Letter from the Office of the Mayor to Lewis H. Latimer

Letter

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Lewis Latimer House

Name/Title

Letter from the Office of the Mayor to Lewis H. Latimer

Description

This is a formal letter dated May 16, 1902, from the City of New York, Office of the Mayor, addressed to L. H. Latimer, Esq. The letter acknowledges the receipt of a petition submitted by Latimer on behalf of multiple citizens regarding Mr. Scottron. The document is signed by an Assistant Secretary, indicating that it was an official response from the Mayor’s office. The letter is typed on official stationery, with a typewritten body and a handwritten signature. The paper shows signs of aging, with creases and a torn section on the lower right side. Elsewhere in the collection, Latimer noted the receipt of this note in response to his letter and petition protesting the dismissal of Samuel Scottron from his official position: “Notwithstanding the three hundred signatures, no notice was taken of the above, other than a clerical acknowledgment of its receipt."

Context

Lewis H. Latimer was an African American inventor and engineer known for his contributions to electric lighting and his advocacy for Black communities. The reference is to Samuel R. Scottron, an African American inventor who was removed from his post on Brooklyn’s Board of Education, prompting Latimer to write a protest letter to the mayor and start a petition drive calling for Scottron’s reappointment. This letter demonstrates Latimer’s engagement in civic matters and his role as a respected activist beyond his technical innovations.

Collection

The Lewis H. Latimer Papers (1870-1929, 1972) [QPL Subgroup], Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]

Transcription

CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE MAYOR May 16th, 1902 L. H. Latimer, Esq., 164 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn, New York. Dear Sir: The Mayor directs me to acknowledge the receipt of a petition containing the names of many citizens submitted by you relating to Mr. Scottron, and to state that His Honor will be pleased to give it careful consideration. Yours very truly, (Signature, Assistant Secretary) Assistant Secretary.