Green, A. H. (Andrew Haswell), 1820-1903

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Lawyer.

From the description of Andrew H. Green letters, 1870-1882. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 74898591

Andrew Haswell Green (1820-1903) was a New York City lawyer, city planner, civic leader, and reformer.

From the description of A.H. Green papers, 1790-1923 (bulk 1832-1903) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122517523

Andrew Haswell Green (1820-1903) was a New York City lawyer, city planner, civic leader and reformer widely referred to as both "the father of Central Park" and "the father of greater New York." One of eleven children born to William Elijah Green in Worcester, Massachusetts, Andrew Haswell Green left home for New York City at the age of fifteen, where he worked as an errand boy first to a jeweler, and then to a cloth importer. Unsatisfied by the dearth of fulfilling employment opportunities, he briefly left the city to manage a sugar plantation in Trinidad. Upon his return, he undertook the study of law mentored by Samuel J. Tilden, with whom he developed a lasting personal and professional relationship. In 1854, Green was elected to the New York City Board of Education. By 1857, he had been named head of the Central Park Commission, and through his influence the "greensward plan" of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux was implemented. Green expanded the role of the Parks Commission, which later created such city landmarks as Riverside Park, Morningside Park, and Columbus Circle.

Green was appointed city comptroller in 1870 as his friend and mentor Samuel Tilden exposed the graft and fraud of Tammany Hall under William M. "Boss" Tweed. He retained the position until 1876, restoring order to the city's finances, even using his own personal credit as collateral to obtain the funds necessary to cover the city payroll.

Upon Tilden's death in 1886, Green served as an executor of the Tilden estate, much of which had been earmarked for the creation of a public reading room. Green consolidated the Tilden Trust with the Astor and Lenox libraries to create the New York Public Library.

As early as 1868, Green had publicly promoted the idea of unifying Manhattan and the larger metropolitan area, but his plan had not been widely supported. After the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, the Washington Bridge in 1889, and the annexation of land north of Manhattan in what is now the Bronx, public and political opinion began to sway in favor of unification. The New York State legislature created a commission to investigate the issue and placed Green at its head. In 1896, Green's measure was approved, and the five boroughs of New York City were officially consolidated on January 1, 1898.

A. H. Green was murdered at his home in 1903, at the age of 83. Cornelius Williams mistook Green for a man named John R. Platt, whom he believed to be having an affair with his mistress, and shot Green five times at close range. Williams was found by the courts to be insane at the time of the crime.

From the guide to the A.H. Green papers, 1790-1923, 1832-1903, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sam Schaefler historical and literary letters and documents, 1674-1970s Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Bloor, A. J. (Alfred Janson), 1828-1917. Papers, [ca. 1848-1916]. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Giuliani, Rudolph W. Andrew Haswell Green collection, 1998 Nov. Worcester Historical Museum
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society records, 1895-1971 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Green and Mitchell Papers, 1805-1861 (Bulk 1824-1855) New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Green, Timothy Ruggles. Green and Mitchell papers, 1805-1861 (bulk 1824-1855). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf A.H. Green papers, 1790-1923, 1832-1903 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Husted, Hudson O. Letters to Horace Howard Furness, 1870. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Ashley W. Cole Letters, 1882-1916 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn David B. Hill Papers, 1885-1910 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Andrew Haswell Green Collection, 1843-1911 New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Green family. Green family collection, 19th-20th centuries. Worcester Historical Museum
creatorOf Green, A. H. (Andrew Haswell), 1820-1903. A.H. Green papers, 1790-1923 (bulk 1832-1903) Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Frederick Law Olmsted Papers, 1777-1952, (bulk 1838-1903) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Green family. Green family collection, 1790-1860. Worcester Historical Museum
referencedIn Harvard University. Autograph File, G. 1641-2009. Houghton Library
referencedIn Green family, of Worcester, Mass. Additional papers, 1826-1919. Gadsden Public Library
creatorOf Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878. Letters, 1854-1876, New york. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Green, Andrew H. Andrew H. Green letters, 1870-1882. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Tilden Estate and Trust records, 1886-1930, 1890-1915 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society corporateBody
associatedWith Bloor, A. J. (Alfred Janson), 1828-1917. person
associatedWith Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878. person
associatedWith Cole, Ashley W. person
associatedWith Department Of Public Parks, Ny corporateBody
associatedWith Giuliani, Rudolph W. person
associatedWith Green family. family
associatedWith Green family. family
associatedWith Green family, of Worcester, Mass. family
associatedWith Green, John Plimpton person
associatedWith Green, John Plimpton person
associatedWith Green, Julia Elizabeth, 1816-1880. person
associatedWith Green, Lucy Merriam, 1810-1893. person
associatedWith Green, Lydia Plympton, 1824-1869. person
associatedWith Green, Mary Ruggles, b. 1814 person
associatedWith Green, Oliver Bourne, b. 1826 person
associatedWith Green, Timothy Ruggles. person
associatedWith Green, William E., 1777-1865. person
correspondedWith Hawkins, Waterhouse person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Hill, David Bennett, 1843-1910 person
associatedWith Husted, Hudson O. person
associatedWith John Wroughton Mitchell person
associatedWith New York (State). Constitutional Convention corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Constitutional Convention (1894) corporateBody
correspondedWith Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903. person
associatedWith Schaefler, Sam, 1920-, person
associatedWith Seymour, Horatio. person
correspondedWith Smithsonian Institution corporateBody
associatedWith Tilden Trust corporateBody
associatedWith Timothy Ruggles Green person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Europe
New York (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Europe
Central Park (New York, N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.)
New York--Syracuse
New York (State)
New York (State)--New York
New York
Central Park (New York, N.Y.)
New York (State)
Subject
Canals
Canals
Charities
Charities
Constitutional amendments
Constitutional amendments
Constitutional convention
Constitutional conventions
Ethnology Archaeology Anthropology
Lawyers
Salt industry and trade
Scientific publications
Taxation
Taxation
Women
Occupation
Public officers
Activity

Person

Birth 1820-10-06

Death 1903-11-13

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