The sun., 1918-09-29
}SECRET OF HARLEM
RECORDS REVEALED
Mysterious Papers That Have Dis
turbed Owners for Many Years
Now in Public Library.

Those interested in the history Of old
New York and those owning property
in what was known as the old town
OF Harlem have been disturbed fire.
Quently during tho past twenty years by
rumors of disclosures that might be
made some day were it possible to Sc
cure access to tho old records of the
town Of Harlem. n was stated that II
the contents of these records could be
brought to Hight much Harlem property
would change hands. but that the Title
Guarantee and Trust Company in its ef-
forts to protect itself under policies is
sued to present holders of Harlem prop
erty had secured these records and
transported them out Of the State.
This mares nest has been disposed OF
finally. for the Harlem records in toto
have been presented by the Title Guar
antee ana Trust Company to the New
Yorh Public Library and are now tenn
porardly on exhibition In six glass cases
In room 11s on tho first floor of the
Library building, Fifth avenue and For
ty-second street. directly opposite the
main Fifth avenue entrance.
The story Of the Harlem records is in
tsrestng James Riker, author Of Ri
ksr's History Of Harlem" unearthed
them IN the cellar of the old Harlem
Library IN q very much muulated con-
1stton. He carefully repaired them and
had them translated by the Rev. Cor
nelius Westbrook. In later years, evil
wise the earlier and far from perfec,
TRANSLATION. From these books Mr.. Ri.
her wrote bis history Of Harlem and the
booka became . part Of his estate
IN speaking Of the connection of the
Z Title Guarantee and Trust Company with
The records, Clarence H. Kelsey, presi.
cent OF the company, says:
I'VE bought them from the Riker es.
/ tate. influenced by the statement that
they contained much that would tend tc
disQuiet titles In that part Of the city
A careful study of them showed that
they had practically no real estate value
Whatever and above all nothing that ir
any way affected the title to the presen,
holders of property in Harlem.
The general public, however. has
suspected constantly that we were con.
cealing tho contents of these books 70,
our own purposes. while as q matter Of
tact We simply refused to get them gu,
svsry few days for some trouble maker tc
paw over In tho library they will be n
. position where any suspicion of thi,
kind may be, laid at rest and where
under proper supervision. they can b,
examined by the people who want to Sc,
them, A the sum paid by the It'll,
Guarantee and Trust Company for thes,
books was represented by ave figures
their gift to the city Is ono Of consider.
able Importance"
The records consist OF nine small thlr
volumes written In Dutch. Tho origipa
records Of the old village of Harlem
form the nucleus Of the collection. Thes.
: contain not only the real estate trans
actions, but Wills. surveyors reports
{ auditors accounts and lawsuits, man,
Of the latter Of the most trivial nature
Everything Of interest In the simple an
nails OF the village was entered her,
} from the important announcement thai
Z. This day, 10th August. 1873 New Style
: have the Holland and iceland fleets cap
tured the fort Of ". York;
> and the City obtained the name New
{ Orange TO tho brief memorandum o,
the Town Clerk. "Set hen to brood. 18Th
July. 1875"
The nrst entry bears the date o.