This is the third selection from “Some of Mayor Gaynor’s Letters and Speeches,” a volume in the Municipal Library’s rare book collection. Published in 1913, it is a compendium of the Mayor’s writings on “…a wide range of topics . . . from lively to severe,” as noted in the introduction by W. B. Northrop. In this series of letters Gaynor addresses some of the city’s youngest residents (and two apparently not-so-young resident).
Child Health Station No. 42, North 1st Street, Brooklyn., n.d. Municipal Archives Collection. NYC Municipal Archives.
Boys in Streets, August 10, 1911
To: Mrs. Jessie F. Stearns, New York City
Dear Madam: Your favor complaining of boys playing in the streets is at hand. You ask if a law could not be passed prohibiting boys playing in the streets, saying that it “would be a blessing to humanity.” I might ask you whether if such a law were passed you think it could be enforced? Our boys have a hard time to get along in the crowded districts of the city. They must play somewhere. I went around to the recreation piers the other night and found great numbers of them there, but they cannot all go there. We must bear with them. Have you any boys? If you had, do you think you could keep them off the streets?
Gymnasium Class, n.d. Department of Public Charities Collection. NYC Municipal Archives
Street Ball Playing, August 10, 1911
To: Masters LeGrande Sampson, William E. Westbrooke, Samuel C. Ward Jul, Joseph Carey and Raymond Luetke, New York City
Dear Boys: It is too bad that you cannot play ball somewhere in peace. Of course the police cannot always let you play on the street, but now and then they can wink so hard with both eyes as not to see you when you are doing no harm to passersby and the street is not crowded. In the parks, you may only play on the places assigned to baseball playing. The keepers will not chase you out unless you play where baseball is not permitted. I wish we had the grounds for you all to play, but unfortunately we have not. So boys, do the best you can, and I will help you a little now and then if you send me word.
Inwood Park Day Camp, August 20, 1934. Department of Parks and Recreation Collection. NYC Municipal Archives.
The “Wink” Letter to a Little Girl, September 15, 1911
To: Miss Helen Roth
Dear Miss Roth: I have received your letter of September 11, telling me that you and the little girls in your neighborhood have no place to play after school, and that wherever you go to play you are chased. I am very sorry about it, and I will see if I can do something for you. Some people think you ought to stay in the house all the time. But you must go out, and you must play somewhere, and we must let you play in the streets until there is some other place provided. Do you know I receive letters daily from men and women who hate to see the children play in the streets at all. But on inquiry I always find out that they are people who have no children of their own. You say you want to skate on roller skates. Maybe I can get the police up that way to wink so hard with both eyes that they won’t see you when you go by on your roller skates. But be careful not to run into anybody or bump into an automobile. But there are very few accidents of that kind. When one such accident happens a lot of people write to me as though it were the rule instead of the exception.
Rooftop playground, n.d. Department of Public Charities Collection. NYC Municipal Archives
Roof Playgorunds, August 29, 1911
To: Master Benjamin Blau, Crotona
My Dear Boys: Your several letters informing me that you won the ball game on the roof playground of Public School 188 last Thursday night, and reminding me of my promise to send a set of balls and gloves to the winners are at hand. I note that one of your letters seems to betray doubt that I will keep my word. I do not blame the writer for his doubts, considering the many ill things which are being publicly said of me. They may well create doubts even in the minds of the boys. I am sending you a box of twelve balls, and also a set of mitts and gloves. I want to tell you how much I enjoyed my visit to the roof playgrounds of the public schools last Thursday night. I never saw finer dancing by girls. I hope that the boys will be given dancing lessons next year. I regret that these playgrounds were closed so early as August 26 for lack of music. Next year, we will try to remedy that also. The playgrounds and piers ought to be kept open as late in the season as possible. I also thank you for electing me an honorary member of your ball club.
The first day of school, September 9, 1992. Mayor David N. Dinkins Collection. NYC Municipal Archives.
Police and Boys Playing Ball, May 15, 1912
To: Master Charles Van Buren, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dear Master Van Buren: Your letter complaining of the police chasing you and your companions out of the lot where you play ball is at hand. I will take charge of the matter and see what we can do. Most of the police behave with intelligence, but I am sorry to say there are a few stupid ones on the force yet that we would like to get rid of. A policeman ought to be the friend of the boys on his beat. I am very desirous of having the police let the boys play on every available lot or space in the city. In this case you have the permission of the owners, and I do not see why the police meddle with you, except to see that your ball does not fly over the fence and hit someone. You boys have to play somewhere. The people who think you ought to stay in the house all the time are also very stupid or else very ill-natured.
Roller-skating in Central Park, June 1937. WPA Federal Writers’ Project Collection. NYC Municipal Archives.
Children in Her Way, October 31, 1912
Dear Mrs. _____: I thank you for your letter. But the children on roller skates think you and your motor car are in their way, while you think they are in your way. Which is right? The point of view is everything, or not at all events very much, as is the case in all things. Now you will say that I am joking with you again. Show this to you husband and I will leave him to say whether I have not got back at you pretty well. We are trying to diminish the roller skating in places where it is dangerous for the children to use roller-skates. But of course, we cannot