SIM-05: Waterfront Watch Collection

The Waterfront Watch of Staten Island Collection consists of approximately 3/4 linear feet of material covering the years 1971 to 1974, with the bulk of material from February 1973 to May 1973. The collection contains correspondence, publications, lobbying packets, financial records, photographs, maps, and news clippings. Although Waterfront Watch was only active for a few months, the collection offers a wide variety of material on Waterfront Watch, the South Richmond Bill, and the South Shore of Staten Island. Administrative records, however, are notably lacking. There are no minutes or records of administrative functions apart from a brief "statement of policy and position" paper and a few financial records. It is probable that, due to the brief and informal nature of the organization, no such records were kept. The collection does, however, contain a rich variety of material documenting the defeat of the South Richmond Bill and the policy positions and concerns of Waterfront Watch. Another issue, which pertains to the entire collection, is that much of the material in the collection is undated. However, due to the organization's brief period of activity, the material can still be evaluated within a fairly specific time frame. The organizational records contain two folders of undated material related to the organizational functions of Waterfront Watch. This series is not comprehensive and, aside from a list of officers and a brief page of notes, offers little information about the formation or administration of the organization. However, the correspondence file fills some of the gaps left by the absence of administrative records. The correspondence file consists of one folder of correspondence from January to September 1973. The publications series offers a detailed view of two of Waterfront Watch's most important activities - community education and lobbying. The publications file is useful in determining the positions and policies of the Waterfront Watch and also provides background information about the South Richmond Bill and the environment of the South Shore. The report written by Waterfront Watch in January 1973 is a particularly valuable source of information. The public relations file and the financial records are incomplete, but both provide some information regarding two crucial functions of the organization. The material in the public relations series is undated. The financial records contain comprehensive records of donations received and scattered banking material, receipts, and financial registers covering the years 1972 to 1974. The Waterfront Watch collection contains a series containing reference material from 1971 to 1973. The series is comprised mostly of legislative material and background material on local politicians, presumably used in the group's lobbying efforts. The photographs series contains undated but mostly labeled photographs of the South Shore shoreline and wildlife. The photographs would be of particular interest to those studying the development of the South Shore of Staten Island. The news clippings file contains the most comprehensive information about the history of the South Richmond Bill and the Waterfront Watch organization. The news clippings file runs from January to September 1973, with particularly good coverage of the opposition to the South Richmond Bill. The news clippings file also includes advertisements placed in local newspapers by Waterfront Watch.