New York State Library
NYSL Facebook page NYSL Instagram account NYSL Twitter account

James Hilton Manning
Papers, 1885-1925

SC22904

Quantity: 11 boxes (4.0 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Gift: Emma Austin Manning and Beatrice Austin Manning, July 1955; see provenance note for further information
Processed By: Manuscripts and Special Collections, 1955; revised  May 2006

View catalog record

Biographical Note:

James Hilton Manning (1854-1925) was the author of an unpublished history of Albany, New York, and several other books related to the history of Albany, New York State and the United States. During his business career he was publisher and president of the Weed Parsons Printing Company; secretary and director of the Albany Railway Company (operator of Albany's trolleys), which converted to electric power during his term, eliminating horse-drawn carriages;  president of the Hudson River Telephone Company and president of National Savings Bank. He served as mayor of Albany from 1890 to 1894. He was the son of Daniel Manning, who served as Secretary of the Treasury during President Grover Cleveland's administration.

Scope and Content Note:

These papers include a manuscript, in two unbound volumes, on Albany's history from 1606 to 1925.  The pages are typewritten with annotations and other marginalia. The manuscript contains several typed transcripts of source materials used by Manning in the preparation of the work. The collection also includes two series of scrapbooks related to the life and career of Daniel Manning. The first series consists of two volumes, titled "Daniel Manning: Banker, Statesman, Leader, 1831-1887," and contains original letters and obituaries clipped from newspapers. The second series consists of scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings related to Daniel Manning's tenure as Secretary of Treasury during the administration of President Grover Cleveland.

Provenance Note:

The collection was presented to the New York State Library by Emma Austin Manning and Beatrice Austin Manning in memory of James Hilton Manning, July 6, 1955. The manuscripts, prints, and albums were originally catalogued as collection SC13181. The scrapbooks were initially separated and catalogued with the rare book collection. These items were re-united with other manuscripts in May 2006, and the collection in its entirety was accessioned as SC22904.  The original gift also included a number of publications that were catalogued separately in the library's book collection.

Container List:


Box Volume Description
    MANUSCRIPTS
1   Historic Albany. From its founding as a trading-post in 1614 by the Hollanders under the auspices of the Dutch West India Company of Amsterdam to the year 19[15]. By James Hilton Manning. First part of typewritten manuscript with author's corrections and changes.
2   Historic Albany … Second part of typewritten manuscript with author's corrections and changes. Also includes tipped-in letters and newspaper clippings.
    PRINTS
2   Portrait of Daniel Manning. Small steel engraving (1 item)
2   Photograph of the Old Elm Tree Corner (Albany) 1859
Missing 12/20/05
    ALBUMS
3 1 Daniel Manning. Banker, Statesman, Leader, 1831-1887. Tributes and Biographical Sketches. By James Hilton Manning. Albany, 1917.   v. 1 Letters and pictures, inlaid; typewritten sketch signed by Charles J. Hailes. 143 p.
4 2 Daniel Manning. Banker, Statesman, Leader, 1831-1887. Tributes and Biographical Sketches. By James Hilton Manning. Albany, 1917 v. 2 Newspaper clippings, 1886-1887. Many relate to his death. 178 p.
    SCRAPBOOKS
5 1 Politics and government, 1885-87
6 2 Politics and government, 1886
7 3 Politics and government, 1886 (continued)
8 4 Politics and government, 1886-1887
9 5 Politics and government, 1887 (continued)
10 6 Politics and government, 1887 (continued)
11 7 Politics and government, 1887 (continued)
    BOOKS (transferred to New York State Library monograph collection)
    Manning, James Hilton. Century of American Savings Banks. (New York: B.F. Buck and Company, 1917). Volume 1: "Retrospective-Prospective."
Transferred to C,332.2,M28 V.1
    Manning, James Hilton. Century of American Savings Banks. (New York: B.F. Buck and Company, 1917). Volume 2: "New York Volume." Inserted is L.S. by B.F. Buck, June 12, 1917, indicating the copy has been specially bound and "is literally number One of the Edition."
Transferred to C,332.2,M28 V.2
    National Savings Bank of the City of Albany. Albany's Historic Street: A Collection of Some of the Historic Facts and Interesting Traditions Relating to State Street & Its Neighborhood. Published in Commemoration of Its Fiftieth Anniversary. (Albany, N.Y.: The Bank, 1918). 45p. Transferred to N,974.743,N27
    Report of the Special Committee of the Board of Aldermen Appointed to Investigate the "Ring" Frauds … Together with the Testimony Elicited During the Investigation. [Published by the New York City] Board of Aldermen, January 4, 1878 (Document No. 8). (New York: Martin D. Brown, 1878). 871p. Missing 12/20/05
Last Updated: February 24, 2022