Henry M. Madej Papers, 1975-2008

Summary

Abstract:
The Henry M. Madej papers contain documents pertaining to his work with the Albany City Charter Revision Commission, the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, and the Albany Tricentennial Commission. The documents in this collection include professional correspondence, newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, agendas, document drafts, press releases, newsletters, pamphlets, memorabilia, magazines, invitations, schedules, event plans, and handwritten notes as well other materials that document his involvement with the city of Albany, New York and the University at Albany community.
Extent:
2.93 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, box, folder, Henry M. Madej Papers, 1975-2008. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Madej Papers).

Background

Scope and content:

The Henry M. Madej Papers primarily document his community involvement with the Albany City Charter Revision Commission and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association during the 1990s and 2000s. Along with these items, the collection also includes documents showing Madej's involvement in planning Albany's Tricentennial celebration. The items concerning the Tricentennial date from 1983 to 1987 with the majority focusing on 1986. There are no materials covering 1984. The collection is comprised of professional correspondence, meeting minutes and agendas, addresses made to public hearings, newsletters, document drafts, organizational by laws, sample charters from other cities in New York State, notes, event schedules, event invitations,event plans, and pamphlets. In addition, the collection contains newspaper clippings, magazines and editorials related to Madej's work with these organizations. The collection also includes four cloth banners from the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, two Frisbees from Albany's Tricentennial, an Albany Tricentennial Neighborhood Olympics Medal, and photographs and certificates associated with Madej's University at Albany alumni activities.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Madej, an alumnus of the University at Albany, received his bachelor of arts degree in 1967 and his master of public administration degree in 1969. An inductee to the Alpha Phi Gamma Journalism Fraternity and a supporter of the University at Albany campus community, Madej was recognized in 1986 for fifteen years of service to the University Alumni Council. Madej served as deputy director, New York State Assembly Research Service, and later as legislative director for a New York State Assemblyperson.

A long-time Albany resident, Madej has been extremely active in the city's Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, serving a term as president of the organization. The Pine Hills Neighborhood Association covers the neighborhood adjacent to the University at Albany's Downtown Campus and is a mix of student housing, long-term residents, and commercial areas.

Because of his involvement with the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, Madej became involved with planning Albany's Tricentennial celebration and was the Pine Hills representative to the Tricentennial Commission. As Pine Hills representative, Madej helped decide which banners that would be used in his neighboorhood and where they would be placed. In addition, Madej also assisted with scheduling events that would take place throughout the year for the Tricentennial.

Madej was also involved with other citywide initiatives and organizations. He served on the Albany City Charter Revision Commission in the late 1990s, an organization which sought to update the 300 year old Albany city charter so that it reflected an effective municipal government for the new millennium. As described by Revision Commission member Mary Ellen O'Connor in a 1997 Times Union article, the impetus of the Commission was to "revise rather that rewrite Albany's charter in order to maintain our historic status as having the oldest city charter in the United States. We want to present a clear and concise legal directive for those who administer our city government." Greatly dedicated to improving Albany, Madej has participated on various other local boards and committees, including a review panel established by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings in 2001 to deliberate on parking problems in the Pine Hills neighborhood.

The information provided above was gleaned from the following sources, in addition to those found in the Henry M. Madej Papers themselves:

  1. "Albany's Historic Charter Overdue for Modernization," Times Union, 20 July 1997, sec. PERSPECTIVE, B1
  2. "Review Panel Established," Times Union, 16 February 2001, sec. CAPITAL REGION, B4
Acquisition information:
Henry M. Madej donated his papers to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives in 2002 and 2006.
Processing information:

Processed in 2013 by Chloe Pfendler.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized chronologically. There are no series.

Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Access to this record group is unrestricted.

Terms of access:

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, box, folder, Henry M. Madej Papers, 1975-2008. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Madej Papers).

Location of this collection:
M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives
Science Library 350
1400 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12222, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
518-437-3933