocation, minutes and correspondence 9 103
undated Heating and Ventilating Contractors, testimony regarding John T. Hettrick 9 104
undated Heating and Ventilating Contractors, testimony regarding John T. Hettrick 9 105
undated Heating and Ventilation, Brooklyn HVU/NYHV, account book 9 106
1920-1922 Heating and Ventilating, Digest of testimony before Grand Jury (restricted) 9 107
undated Heating and Ventilating, NYHV, exhibit 60, ledger book 9 108
undated Hettrick, John T., Law office briefs 9 109
undated Housing Association 9 110
undated Inside Electrical Workers of Greater New York, Local Union #3 9 111
undated International Stone Contractors' and Quarrymen's Association meeting records 10 112
undated Journeyman's stonecutters 10 113
undated Journeyman's stonecutters 10 114
undated Labor Unions, testimony regarding 10 115
undated Labor Unions, testimony regarding 10 116
undated Lanigan Brothers, Inc., contracts 10 117
undated Lanigan Brothers, Inc., correspondence 10 118
undated Lanigan Brothers, Inc., correspondence 10 119
undated Lawrence Portland Cement Company, exhibit 228 (delivery book?) 10 120
undated Lenox Sand and Gravel Company, correspondence 10 121
undated Lenox Sand and Gravel Company, correspondence 10 122
undated Lenox Sand and Gravel Company, contracts 10 123
undated M.F. Hickey Company 10 124
undated Manhattan Sand Company, correspondence 10 125
undated Manhattan Sand Company, correspondence 10 126
1921 January Marble case, minutes of January 1921 term Grand Jury (restricted) 11 127
undated Marble Industry Employers' Association 11 128
undated Marble Industry Employers' Association, receipt book 11 129
1921 January Mansons, Digest of Testimony taken before the Grand Jury (restricted) 11 130
undated Mansons' Supply Bureau, exhibit 224, bank book 11 131
undated Mansons' Supply Bureau, exhibit 230 11 132
undated [untitled] 11 133
undated Masons' Supply Bureau, index of contracts 11 134
1918 February 25-1920 August 28 Mansons' Supply Bureau, minute book 11 135
undated Master Carpenters, (labelled 'not useful') 11 136
undated Mansons' Supply Bureau, cancelled checks 11A
undated Unknown, check copies from Corn Exchange Bank 11A
undated Master Carpenters, (labelled 'not useful') 12 136
undated Master Painters and Decorators Association, minutes 12 137
undated Master Pulmbers 12 138
undated Metal Ceiling Association 12 139
undated Metal Ceiling Association of New York Roofers and Sheet Metal Workers and their Business Men's Club 12 140
undated Metal Ceiling companies directory 12 141
undated N. Ryan Company 12 142
undated National Terra Cotta Society 12 143
undated National Terra Cotta Society 13 143
undated New York Title and Mortgage Company, Correspondence and exhibit 13 144
undated New York Trap Rock Corporation 13 145
undated NYMP, account book 13 146
undated Parquet Floor Association of Brooklyn, receipt books 13 147
undated Parquet Floor Association, minutes 13 148
undated Parquet Floor Association of Brooklyn, bankbook and checkbook 13 149
undated Parquet Floor Association, roll log 13 150
undated Parquet Flooring Association, minute book 13 151
undated Plasters, Digest of testimony 13 152
undated Plasterers' Association, check stubs 13 153
undated Plumbers and Gasfitters, Labor Temple, New York, Local Union 463 13 154
undated Plumbers and Gasfitters, ledger 13 155
undated Plumbers and Gasfitters, meeting minutes, Local 463 13 156
undated Plumbers and Gasfitters, minute book 13 157
undated Plumbers and Gasfitters of the United Association, minute book 14 158
undated Plumbers Union 14 159
undated Real Estate Brokers and Mortgage Companies 14 160
undated Roofers and Sheer Metal Business (?), cash book and journal 14 161
undated Roofers and Sheer Metal Business (?), cash book and journal 14 162
undated Sand and Gravel Dealers Board of Trade (New York) 14 163
undated Sand and Gravel Dealers Board of Trade (New York) 14 164
undated Sand and Gravel Dealers Board of Trade (Brooklyn) 14 165
undated Sand and Gravel Dealers Board of Trade, minutes 14 166
1921 April Stone Mason Contractors, Extraordinary Grand Jury (restricted) 14 167
undated Tile, Grate & Mantel Association, W.W. Jackson 14 168
undated United Association, Local #463, Executive Board, minute book of the executive board 14 169
undated United Association Plumbers and Steam Fitters, executive board 14 170
undated United Association Plumbers and Steam Fitters, treasurer's cash book 14 171
undated United Portable Housing Engineers, Local #403, minute book 14 172
undated United Portable Housing Engineers, Local #403, minute book 14 173
undated United States Title Guaranty Company, mortgage loans on specific properties 14 174
undated United States Title Guaranty Company, mortgage loans on specific properties 15 174
undated United States Title Guaranty Company, search sheets 15 175
undated United States Title Guaranty Company, search sheets 16 175
undated Washington Bulkley, Inc. 16 176
undated Unknown, address book 16 177
undated Unknown, address book, exhibit 220 16 178
undated [unknown card file of unidentified industry] 16 179
undated Unknown, cement industry related, amount of cement unloaded in previous months 16 180
undated Unknown, check stubs 16 181
undated Unknown, contract work forms 16 182
1917-1920 Portland Cement, card file, Monthly Stock and Purchase cards 16A-1
undated Unknown, card file of unidentified industry: contracts awarded, location of job 16A-2
undated Unknown, file cards, addresses and estimates 16A-3
undated Unknown, contracts 17 183
undated Unknown, Edward Swann case, appears unrelated to Lockwood Committee 17 184
undated Unknown, financial records 17 185
undated Unknown ledger and cash book (Tile, Grate & Mantel Association?) 17 186
undated Unknown, ledger book 17 187
undated Unknown, ledger book, people's exhibit 17 188
undated Unknown, ledgers 17 189
undated Unknown, ledgers 17 190
undated Unknown, journal books (4 books) 17 191
undated Unknown, journal books (4 books) 17 192
undated Unknown, journal books (4 books) 17 193
undated Unknown, journal books (4 books) 17 194
undated Unknown (Heating and Ventilation, NYHV?) account log 18 195
undated Unknown ledgers 18 196
undated Unknown ledgers 18 197
undated Unknown, NYMP/Bronx MP, account book 18 198
undated Unknown, NYSC, account log 18 199
undated Unknown, NYSC, account log 18 200
undated Oversized Material from Box 4 (Brooklyn City Railway); Oversized Material from Box 6 (Callahan, Kingsley, Company - pencil drawing plan), Oversized Material from Box 9 (Goodwin Gallagher Sand and Gravel Corporation - unlabeled material) and Oversized Material from Box 14 (Misc. Brokers) 19