PM-01: Senator John J. Marchi Papers
Scope and Contents
The John J. Marchi collection comprises approximately 65 linear feet of material, from c. 1958-2000. (There is one item that pre-dates Marchi’s legislative career – a 1942 student paper titled “The Zenger Case” for a class in American Constitutional History. It has been placed with the Biographical files.) The core of the collection is the subject file collection; it dates primarily from the 1960s-1990s. With one exception, the collection reflects the activities of Senator Marchi’s Albany office. There is one box,however, that appears to have been created in the Senator’s local Staten Island office.
Dates
- Creation: 1958-2002
Biographical / Historical
John J. Marchi, the son of Louis and Alina Marchi, was born on May 20, 1921, in Staten Island, New York.
He graduated from Manhattan College with first honors in 1942, later receiving a Juris Doctor from St.
John’s University School of Law and Doctor of Judicial Science from Brooklyn Law School in 1953. He engaged in the general practice of law with offices on Staten Island and has lectured extensively to Italian
jurists at the request of the State Department. Marchi served in the Coast Guard and Navy during World War II and was on combat duty in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres of war. Marchi also served as a
Commander in the Active Reserve after the war, retiring from the service in 1982.
John J. Marchi was first elected to the New York State Senate in the 1956 General Election. As a Senator,he quickly rose to influential Senate positions through the chairmanship of many standing and joint
committees, including Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on the City of New York. In 1966, he was elected as a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention and chaired the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
on Constitutional Issues. That same year, Senator Marchi was named Chairman of the New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Interstate Cooperation, the oldest joint legislative committee in the
Legislature. Other senior state government leadership positions followed, and this focus on state government relations and the City of New York permeated Senator Marchi’s career for the next few
decades.
In 1969, Marchi decided to challenge John V. Lindsay’s reelection campaign, announcing that he would run a primary campaign to obtain the Republican Party’s endorsement that would allow him to run for
Mayor in the General Election of that year. Senator Marchi ran on a platform of fighting crime, reducing welfare rolls, court reform, and a general clean-up of New York City – positions that were in keeping with
those of the Conservative Party, on whose party line he also ran, as well as conservative members of the Republican Party. However, liberals also credited him with running an intelligent, non-rancorous
campaign. He won the Republican primary and went on to challenge Lindsay once more in the General Election. This time, Marchi was defeated, but he returned in 1973 to once more conduct a mayoral
campaign. Losing again in the General Election, Marchi resumed his work in the New York State Senate,where he served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
Throughout the 1970s, Senator Marchi was at the forefront of issues such as reform of the New York City School system, educational change, transportation improvement, and crime prevention. His position as
Chairman of the Finance Committee made him instrumental in dealing with New York City’s midseventies fiscal crisis, and he provided leadership in the establishment of the Emergency Financial Control
Board and the Municipal Assistance Corporation. The chairman’s position also provided him with the ability to channel funds to many arts and cultural institutions on Staten Island, in particular the Snug
Harbor Cultural Center. He also played a critical role in securing funds for mental health programs on the
Island, and joined his fellow Island legislators in the nascent movement to deal with local environmental
problems.
The Senate Finance Committee also brought about important change under Senator Marchi’s leadership.
Marchi sponsored the bill that modernized New York State’s reporting and bookkeeping practices. The
Finance Committee also gained greater power to review and assess the Executive budget and ancillary
programs and introduced better methods of economic forecasting. Overall, these changes allowed for more
clear and accurate views of the state’s financial picture, and gave the Legislature more power in the budget process.
In the 1980s, one issue dominated the agenda of Marchi and his constituents: the secession movement. In 1983, a lawsuit challenged the legality of New York City’s Board of Estimate as violating the “one-man
one vote” democratic principle. The successful challenge left Staten Island and its 350,000 population with much reduced representation in city government. Marchi decided immediately to promote changing Staten
Island from a borough of New York City to a separate county or city. For the next decade and a half,Senator Marchi led legal challenges, built a popular movement, succeeded in persuading the State of New
York to approve and fund a Charter Commission for Staten Island, and forced New York City to hold a special referendum for Island residents on secession. The secession movement and the Charter
Commission for Staten Island gained considerable momentum, and though it was ultimately defeated,Marchi’s reputation as a thoughtful, deliberate, erudite leader only grew.
Marchi also continued his work to improve public education in the 1980’s. Marchi was appointed as Chairman of the Temporary State Commission on New York City School Governance in 1989. Thiscommission conducted a two-year study on the control and governance in New York City schools and provided recommendations to the New York State Legislature on improving administration and public
participation in the school system. Senator Marchi also provided assistance to the College of Staten Island so that the school could obtain the land of the former Willowbrook State School for a campus.
In the 1990s, Senator Marchi succeeded in raising the profile of the Island’s environmental issues and securing funds to resolve them. Of particular note was Marchi’s legislation (1996) to close the Fresh Kills landfill by January 1, 2002. More recently, Senator Marchi was also appointed to head the Senate Task Force on World Trade Center Recovery after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Marchi was named Assistant Majority Whip in 2003 and continues to serve on several standing committees including Corporations,Authorities and Commissions (which he previously chaired); Cities; Environmental Conservation; Finance;Investigations and Government Operations; Judiciary and Rules. Senator Marchi was also recognized by the National Conference of State Legislatures as being the longest serving legislator in America at any level of government.
Senator Marchi died April 25th, 2009. He and his wife, the former Maria Luisa Davini of Lucca,Italy, have two daughters, Aline and Joan, two granddaughters, Stefania and Francesca and a greatgrandson, Giuseppe.
Senator Marchi was a member of several religious, veterans, professional and civic associations, including Richmond County and American Bar Associations and American Judicature Society.
1921 Born on Staten Island, son of Louis and Alina Marchi, on May 20.
1942 Graduated from Manhattan College with first honors and received the Cardinal Hayes Award for scholastic achievement and campus leadership.
World War II Served in United States Coast Guard and saw action in the North Atlantic and Okinawa.
1948 Married Maria Luisa Davini in her home town of Lucca, Italy, November 14.
1949 Graduated from St. John’s Law School, Juris Doctor.
1952 Narrowly lost bid for Republican nomination for the State Assembly to Edward
Amann in county committee.
1953 Graduated from Brooklyn Law School, Doctor of Juridical Science.
Served in Albany as counsel to John Macdonald, senator from Staten Island, for two years.
1956 Elected to the State Senate in his first run for elective office (total vote: 81,001):
Marchi Rep. 44,159 (54.5%)
Edward V. Curry Dem. 36,842
1958 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 66,375):
Marchi Rep. 35,505
United Taxpayers 918
Total 36,423 (54.9%)
Edmund J. Murphy Dem. 28,298
George Maki Lib. 1,645
1960 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 87,186):
Marchi Rep. 49,716 (57%)
Ralph DiIorio Dem. 34,604
George Maki Lib. 2,866
Named chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee formed to study the state’s liquor laws.
1961 As chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Navigation, proposed and was named chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on New York City Docks in February; resigned in July, citing his race for borough president and his desire to keep the investigation “out of the realm of partisan politics.”
Lost race for borough president to incumbent Albert V. Maniscalco
(total vote 73,161):
Marchi Rep. 35,632 (48.7%)
Maniscalco Dem. 31,264
Lib. 4,508
Brotherhood 1,757
Total 37,529
1962 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 72,987):
Marchi Rep. 42,659 (58.4%)
Aldo R. Benedetto Dem. 27,485
Lib. 2,843
Total 30,328
1963 Became Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on the City of New York.
1964 David Jaffe became Senator Marchi’s counsel; his first project was the investigation of the Mobilization for Youth, an anti-poverty program, for mismanagement and communist influence.
As chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee investigating the Alcoholic Beverages Control Law, Marchi blocked the measure supported by Governor Rockefeller, resulting in a special session which passed a compromise bill.
Re-elected to the Senate, receiving the Conservative Party (founded 1962)endorsement for the first time (total vote 88,952):
Marchi Rep. 42,912
Cons. 5,986
Total 48,898 (55%)
Joseph J. Holzka Dem. 38,219
Lib. 1,835
Total 40,054
Democrats took the State Senate in the Johnson landslide, the only time Marchi was in the minority in Albany.
1965 Became a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors of the Council of State Governments.
Following implementation of a new court-ordered reapportionment plan, all legislators had to run again. The Republicans regained control of the State Senate after one year of a Democratic majority. Marchi was easily reelected
(total vote 84,567):
Marchi Rep. 41,140
Con. 11,110
Total 55,250 (65.3%)
Vito Titone Dem. 25,933
Ferdinand Cubas Lib. 3,384
1966 Became Chairman of Joint Legislative Committee on Interstate Cooperation.
Elected delegate to the 1967 state constitutional convention; chaired Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee on Constitutional Issues for research and issue development for the convention.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 75,780):
Marchi Rep. 37,221
Cons. 13,784
Total 50,905 (67.2%)
Vito T. Titone Dem. 21,296
Pearse O’Callaghan Lib. 3,579
1967 Served as delegate to the state constitutional convention.
1968 Received Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy from the Italian President and Prime Minister, the highest award given to non-citizens.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 98,050):
Marchi Rep. 41,855
Cons. 14,820
Total 56,675 (57.8%)
Daniel D. Leddy Dem. 38,696
Herman Zukowsky Lib. 2,679
1969 Defeated incumbent John Lindsay by 6,000 votes in the primary to win the Republican nomination for mayor (113,698 – 107,366). Mario Procaccino was the Democratic nominee, winning the primary over Robert Wagner, Herman Badillo, James Scheuer, and Norman Mailer with less than a third of the vote. In November Lindsay won re-election running on the Liberal line.
Marchi Rep./Cons. 542,411 (22%)
Procaccino Dem. 831,772 (36%)
John V. Lindsay Lib./Ind. 1,012,633 (42%)
1970 Robert Straniere became counsel to Senator Marchi, serving until he was elected to the Assembly in 1980. Straniere had first worked for the Senator in 1963.
After briefly considering a run against Republican Senator Charles Goodell, Marchi supported Conservative James Buckley, in part because of Goodell’s opposition to the war in Vietnam.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 93,441):
Marchi Rep. 46,366
Cons. 22,209
Total 68,575 (73.4%)
Edward T. Pulaski Dem. 20,381
Norma E. Casey Lib. 4,485
1971 Spoke out publicly against Joseph A. Colombo and the Italian-American Civil Rights League and their claim that the Mafia was a fiction.
Received Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from St. John’s University on May 28.
Kate Rooney began working for Senator Marchi as an intern; she later became his counsel, following Straniere.
1972 On February 28 Marchi announced that he had introduced legislation to create the New South Richmond Development Corporation for the development of more than 10,000 acres in the southern part of Staten Island; 12 new communities to be developed by the Rouse Corporation for 400,000 residents;
the 20-year plan called for $6.5 billion in public and private funds, including $530 million commitment from the city for infrastructure; it was not introduced into the Assembly due to opposition from SI Republicans Edward Amann and Lucio Russo.
About 300 “Friends of John Marchi” gathered at the Shalimar in New Dorp for a dinner in his honor on April 7th. William F. Buckley was the featured speaker,and his brother, United States Senator James Buckley, also attended. Dan Master and members of the Conservative Party protested outside. Appointed by President Nixon in October to National Advisory Committee on Drug Abuse Prevention (the only state legislator appointed).
Because of the South Richmond plan, realtor Daniel Master, vice chairman of the Conservative Party on Staten Island, ran against Marchi; endorsed by New
York Times, the Advance, and Sen. James Buckley, Marchi was easily re-elected
(total vote 107,057; highest turnout for any of his re-elections):
Marchi Rep. 56,960 (53.2%)
Pasquale Bifulco Dem. 28,544
Daniel Master Cons. 18,573
Norma Cossey Lib. 2,980
1973 Became chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in January, succeeding Warren Anderson, who succeeded Earl Brydges as Majority Leader.
The Sout Richmond bill passed the State Senate but was again defeated in the Assembly Marchi announced he would not re-introduce the measure.
Received degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Manhattan College.Republican nominee for mayor; in a 4-way race Democrat Abe Beame defeated Marchi, Liberal Al Blumenthal, and Conservative Mario Biaggi. The Conservatives denied Marchi their endorsement because of the South Richmond plan, and he received only nominal support from Governor Rockefeller.
Marchi Rep. 276,575 (16%)
Abe Beame Dem. 961,130 (56%)
Mario Biaggi Cons. 189,986 (11%)
Al Blumenthal Lib. 265,297 (15%)
1974 Received degree of Doctor of Laws from Wagner College.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 78,564):
Marchi Rep. 32,759
Cons. 11,727
Total 44,486 (56.6%)
Pasquale P. Caiazza Dem. 34,078
1975 As chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Marchi played a key role in writing and passing the legislation which created the Emergency Financial Control Board and the Municipal Assistance Corporation, which saved the city
from bankruptcy.
1976 New York State Veterans of Foreign Wars bestowed on him the Silver
Commendation medal for “Legislative service to veterans and all New Yorkers.”
Appointed by Governor Carey to the newly created State Public Authorities
Control Board, established to protect public authorities during the fiscal crisis.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 101,231):
Marchi Rep. 43,507
Cons. 10,076
Total 53,583 (52.9%)
Ralph J. Lamberti Dem. 45,679
Ernest A. Kaarsberg Lib. 1,969
1977 In November the State Court of Appeals declared all but one portion of the
state’s death penalty law unconstitutional. Legislation to restore and expand
capital punishment was passed, but vetoed by Governor Carey. Carey vetoed
similar legislation in each successive year of his administration. John Marchi
opposed capital punishment, and voted to uphold the veto.
1978 Received B’nai B’rith Public Service Award.
Re-elected to the Senate in his closest campaign; his opposition to the death
penalty nearly cost him the election (total vote 74,777):
Marchi Rep. 30,687
Cons. 7,891
Total 38,578 (51.6%)
Robert J. Gigante Dem. 34,675
Carl F. Grillo Lib. 1,524
1980 In January Mayor Koch announced that he would support John Marchi for reelection and secured the Democratic Party endorsement for him.
Marchi was the only Republican in either the Senate or the Assembly to uphold
Gov. Carey’s veto of the death penalty.
Received the degree of Juris Doctor from St. John’s School of Law.
Re-elected to the Senate with the Democratic nomination for the first time (total
vote 99,296):
Marchi Rep. 40,227
Dem. 38,687
Cons. 9,512
RTL 5,000
Total 93,426 (94.1%)
Carl F. Grillo Lib. 5,870
1981 Though personally opposed to abortion, Senator Marchi voted against a bill that
would have banned the use of Medicaid funds for abortions because it would
have limited the options of the poor while having no effect on those with the
means to pay.
Marita Messenheimer, Senator Marchi’s dedicated secretary, retired; she first
met Marchi in 1953 when he was counsel to Senator Macdonald, and became his
secretary when he began his first term in January 1957.
1982 Appointed first permanent member of the Executive Committee of the Council
of State Governments.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 63,095):
Marchi Rep./Dem./Cons. 58,338 (92.5%)
Joseph F. Sully Lib. 1,515
Barbara Bollaert RTL 3,242
1983 Retired from the active reserve of the Coast Guard with the rank of Commander.
Received Citation from Association of Colleges and Universities of the State of
New York for efforts on behalf of higher education in the state.
1984 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 100,756):
Marchi Rep. 52,789
Dem. 34,119
Cons. 8,638
Total 95,546 (94.8%)
Joseph F. Sully Lib. 2,259
Barbara Bollaert RTL 2,951
1985 Secured $7 million in state dollars for design of the new campus of the College of Staten Island (a merger of Richmond College and Staten Island Community College) at the former State institution at Willowbrook.
Senator Marchi and Assemblyman Kremer were unsuccessful in their defense of
Vito Castellano, head of the State Guard, and their effort to obtain a better
pension for him in recognition of his long service.
A strong supporter of the Navy’s proposed Homeport on Staten Island, Senator
Marchi, with his counsel Kate Rooney, prepared legal briefs which successfully
blocked a city-wide referendum on the issue. The Homeport opened in 1989 and
closed in 1994.
1986 Re-elected to the Senate, taking the Liberal line at the request of his old friend
Pearse O’Callaghan (total vote 56,607, lowest turnout until 2002):
Marchi Rep. 22,438
Dem. 25,214
Lib. 1,581
Total 49,233 (87%)
Michael V. Ajello Cons. 5,545
Barbara Bollaert RTL 1,829
1987 Received Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Wagner College.
Underwent first angioplasty procedure.
1988 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 95,250):
Marchi Rep. 44,247
Dem. 35,676
Lib. 1,616
Total 81,539 (85.6%)
Albert P. DeLillo Cons. 11,603
Barbara Bollaert RTL 2,108
With Warren Anderson retiring, the Republicans selected Ralph Marino as
majority leader on December
1989 For not supporting Marino’s bid for majority leader, Marchi lost the chairmanship of the Finance Committee and was replaced by Tarky Lombardi, Jr. of Syracuse. He was appointed Vice President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.
State of New York Charter Commission for Staten Island formed, with John Marchi as chairman.
Underwent prostate surgery on July 12.
The 11-member Temporary State Commission on New York City School
Governance held its organizational meeting and elected John Marchi chairman and Assemblyman Jose Serrano of the Bronx vice chairman.
1990 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 57,749):
Marchi Rep./Dem./Lib. 47,250 (81.8%)
George Boncoraglio Cons. 7,471
Barbara Bollaert RTL 3,028
Staten Islanders voted to study secession by a 4 to 1 margin.
1991 Named Chairman of the 13-member Staten Island Charter Commission in March
after voters approved secession measure on the ballot the previous November.
Temporary State Commission on New York City School Governance, known as
the Marchi Commission, issued its final report on April 4, recommending an increased number of school districts and other reforms.
Underwent his second angioplasty procedure in June.
1992 Received the Filippo Mazzei Award from the Italian government for
strengthening ties between Italy and the United States.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 91,029):
Marchi Rep. 46,284
Dem. 36,744
Lib. 2,070
Total 85,098 (93.5%)
Barbara Bollaert RTL 5,931
1993 Staten Islanders approved proposed charter for City of Staten Island by two to
one margin on November 2.
1994 Challenged in a Democratic primary for the first time by Eugene Prisco, a drug counselor and education activist: Marchi: 7,687 (77%), Prisco 2,338 (23%). Reelected to the Senate in the general election (total vote 75,550):
Marchi Rep. 37,667
Dem. 28,248
Lib. 1,369
Total 67,284 (89.1%)
Ralph J. Rubinek Cons. 5,713
Barbara Bollaert RTL 2,553
On November 25 Majority Leader Ralph Marino stepped down under pressure
and the Republicans selected Joseph Bruno. Marchi stood behind Marino.
1995 After standing with Marino, Marchi lost his position as Vice President Pro Tempore; named Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and Deputy Majority Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs.
1996 Pushed for and saw signed into law legislation mandating the closure of the Fresh Kills Landfill by January 1, 2002. This came more than 40 years after the legislature passed Senator Marchi’s bill to close Fresh Kills, only to have it
vetoed by Governor W. Averell Harriman.
Measure to create the City of Staten Island passed the Senate, but Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver refused to permit a vote until he received a home rule message from the city, effectively blocking further movement on secession.
Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 79,199):
Marchi Rep./Dem./Lib. 70,870 (89.5%)
Ralph J. Rubinek Cons./RTL 6,547
Janet Rispoli Independence 1,782
1998 Re-elected to the Senate (total vote 63,090):
Marchi Rep./Dem./Cons. 60,842 (96.4%)
Maria D. Colon Independence 1,321
Jody Magnasco Lib. 927
1999 Introduced legislation with Assemblywoman Elizabeth Connelly to permit “right
on red” on Staten Island; Senate counsel determined that legislation would
require approval of City Council.
2000 Introduced legislation to address the rising cost of prescription drugs.
The archive at the College of Staten Island, the repository for Senator Marchi’s papers, was officially dedicated on October 5.
Ran for reelection to the Senate as the nation’s longest serving state legislator (total vote 94,352):
Marchi Rep./Dem./Cons. 91,110 (96.2%)
Henry Bardel Green 3,242 (3.8%)
Working Families
Independence
2002 For the first time since 1980 Marchi did not receive the nomination of the
Democratic Party, but was easily reelected nonetheless (total vote 53,240).
Marchi Rep. 34,864
Cons. 4,624
Total 39,488 (74%)
Michael J. Cocozza Dem. 12,784
Working Fam 597
Veterans 371
Total 13,752
Extent
65 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
There are eight series:
• Subject Files
• Constituent Correspondence
• Legislative Files
- Legislative Correspondence
- Bills
- Voting and Attendance Records
• Media Files
- Press Releases and Statements
- Newsletters and Mailings
- Speeches
- News Clippings
- Video
- Audio Tapes
• Personal Files
- Appointment Books, Guest Books and Daily Schedules
- Invitations Accepted and Declined
- Biographical Files
• Campaigns
• Photographs
• Memorabilia
Subject Files comprise some two thirds of the collection. (Approximately 44 linear feet.) They are arranged in alphabetical order, by folder title. These files document the activities and priorities of Senator Marchi and closely reflect his leadership roles. For example, as Chairman of the Finance Committee (1973-1989),
Marchi oversaw the annual production and approval of the Executive Budget; there are copies of the official budgets as well as correspondence that show the tensions and party politics surrounding its production.
Education: Senator Marchi made education, from elementary to college, an important focus. He sat on, or chaired committees that examined a variety of educational issues from school decentralization to public school funding. He was instrumental in the formation of the College of Staten Island, and played a role in oversight of CUNY operations. From 1989-1991, Senator Marchi chaired the “Temporary State Commission on New York City School Governance” and along with a copy of the final report are correspondence and newspaper clippings. The senator’s major priority was Staten Island: its residents and its institutions. From the 1950s to the present, Senator Marchi funneled millions of dollars to Staten Island institutions, from the Staten Island Zoo and the Staten Island Children’s Museum to The Learning Institute Jewish Community Center, and Korean-Americans Senior Citizen Center. His relationships with Staten Island institutions are well documented in his papers.
The largest collection of papers within Subject Files is the one covering the possible secession of Staten Island from the City of New York. Beginning with the successful challenge to the New York City Board of Estimate, Marchi’s papers document the legal challenges, public campaign and legislative lobbying efforts from 1983 to the establishment of the Charter Commission for Staten Island in March 1991. From that date,there are extensive records on Public Hearings with transcripts of meetings, minutes of meetings, reports to
the Commission on education, housing, a new political structure, and financial implications. There is also correspondence between the Commission members, constituents, and other elected officials, including the Mayor of the City of New York and the Governor of New York State. In addition, there are copies of the actual Charter document produced by the Commission. The records begin to wind down in 1995.
Over the decades, Marchi heard from his constituents on everything from bus schedules to senior citizens and social security to support and dissent on Marchi’s legislative agenda. There is a separate records series for this correspondence; it comprises 3.5 linear feet.
Many of the files provide an insight into the inner workings of a state legislature but the series “Legislative Files” provide most in-depth coverage. They consist of correspondence, bill action registers, legislative introductory records, bills, memoranda of support and press clippings. The files have been divided into three subseries: Legislative Correspondence, Bills, and Voting and Attendance records. Within Legislative Correspondence there are both alphabetical and chronological organizations. To respect the original order,
a group of files with the folder heading “Legislative Files” are organized by year, 1970-1973 and 1991.
Others are organized alphabetically by topic. There are two boxes of material on legislative activities and public school education, and these are organized chronologically. There are several boxes of transcripts of debates on important bills: Death Penalty, Education, Abortion, and Under-Age Drinking. The series total
is 5 linear feet.
The Marchi Papers contain only Marchi’s partial voting records on major issues from 1957-1969.
Senator Marchi’s Media Files contain six subseries, totaling some 4 linear feet: Press Releases and
Statements, (1974-1994), (Newsletters and Mailings (1974-1988, and a few from later years), Speeches
(1983-1987), Press Clippings (1971-2001), and a few Video and Audio Tapes. The Press Releases
subseries may be the most valuable as they document Marchi’s public policy positions, as well as reactions to issues of the day. The Press Clippings subseries is the most extensive one. It covers, in great detail, all the activities of Senator Marchi, local Staten Island issues, and political figures, and often provides context
and background for complex legislative proceedings. The Press Clippings are organized primarily by subject: e.g. “Mental Health,” “Budget,” and “Wetlands,” though some are organized by year, with no
regard for subject. The Newsletter files contain only a few newsletters: mostly they contain clippings and
other reference materials that Marchi’s staff used as content for the published newsletters.
A series has been designated as Senator Marchi’s Personal Files. (Approximately 2 linear feet). Included
in this category are Appointment Books, Guest Books and Daily Schedules, Invitations Accepted and Declined, and Biographical Files. The Biographical Files, in addition to containing “snapshot” biographies, also include histories of bills or legislation that Marchi sponsored or co-sponsored.
Contained in the Campaigns series are the records of Senator Marchi’s back-to-back campaigns for Mayor of New York City in 1969 and 1973 (approximately 7 linear feet). There is also a little bit of material on Marchi’s Senate campaigns, but this is quite sparse. The Mayoral campaign material is quite rich, however. It contains campaign literature, press clippings, donor records, “issue” papers, schedules and correspondence with supporters and fellow legislators. Additional daily schedules from the 1973 Mayoral Campaign can be found in the Personal Files series. There is also one oversize box that contains two Campaign posters from the 1973 Mayoral Campaign. The collection also provides both a wider and more in-depth view of John J. Marchi – he articulated and published his positions on a variety of issues, and was interviewed by the media extensively, as was his family.
The Photographs series is arranged chronologically and includes photographs from the 1960's - 1990's.
There are also a few photographs from the World War II era.
There are a few items of memorabilia – plaques, proclamations and a statuette.
The materials in the Marchi Papers will be supplemented by an oral history project currently in progress at
the College of Staten Island.
- Status
- In Progress
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the CSI Archives & Special Collections Repository