PDF Finding Aid

Using These Materials


RESTRICTIONS:

Access to this record group is unrestricted except where noted for records related to whistleblowers.

More...

Navigate the Collection

Summary

Abstract:
The records of Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC) document its research and activism, from its infancy as part of the New York Environmental Institute, through its independent chartering in 1991, and continuing into the new millennium.
Extent:
44.25 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Citizens' Environmental Coalition Records 1973-2005 (APAP-197). M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Citizens' Environmental Coalition Records).

Background

Scope and Content:

The records of Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC) document its research and activism, from its infancy as part of the New York Environmental Institute, through its independent chartering in 1991, and continuing into the new millennium. The earliest document in the collection is collected research material from 1973. The records in this collection document CEC's growing political maturity through the 1990s, and the bulk of the materials date from that decade.

CEC collection has been divided into eight series: Activities, Administrative Files, Fundraising, Graphics Files, Issue Files, News Clippings, Publications, and Research Material. Environmental issues covered in the collection include (but are not limited to) the following: radioactive waste, Superfund sites, clean drinking water, health care and the environment, agricultural waste, environmental labor concerns, safe schools, the Hudson River, Eastman Kodak, air pollution, toxic waste, and toxic chemicals.

The greatest strength of CEC collection lies in the Activities series. This series documents CEC's plans and actions taken on particular environmental issues. It contains correspondence, outreach files, and research material for numerous activities.

Some records of the Western New York office of CEC are found in the Water subseries. Additional records from that office remain in Buffalo, NY.

The collection also contains records from New York Environmental Institute, EPL Institute Inc., Superfund Monitoring Project, Toxics In Your Community Coalition, Healthy Schools Network, and the Office of Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried, former New York State Assistant Majority Leader.

This collection lacks comprehensive coverage of all activities. It does not contain a substantial amount of recent records related to persistent toxic chemicals, right-to-know, Superfund, brownfields, and sustainable agriculture. Leadership documents, records listing past members of the board and other leaders, as well as records describing organizational structure (except for 1990-1991), are generally scarce. The collection is not, as of 2006, strong in post-2002 materials.

It should be noted that CEC has frequently re-used paper by printing or copying documents on the reverse side. Examples of this practice include single page outreach letters leftover from mass mailings that were subsequently re-used. Researchers should take care not to confuse the side of the page that was used actively for recordkeeping with the previously used, discarded side. Also, it is helpful to keep in mind that CEC often used both sides of the page when initiating new, longer print jobs such as multi-page reports.

Throughout the collection, researchers will observe frequent changes in institutional name or project name. These name changes can be seen alongside identical institutional addresses, phone numbers, and/or staff names. Changes in name reflect the history of CEC. Researchers should be aware that CEC grew out of the projects of other organizations and that it later joined other environmental coalitions. CEC often acted as a coalition leader, shepherding both individual citizens and citizens' groups.

Biographical / Historical:

The Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC) consists of 110 community and environmental groups and over 14,000 individuals in New York. CEC is active in local, state, and national environmental issues. It operates two offices: the main office in Albany and a Western New York office in Buffalo. CEC's primary purposes are to fight pollution in New York State, build a healthier environment, and to encourage, educate, and organize local citizens with similar goals. It supports democratic, grassroots activities, helps build coalitions, and "promote[s] corporate accountability and non-violent social justice values" ["CEC: About us", Citizen's Environmental Coalition, http://www.cectoxic.org/about.html, accessed 29 March 2006].

The origin of CEC can be traced to "Toxics In Your Community: A Conference To Promote Citizen Involvement" sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund and the New York State Planners ["Toxics In Your Community: A Conference to Promote Citizen Involvement" brochure, Series 1: Activities, Subseries 12: Toxics, Box 1, Folder 14]. The conference, organized by Gail McFarland Benedict and Anne Rabe, was held at the Silver Bay Conference Center in Silver Bay, NY, October 14-16, 1983. It was the first in a series of successful annual environmental conferences bringing citizens and activists together to fight toxic waste.

Initially named the Toxics In Your Community Coalition, and later known as the Toxics Coalition, CEC obtained support from the New York Environmental Institute (NYEI) in 1985. The Toxics In Your Community Coalition and the Superfund Monitoring Project (SMP) at NYEI facilitated citizen networking and attempted to empower citizens fighting toxic waste in their communities. Activists became cognizant of the difficulties in maintaining citizen participation and one member noted:

One of our purposes stated at the first [Toxics In Your Community] conference was to keep each other informed so that the agencies can't play games with the different groups... If the Coalition is to be a participatory, democratically run group then the local representatives from the toxic sites must make the decision to be active. Otherwise, it becomes another coalition of environmental groups. I believe that is the organizational problem to be solved... [Correspondence from Deborah Wallace, Ph.D., President of Public Interest Scientific Consulting Service to Anne Rabe, Director of the Superfund Monitoring Project, regarding the Toxics In Your Community Coalition, 4 Aug 1985, Series 1: Activities, Subseries 12: Toxics, Box 1 Folder 17].

Several actions were taken to keep ordinary citizens involved. The EPL Institute Inc. ["NYEI 'contracts' with EPL staff to do issue projects.", Statement of Income and Expenses for the New York Environmental Institute 1989-1990, Series 1: Activities, Subseries 12: Toxics, Box 1, Folder 23] published a guide to Effective Citizen Participation in Public Hearings in 1986 [Effective Citizen Participation in Public Hearings, Series 1: Activities, Subseries 12: Toxics, Box 1, Folder 18]. The Superfund Monitoring Project cited "Citizen Assistance" as part of its plan of action in 1987. An early SMP funding proposal indicates: ...many citizens are in rural, isolated communities and face significant opposition to their basic requests for action, such as testing of wells. It is important for them to know their work is valuable and they are not alone. Often, the [Superfund Monitoring] Project helps citizens working on similar site problems to network with each other so they can share ideas and support. The Superfund Monitoring Project regularly receives over 40 calls and letters a week from citizens requesting assistance and information [New York State Superfund Monitoring Project Proposal, Part IV, Section B, May 1987, Series 1: Activities, Subseries 12: Toxics Box 1, Folder 20].

By 1990, the Toxics Coalition became known as Citizens' Environmental Coalition. CEC broadened the fight against pollution and continued to support citizen efforts. It became an independent organization, attaining status as a not for profit, tax-exempt group in 1991.

The leadership of CEC consists of an Executive Committee, a Board of Directors, and an Executive Director located in Albany, NY. A list of the current staff and board of directors is available online at http://www.cectoxic.org/about.htmlhttp://www.cectoxic.org/about.html.

Executive Directors:

Anne Rabe, 1990-2002

Roberta Chase and Kathleen Curtis, 2002-2003 (Acting Co-Directors)

Kathleen Curtis, 2002-present [2006]

Acquisition information:
All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, by Citizens' Environmental Coalition in May, July, and September 2005 and April 2006.
Processing information:

Processed in 2006 by Mary Beth Sullivan, Evan Rallis, Orson Kingsley, Joshua Hauck Whealton.

Box and folder list assistance by Kayla Misner.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized as follows:

  1. Subseries 1: Artwork, ca. 1995-2000
  2. Subseries 2: Cartoons, 1977-2000
  3. Subseries 3: Photographs, 1986-2001
Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

Contents


Access

Using These Materials

ACCESS:
The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
RESTRICTIONS:

Access to this record group is unrestricted except where noted for records related to whistleblowers.

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, series, box, folder, Citizens' Environmental Coalition Records 1973-2005 (APAP-197). M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Citizens' Environmental Coalition Records).

Schedule a Visit

Archival materials can be viewed in-person in our reading room. We recommend making an appointment to ensure materials are available when you arrive.

Schedule a Visit Hours