City of Boston Archives and Records Management Division Guide to the City Council proceedings Finding aid prepared by Kristen Swett This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit Repository: City of Boston Archives and Records Management Division Title: City Council proceedings Collection No.: 0100.001 Dates: 1822-2002 Quantity: 829.0 Cubic feet (293 record cartons, 913 document cases and 483 volumes) TABLE OF CONTENTS Historical note Scope and Contents note Related Material SERIES LIST Series I: Board of Aldermen Series II: Common Council Series III: City Council Series IV: Published minutes Series V: Dockets filed separately Historical note Boston was incorporated as a city on February 23, 1822 by Chapter 110 of the Acts of 1821. This act was adopted by the voters on March 4, 1822. The City Charter established the form of government as a Mayor; a Board of Aldermen, consisting of eight elected at large; and a Common Council, of forty-eight elected by wards; to be called when conjoined, ‘the City Council.” The Mayor and Aldermen were vested with the administration of the police, and executive power of the corporation generally, with specific enumerated powers. All other powers belonging to the corporation were vested in the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council exercised by concurrent vote. The Mayor served as ex officio Chairman of the Board of Aldermen until 1855. Section 29 of Chapter 448 of the Acts of 1854, an act to revise the charter of the City of Boston, provided for the choice of a permanent chairman Guide to the City Council proceedings 1
Transcript
City of Boston Archives and Records Management Division
Guide to the City Council proceedingsFinding aid prepared by Kristen Swett
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
Repository: City of Boston Archives and Records Management DivisionTitle: City Council proceedingsCollection No.: 0100.001Dates: 1822-2002Quantity: 829.0 Cubic feet (293 record cartons, 913 document cases and 483 volumes)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Historical note
Scope and Contents note
Related Material
SERIES LIST
Series I: Board of Aldermen
Series II: Common Council
Series III: City Council
Series IV: Published minutes
Series V: Dockets filed separately
Historical note
Boston was incorporated as a city on February 23, 1822 by Chapter 110 of the Acts of 1821. This act was adoptedby the voters on March 4, 1822. The City Charter established the form of government as a Mayor; a Board ofAldermen, consisting of eight elected at large; and a Common Council, of forty-eight elected by wards; to becalled when conjoined, ‘the City Council.” The Mayor and Aldermen were vested with the administration of thepolice, and executive power of the corporation generally, with specific enumerated powers. All other powersbelonging to the corporation were vested in the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council exercised by concurrentvote.
The Mayor served as ex officio Chairman of the Board of Aldermen until 1855. Section 29 of Chapter 448 of theActs of 1854, an act to revise the charter of the City of Boston, provided for the choice of a permanent chairman
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by the Board of Aldermen who presided at all meetings of the board and at conventions of the two branches in theabsence of the Mayor. The administration of the police, together with the executive powers of the corporationgenerally, all the powers formerly vested in the Selectmen of Boston, and all the powers subsequently vested inthe Mayor and Board of Aldermen, as county commissioners or otherwise, were vested in the Board of Aldermen.The Mayor if present continued to preside but without a vote. All other powers belonging to the corporationcontinued to be vested in the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council, exercised by concurrent vote.
Chapter 448 of the Acts of 1854 established a Board of Aldermen consisting of twelve members elected at largeand a Common Council of forty-eight members elected by wards, four from each ward. 12 wards.
Chapter 359 of the Acts of 1867, an act to unite the cities of Boston and Roxbury, established a Board ofAldermen consisting of twelve members and the Common Council consisting of sixty members, four membersfrom each ward. 15 wards.
Chapter 349 of the Acts of 1869, an act to unite the City of Boston and Town of Dorchester, established a Boardof Aldermen consisting of twelve members and a Common Council, consisting of sixty-four members, four fromeach ward. 16 wards.
With the annexations of Charlestown, Brighton and West Roxbury, the number of Common Councilors increasedto seventy-four members, four each from wards 1-16, 2 each from wards 17, 19-22. There was no ward 18 sincethe annexation of Brookline was rejected.
Chapter 243 of the Acts of 1875 authorized the division of the City of Boston into twenty-four wards and fixedthe number of Common Councilors at 72, three from each ward. 24 wards.
Chapter 242 of the Acts of 1876 divided ward 22 into two wards becoming wards 22 and 25. The CommonCouncil consisted of 72 members, three from each ward except that wards 22 and 25 alternately shall elect 1 and2, or 2 and 1.
Chapter 250 of the Acts of 1884 created 12 aldermanic districts, one alderman elected from each district.
Powers related to the administration of the Police were transferred to the Board of Police Commissioners bychapter 244 of the Acts of 1878. Chapter 266 of the Acts of 1885, an act to amend the charter of the City ofBoston, transferred to the Mayor the power to appoint, subject to the approval of the Board of Aldermen, allofficers and boards elected by the City Council or Board of Aldermen, and all offices that may be established inthe future. The positions of City Messenger, Clerk of Committees and other clerks of the City Council wereexempted from this provision. All executive powers vested in the Board of Aldermen were transferred to theMayor to be exercised through the several officers and boards of the City in their respective departments, underthe general supervision and control of the Mayor. The Mayor no longer would be a member, nor preside at anymeeting, nor appoint any committee of the Board of Aldermen.
Chapter 175 of the Acts of 1888 increased the number of Common Councilors to seventy-three members, threefrom each ward except that wards 22 and 25 elect two. 25 wards.
Chapter 88 of the Acts of 1891 increased the number of Common Councilors to seventy-five members, three fromeach ward. 25 wards.
Chapter 473 of the Acts of 1893 provided for the election of twelve aldermen at large instead of by districts.
Chapter 554 of the Acts of 1898, provided for each party to nominate twelve. This act was repealed by R.L. of1901, chapter 227.
Chapter 355 of the Acts of 1899 provided for the election of thirteen aldermen by eleven aldermanic districts.Nominations were by party caucus. Repeals all inconsistent acts.
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Chapter 426 of the Acts of 1903 provided for thirteen nominated aldermen to be elected at large. Partynominations; eight candidates by each party (13 votes to each voter).
Chapter 404 of the Acts of 1904 provide for the election of thirteen aldermen at large; no voter to vote for morethan seven; each party nominates 13 by 11 aldermanic districts; nominations also by papers 1% of gov. vote.
Chapter 486 of the Acts of 1909, an act relating to the administration of the City of Boston and to amend thecharter of the said city, abolished the City Council and both branches thereof and the positions of City Messenger,Clerk of Committees, Clerk of the Common Council, Assistant Clerk of Committees and subordinates. The actestablished a City Council consisting of nine members elected at large. The City Council, subject to the approvalof the Mayor, could establish such offices that it deemed necessary for the conduct if its affairs and at suchsalaries it may determine. The City Council retained the power to approve ordinances, loan orders presented bythe Mayor and the budget. All heads of departments and municipal boards, excluding the school committee andthose appointed by law by the governor, would be appointed by the mayor without confirmation by the CityCouncil.
Chapter 479 of the Acts of 1924 provided for the election of 22 City Councilors, one from each ward. 22 wards.Began with the biennial election in 1925.
Chapter 356 of the Acts of 1951 provided for the election of 9 City Councilors at large.
Chapter 190 of the Acts of 1982 (Tregor Bill) made major changes to the financial operations of the city and thebudgetary powers of the Mayor and City Council (major amendments to that act appear as Chapter 701 of theActs of 1986).
Chapter 605 of the Acts of 1982 provided for a City Council of thirteen members, one each from nine districtsand four at large. Effective with preliminary election in September of 1983.
Election of City Council
1822-1909 – One year terms
1910-1925 – Three year terms
1926-present – Two year terms
Return to the Table of Contents
Scope and Contents note
The City Council proceedings include the official records of the Board of Aldermen, 1822-1909; the CommonCouncil, 1822-1909; and the Boston City Council, 1910-2002. This collection has been divided into 5 series:Series I - Board of Aldermen; Series II - Common Council; Series III - City Council; Series IV - Publishedminutes; and Series V - Dockets filed separately.
The Board of Aldermen series includes minutes of the meetings of the Aldermen from 1822-1909; indexedminutes of the meetings of the Aldermen from 1824-1909 (the first volume covering 1822-1823 is missing); andthe docket documents of the Aldermen from 1822-1909. Docket documents are the official papers acted upon bythe Board of Aldermen.
The Common Council series includes minutes of the meetings of the Common Council from 1824-1910; indexedminutes of the meetings of the Common Council from 1822-1849 and 1861-1910; docket documents of theCommon Council from 1822-1910; agenda of the Common Council from 1878-1879, 1885, 1894-1908; and 4volumes of rulings of the Common Council from 1889-1910. Docket documents are the official papers acted
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upon by the Common Council.
The City Council series includes indexed minutes of the City Council from 1910-1975; docket documents of theCity Council from 1910-2001 (the docket documents from 1959-1961 are missing); and 3 bound volumes of CityCouncil orders from 1918-1922. Docket documents are the official papers acted upon by the City Council.
The Published Minutes series includes minutes of both the Board of Aldermen and Common Council from 1868July-1909 and the City Council from 1910-2002. It also includes one index volume covering the years 1868 July-1880 January. From 1875-2002, each volume contains its own index. The minutes for 2002 is the latest publishedvolume at this time.
The Dockets Filed Separately series includes several types of docket documents that were filed separately fromthe official dockets in the City Clerk's office. These include 121A filings; amusement licenses; jitney licenses;minor's licenses; ordinances; petitions and remonstrances; reports; reports of military aid; drafts; and paperspresented to the Mayor.
Return to the Table of Contents
Related Material
City Council meeting and hearing transcripts, 1947-2009 (#0100.002a)
City Council Committee hearing transcripts, 1886-1914 (0100.002b)
City Council Committee records (#0140)
Return to the Table of Contents
Series I: Board of Aldermen, 1822-1909Subseries A: Summary minutes, 1822-1909 (21 record cartons)
BoxIA-1 1822 May 1-1831 AprilIA-2 1831 May 2-1841 June 23IA-3 1841 June 28-1850 January 5IA-4 1850 January 7-1855 November 30IA-5 1855 December 3-1860 February 27IA-6 1860 March 5-1864 January 1IA-7 1864 January 4-1868 January 4IA-8 1868 January 6-1871 October 20IA-9 1871 October 23-1874 June 8IA-10 1874 June 8-1876 December 20IA-11 1877 January 1-1880 April 5IA-12 1880 April 12-1883 May 28IA-13 1883 May 28-1886 March 15IA-14 1886-1888IA-15 1889-1891IA-16 1892-1894
Series III: City Council, 1910-1996Subseries A: Summary minutes - indexed, 1910-1975 (132 volumes)
VolumesIIIA-1-2 1910IIIA-3-4 1911IIIA-4a-4b
1912
IIIA-5-6 1913IIIA-7-8 1914IIIA-9-10
1915
IIIA-11-12
1916
IIIA-13-14
1917
IIIA-15-16
1918
IIIA-17-18
1919
IIIA-19-20
1920
IIIA-21-22
1921
IIIA-23-24
1922
IIIA-25-26
1923
IIIA-27-28
1924
IIIA-29-30
1925
IIIA-31-32
1926
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IIIA-33-34
1927
IIIA-35-36
1928
IIIA-37-38
1929
IIIA-39-40
1930
IIIA-41-42
1931
IIIA-43-44
1932
IIIA-45-46
1933
IIIA-47-48
1934
IIIA-49-50
1935
IIIA-51-52
1936
IIIA-53-54
1937
IIIA-55-56
1938
IIIA-57-58
1939
IIIA-59-60
1940
IIIA-61-62
1941
IIIA-63-64
1942
IIIA-65-66
1943
IIIA-67-68
1944
IIIA-69-70
1945
IIIA-71-72
1946
IIIA-73-74
1947
IIIA-75-76
1948
IIIA-77-78
1949
IIIA-79-80
1950
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IIIA-81-82
1951
IIIA-83-84
1952
IIIA-85-86
1953
IIIA-87-88
1954
IIIA-89-90
1955
IIIA-91-92
1956
IIIA-93-94
1957
IIIA-95-96
1958
IIIA-97-98
1959
IIIA-99-100
1960
IIIA-101-102
1961
IIIA-103-104
1962
IIIA-105-106
1963
IIIA-107-108
1964
IIIA-109-110
1965
IIIA-111-112
1966
IIIA-113-114
1967
IIIA-115-116
1968
IIIA-117-118
1969
IIIA-119-120
1970
IIIA-121-122
1971
IIIA-123-124
1972
IIIA-125-126
1973
IIIA-127-128
1974
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IIIA-129-130
1975
Subseries B: Docket documents, 1910-2001 (143 record cartons)The City Council docket documents are arranged alphabetically by topic orname from 1910-1967. From 1968-2001, the docket documents are arrangedchronologically by the date they were first presented to the Council. Beginningin 1979, a number was assigned to each docket when it is submitted to theCouncil. The City Clerk's Office maintains an index to these numbered docketdocuments. Ordinances are filed at the beginning of each year beginning in1968. Prior to that time, ordinances are filed under the letter "O" or filedseparately. The docket documents for 1959-1961 are missing.
1910Carton49 A-N50 N-Z
1911Carton50 A-F51 F-V52 W-Z
1912Carton52 A-P53 P-Z
1913Carton53 A-F54 F-Z
1914Carton54 A55 A-T56 T-Z
1915Carton56 A-G57 G-Y
1916Carton57 A-E58 E-W59 W-Y
1917Carton59 A-P
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60 P-Z1918
Carton60 A-P61 E-W
1919Carton61 A-O62 O-Z
1920Carton62 A-M63 M-Z
1921Carton63 A-F64 F-Z
1922Carton64 A-B65 B-Y
1923Carton65 A-B66 B-Z
1924Carton66 A-C67 C-W
1925Carton67 A-J68 L-Y
1926Carton68 A-L69 L-Y
1927Carton69 A-P70 P-Z
1928Carton70 A-P
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71 P-Z1929
Carton71 A-O72 O-Z
1930Carton72 A-L73 L-Y
1931Carton73 A-C74 D-Z
1932Carton74 A75 B-W76 W-Y
1933Carton76 A-Z
1934Carton76 A77 A-W78 P
1935Carton78 A-O79 O-Z
1936Carton79 A-E80 E-Z
1937Carton80 A-B81 B-T82 T-Z
1938Carton82 A-O83 O-Z
1939
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Carton83 A-E84 E-Z
1940Carton84 A85 A-S86 S-Y
1941Carton86 A-K87 K-Z
1942Carton87 A-H88 H-Z
1943Carton88 A-N89 N-Z
1944Carton89 A-T90 M-Z
1945Carton90 A-P91 P-Z
1946Carton91 A-L92 L-Z
1947Carton92 A-L93 L-Z
1948Carton93 A-H94 H-Z
1949Carton94 A-D95 A-T
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96 T-Z1950
Carton96 A-O97 P-Z
1951Carton97 A-D98 D-T99 T-Z
1952Carton99 A-H100 H-T
1953Carton100 A-G101 G-Z
1954Carton101 A-C102 C-P103 P-Z
1955Carton103 A-K104 K-Z
1956Carton104 A-C105 C-V106 V-Z
1957Carton106 A-O107 O-Z
1958Carton107 A-F108 F-Z109 Oversized
195919601961
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1962Carton110 A-O111 O-Z
1963Carton111 A-K112 L-Z
1964Carton112 A-C113 C-Z
1965Carton113 A-J114 K-Z
1966Carton114 A-D115 D-Z
1967Carton115 A-K116 L-Z
1968Carton117 Ordinances, January-November 1118 November 18-December 30
1969Carton118 Ordinances, January-July 28119 August 4-December 29193 Oversized/Addendum
1970Carton119 Ordinances, January-February 2120 February 9-September 28121 October 5-December 28, oversized
1971Carton122 Ordinances, January-November 8123 November 15-December 27, Matters in Committee, oversized
1972Carton
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124 Matters in Committee, Ordinances, January-July125 August-December194 Oversized/Addendum
1973Carton126 Ordinances, January-July127 August-December, Matters in Committee, oversized194 Oversized/Addendum
1974Carton128 Ordinances, January-August 5129 August 12-December, Matters in Committee, oversized
1977Carton136 Ordinances; January-May 2137 May 9-October 5138 October 5-December 28; Matters in Committee139 Matters in Committee; temporary employees; oversized addendum140 Oversized/Addendum
1978Carton139 Ordinances; January 3-March 15141 March 22-July 12142 July 19-November 1143 November 15-December 27; Matters in Committee188 Oversized/Addendum
Subseries C: Orders, 1918-1922 with gaps (1 record carton)Box1 1918 October 21-1922 December 4
Return to the Series List
Series IV: Published minutes, 1868 July 16-2002 (136 volumes)
Since, July, 1868, the proceedings of each branch of the City Council have been published insome newspaper and from the type a certain number of copies have been printed and distributed tomembers. The reports are nearly verbatim, the reporter being allowed to condense his notes whilepreserving the sense of the remarks.
The volume for the half year, July-December, 1868, was not bound at the time, but from one copy,fortunately preserved, a reprint was made in 1879. The first volumes were issued without indexes,but these were afterward supplied in 1875-77. In 1885 there was published the following: Index tothe City Council Minutes from July 16, 1868, to January 3, 1880. Compiled by William H. Lee.Boston: Printed by order of the City Council. Rockwell & Churchill, city printers. 1885. 391pages.
All debate of City Council was eliminated from proceedings in accordance with Chapter 447 ofthe Acts of 1947. The stenographic copy of such debate was filed with the office of the City Clerk.(see collection #0100.002 for City Archives holdings).
Series V: Dockets filed separately (27 record cartons and 9 document cases)
This series includes dockets of the City Council that for some reason or another were not filedwith the official docket documents. Reasons may include size of documents, ease of filing andretrieving, etc. These groups include 121A filings; amusement, jitney and minor's licenses;ordinances; petitions; reports; drafts; and papers presented to the Mayor.Subseries Va: 121A filings, circa 1958-1996
BoxVa-1 Abbey Landmarks-Chinagate Housing AssociatesVa-2 Church Realty Trust-Franklin Square ApartmentsVa-3 Garden Corp/FleetCenter-New Boston Food MarketVa-4 New Boston Garden-St. James CompanyVa-5 St. Joseph Community Inc-Woodbourne Community Housing CorpVa-6 Addendum: Academy Homes- Sears & Roebuck
Subseries Vf: Petitions and remonstrances, circa 1826-1914
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BoxVf-1 Petition of a Large Number of Citizens for a street from North Market to Lynn
Street, 1826Vf-1 Petition of John Welles et al. to have a new street opened to the Western
Railroad, 1832Vf-1 Petition of Engine Company No. 8, 1839Vf-1 Petition re: Projecting Signs, 1841Vf-1 Fire Department - Petition that they may be allowed to choose their own
officers, 1842Vf-1 Report on the Petition of Silas P. Barnes (Water), 1848Vf-1 Petitions etc. re: Jail Lands, 1852-1855Vf-1 Petitions re: Closing of Dram Shops, 1858Vf-9 Petitions for and against opening of Public Library on Sunday, 1870-1873Vf-9 Petition for award of damages from gunpowder explosions at the fire of
November 9-10, 1872Vf-9 Petition regarding Base Ball, 1873Vf-9 Petition for enforcement of liquor laws, 1873Vf-9 Petition regarding new avenue to Cambridge, 1874Vf-2 Petitions and Remonstrances relating to Metropolitan tracks on Washington,
Milk & Devonshire Streets, 1876Vf-2 Petition in aid of Drainage & Public Parks, 1876Vf-2 Petitions for Improved Sewerage, 1876Vf-2 Petitions relating to Public Parks, 1876Vf-2 Petitions and Remonstrances relating to Highland R. R. tracks on Columbus
Ave., 1876Vf-2 Remonstrance against removal of Metropolitan tracks on Court Street, 1876Vf-2 Petitions and Remonstrances relating to removal of Old State House, 1876Vf-2 Petitions for Free Ferries, 1877Vf-2 Remonstrance against teaching printing to boys at Deer Island, 1877Vf-2 Petition in favor of Public Park, 1877Vf-4 Petitions in favor of extension of South Boston R. R. privileges to Northern
Depots, 1877Vf-3 Petition to have Faneuil Hall free for political meetings, 1878Vf-3 Petition and remonstrance relating to Metropolitan Tracks on Columbus Ave.,
1878Vf-3 Petition relating to Jamaica Pond, 1878Vf-3 Petition for removing House of Correction South Boston to Long Island, 1878Vf-4 Petitions and Remonstrances on extension of location of Cambridge R.R. Co
southerly to Summer St., 1878Vf-4 Petitions and remonstrances relating to Metropolitan Tracks on Beacon St.,
1878Vf-4 Protests against change of route of Middlesex Horse Railroad Co., 1878Vf-3 Petition in relation to Burial Permits, 1879Vf-3 Petitions and remonstrances in relation to extension of Hamilton Place, 1879Vf-4 Remonstrances against tracks in West Chester Park, 1879Vf-4 Petitions and Remonstrances relative to Hathorne's Coach, 1879
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Vf-4 Petitions in favor of Highland R.R. from Temple Place in East Boston, 1879Vf-3 Petitions etc. relative to public parks, 1879-1881Vf-3 Petitions for Ferry foot of State St., 1880Vf-3 Remonstrances against Sunday concerts South Boston, 1880Vf-3 Frost v. Flynn Petition for recounts, 1881Vf-4 Petition of Brighton in relation to Cambridge R.R. Co., 1881Vf-4 Petitions of Wm. V. Hatchings et al. that Neightborhood Streets R.R. Co. may
have location on Walnut Ave., 1881Vf-3 Petitions for electric lights on Common and Public Garden, 1882Vf-3 Petition relative to Consumers Gas Company, 1884Vf-4 Petition of Ed. W. Johnson...in aid of the petition of South Boston R.R. Co.,
1886Vf-4 Petition of A. Collins...in aid of the petition of the South Boston R.R. Co., 1886Vf-4 Petition of South Boston R.R., 1886Vf-8 Petitions for Petroleum Product licenses, 1886Vf-5 Railroad petitions, 1886-1887Vf-6 Petitions for Lamps and Electric Lights, circa 1886-1895Vf-2 Petition in favor of appropriation for Kindergarten Schools, 1888Vf-7 Petitions relating to proposed street car lines on Beacon St. and Brighton Ave.,
1893Vf-7 Petitions relative to Fire Limits, 1914Vf-4 Remonstrances against Highland Tracks on Milk, State, and Atlantic Ave.,
undatedVf-4 Petition in favor of Charles River R.R., undatedVf-7 Petition for Tuberculosis Hospital, undatedVf-9 Petition and remonstrances regarding free ferries, undated
Subseries Vg: Reports, 1877-1883BoxVg-2 Report of Fires and Fire Alarms, 1876 February-DecemberVg-2 Report of City Solicitor, 1876 JuneVg-1 Fire Commissioner's report, 1877Vg-2 Report of City Solicitor, 1877 DecemberVg-1 Collector's reports, 1877-1884, 1888Vg-1 Treasurer's reports, 1877-1884Vg-2 Report of City Solicitor, 1878 June, DecemberVg-1 Police Commissioner's reports, 1878 October and NovemberVg-1 Dorchester Trust Fund report, 1879Vg-1 Fire Commissioner's report, 1878Vg-1 Report of Fires and Fire Alarms, 1878 December-1879Vg-1 Report of Police Commissioner, 1878 December-1879Vg-1 Report of Police Commissioner, 1879 December-1880Vg-1 Report of Fires and Fire Alarms, 1879 December-1880Vg-1 Report of City Solicitor, 1880Vg-2 Report of City Solicitor, 1883 June
Subseries Vh: Reports of Committee on Military Aid, 1896-1898
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BoxVh-1 1896-1898
Subseries Vi: Drafts, 1937-1981BoxVi-1 Boston Building Code, 1937Vi-2 Revised Ordinances, circa 1947-1957Vi-3 Funding and Loan Act papers "Tregor bill", circa 1981
Subseries Vj: Papers presented to the Mayor, 1977-1980BoxVj-1 1977-1980
