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Mayor John Fitzpatrick records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-AA-Fitzpatrick

Scope and Contents

The records are "fragments" that have survived in the City Archives. Most of the records are in the form of incoming letters to the mayor. In some cases related materials are fastened together. The arrangement in alphabetical by name of correspondent (corporate or individual). Where only one or two items exist for a given correspondent, those items are filed in alphabetical miscellaneous folders. Much of the material is "ceremonial" (i.e., letters of introduction/greetings, letters of appointment, etc.) but there are documents of more significance, especially in the files for city of New Orleans government agencies. In the file "United States Treasury Department" there is a letter from the captain of the Rex carnival organization discussing parade routes.

Individual correspondents include Congressmen Newton Blanchard, C.J. Boatner, Charles Buck, R.C. Davey, Adolph Meyer, Andrew Price, and S.M. Robertson. Also represented is Archbishop Francis Janssens and the mayors of several American cities. In addition to the correspondence there is also a copy of Fitzpatrick's 1896 report to the City Council and a questionnaire giving details on the operation of the Mayor's Office.

Dates

  • Creation: 1892-1896

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Available to registered researchers by appointment.

Requesting Materials

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction or use of materials is prohibited without the permission of the City Archives & Special Collections. Please review the Archives' Permission to Publish note.

Biographical / Historical

John Fitzpatrick (1844-1919) was Mayor of New Orleans, 1892-1896. Orphaned early in life, he entered politics at an early age and rose steadily in the ranks of the city's Democratic machine. He served as Criminal Sheriff and Administrator of Public Works prior to his election as Mayor in 1892. Fitzpatrick was the only New Orleans mayor to be impeached (in 1894), but the District Attorney was unable to convict and remove him from office. Following the end of his term of office, Fitzpatrick remained active in Democratic politics and served in several official capacities, including on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Public Library (he was instrumental in bringing about the formal establishment of the Library in 1896).

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 carton.)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the name of the correspondent or the subject of the folder's contents. In addition to the correspondence there is also a copy of Fitzpatrick's 1896 report to the City Council and a questionnaire giving details on the operation of the Mayor's Office.

Related Materials

Letterbooks with copies of outgoing correspondence have been preserved with the Office of the Mayor records. Request the volumes available for the dates associated with each individual mayor for more information, as well as additional records from that mayor's tenure.

  • v. 34 March 30, 1891 - May 21, 1892
  • v. 35 May 21, 1892 - April 1, 1893
  • v. 37 January 12, 1894 - November 20, 1894
  • v. 39 September 25, 1895 - June 2, 1896


Volumes 38 is missing.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the City Archives Repository

Contact:
City Archives & Special Collections
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans LA 70112
504-596-2610