New York State Library
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John S. Stillman
Papers, 1949-1991
SC19408

Quantity: 10 Boxes (3.0 cu. ft.); 1 extra-large item
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Donated to the New York State Library by John S. Stillman, November 1989. Accretion received January 7, 1992.
Processed By: Thomas E. Lavery, Student Intern, College of St. Rose, June 1990; revised 1992 and 2009

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Biographical Note:

John Sterling Stillman, born in 1918, became a lawyer, New York State political figure and government official.

Scope and Content Note:

This collection contains a variety of material related to the career of John S. Stillman as chairman of the New York State Bridge Authority, as well as his role in the controversy over the expansion of Stewart Airport.

The Newburgh-Beacon Bridge series documents his role in the planning, design and construction of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, which spans the Hudson River in New York State, including the conflict between Stillman's plan to build a four-lane bridge versus Governor Nelson Rockefeller's two-lane-bridge proposal. This series is mainly comprised of letters and progress reports from the engineering firm of Modjeski and Masters, financial statements and reports from the New York State Bridge Authority, summaries of the estimated costs of construction, maps, memoranda, and blueprints. Also included are many newspaper articles, material concerning federal aid, traffic surveys, and a detailed report on the specifications, proposal, and contract for the river crossing substructure of the bridge. This series also documents Stillman's brief career as deputy to the undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Stewart Airport series documents Stillman's work as treasurer of the Hudson River Valley Council (HRVC), an organization formed in 1971 to oppose the conversion and expansion of Stewart Air Force Base into Stewart Airport. This material consists of financial records, pamphlets, and reports from the HRVC, as well as related newspaper clippings. Also included are reports by the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission on policies concerning aviation and airport facilities. This series also contains material on the subject of noise pollution: newspaper clippings, reports from the American Bar Association and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and letters from such groups as the Coalition Against Aircraft Noise and the Town-Village Aircraft Safety and Noise Abatement Committee. Stillman's appointment by the American Bar Association to the Committee on Airport Law is also documented.

Container List:

Box Folder Description
    NEWBURGH-BEACON BRIDGE  SERIES, 1949-1985
1 1 Approaches: Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, 1958-1959
1 1 Architectural Services, 1957-1959
1 3 Balmville Overpass, 1959
1 4 Barge Canal Terminal, 1959
1 5 Bridge Lights, 1958-1959
1 6 Bridge Railing, 1959
1 7 Budget Correspondence, 1955-1959
1 8 Burrelle's Press Clippings Bureau, 1962
1 9 Chronology of Events, 1955-1958
1 10 Contract and Specification, 1958-1959
1 11 Domestic Materials, 1959
1 12-14 Engineering Services – Modjeski & Masters, 1956-1960
2 1-2 Engineering Services – Modjeski & Masters, 1956-1960 (cont.)
2 3 Excess Material, 1959
2 4-6 Federal Highway Aid, 1959-1962
2 7 Fog Signal, 1959
2 8 Landscaping, 1959
3 1-6 Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, General Correspondence Files, 1949-1985
4 1-3 Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, General Correspondence Files, 1949-1985 (cont.)
4 4 Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Proposal, 1952
4 5 New York Central Railroad Work, 1959
4 6-7 New York State Bridge Authority, Financial Statements and Reports, 1969-1971
4 8 New York State Department of Public Works
4 8 New York State Highway Legislation and Information, 1961
4 10 Photographs, 1958-1959
5 1 Progress Reports - Modjeski and Masters, 1957-1959 
5 2 Raymond and May Associates Report, 1958
5 3 R.W. Pressprich and Company, 1960
5 4-5 Stillman, John S., General File, 1956-1985
5 6 Superstructive Design Correspondence, 1957-1959
5 7 Toll Plaza Design, 1959
5 8 Traffic Engineers - Coverdale & Colpitto, 1958-1959
6 1 Specifications, proposal and contract, for contract no. 1, river crossing substructure for the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge across the Hudson River, 1958  / New York State Bridge Authority
EL 1 Contract drawings for contract no. 1, river crossing substructure, Newburgh –Beacon Bridge across the Hudson River, 1958-1959  (files with Extra-Large Manuscripts)
    STEWART AIRPORT SERIES, 1971-1991
7 1-5 Hudson River Valley Council – Correspondence and reports, 1975-1979
7 6 Hudson River Valley Council – Financial Statements, 1973-1975
7 8-9 Hudson River Valley Council – Checkbooks, 1971-1979
7 10 Hudson River Valley Council – Publications, 1973-1979
7 11 Stewart Airport Master Planning Grant, 1971
7 12 Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 1971-1974
8 1-2 American Bar Association, Committee on Airport Law – Proceedings and Reports, 1971-1972
8 3-7 Town of New Windsor v. Ronan, et al – United States District Court, Southern District of New York – Briefs and Reports, 1971-1974
8 8-9 British Airways and Air France v. New York Port Authority – United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit – Reports, 1976-1977
9 1-5 Environmental Impact Assessment Reports and Hearings, 1972-1976
9 6 New York State Assembly – Hearings, 1975
9 7-11 PATTERN (Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress Inc.) – Proceedings and Reports, 1971-1991
10 1 Federal Aviation Administration, 1971-1973
10 2 Greater Cornwall Association, 1971-1978
10 3 Tri-State Regional Planning Commission, 1972
10 4 Gerald Pallor Film Documentary, 1974
10 5 Noise Pollution Studies, 1971-1983
10 6-7 Stewart Airport – Newspaper clippings files, 1971-1978
10 8 Periodicals, 1973-1985
Last Updated: February 8, 2022