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Summary
- Abstract:
- The James Joseph Delaney Papers, 1950-1978, document Delaney's extensive tenure in Congress. Elected in November 1948, Delaney remained in Congress until his retirement in December 1978. Delaney served as Congressman from Queens, New York and his three decades in Washington are distinguished by consecutive elections to chairman of the House Rules Committee and the addition of the 1958 Delaney Clause to the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
- Extent:
- 11.65 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, James Joseph Delaney Papers, 1950-1978. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Delaney Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The James Joseph Delaney Collection consists of 11.65 cubic feet and is arranged into two series. Series 1: Legislative Files is divided into three Sub-series: Sub-series 1: Chemical Additives in Food and Drug contains legislative files, news clippings and correspondence from Delaney's campaign to have cancer-causing agents banned from food, drugs and cosmetics; Sub-series 2: Education Files focuses on Delaney's support of Federal Aid for public and private education including the tuition voucher system and consists of news clippings, House Resolution (H.R.) jackets, and correspondence; and Sub-series 3: Subject Files consist of statements, releases, H.R. jackets and correspondence that relate to various political issues of interest to Delaney.
During his terms in Congress Delaney encountered a variety of legislative issues concerning chemical additives in foods and federal aid to education. In January 1949 and again in January 1951, Delaney became chairman of the Select House Committee which conducted an investigation and study of the use of chemicals, pesticides, and insecticides in and with respect to food products. Sub-series 1: Chemical Additives in Food and Drug includes news clippings, publications by Delaney and others, reports, and correspondence all of which are related to the fight against cancer-causing agents in food, drugs, and cosmetics. This series includes documents on antibiotics, asbestos, and fluoridation. Also included are correspondence, endorsements, hearings, releases and speech notes from the Select House Committee.
In 1952, growing concern over funding for private and public education led to Delaney's involvement in a campaign for federal aid to education. Subseries 2: Education Files, includes correspondence, Congressional files, news clippings, publications, press releases, and statements by Delaney and others . Delaney corresponds with individuals and organizations about aid to private and public education. Notable correspondents include Hugh L. Carey, Cardinal Spellman and the Citizens for Educational Freedom . Delaney's support for aid to education is well documented through his support of the Junior G.I. bill, a tuition tax credit , and the voucher system. Sub-series 3: Subject Files consist of statements, releases, H.R. jackets and correspondence that relate to other political issues. The folders in this series include H.R. jackets accompanied by correspondence, news clippings, press releases, and statements related to the issue. Each folder in this series concerns a potential legislation and includes related materials for decision makers. Topics include immigration, political prisoners, social security, taxes and much more.
Series 2: Communications includes speeches, statements and press releases given by Delaney and others. We retained a list of all H.R. jackets that Delaney was involved with but have disposed of the originals. As a representative from New York, Delaney had a continuous interaction with the media. Between 1958 and 1978, communication between Delaney's office and the public were well documented. He issued press releases, speeches, statements, and other communication on many relevant topics . He discussed education, food additives, abortion, social security, the international drug trade and much more. Folders with H.R. jackets include correspondence and Delaney's notes. Also, Series 1 contains audio and visual material, including an open reel recording and transcript of an August 1957, ABC interview, As We See It. The collection also includes transcripts of the ABC interview, a June 1962 NBC television and radio broadcast of Meet the Press with Abraham Ribicoff, and an April 1963 CBS broadcast The Silent Spring of Rachel Carson.
- Biographical / Historical:
James Joseph Delaney was born in New York City on March 19, 1901. He attended public schools in Long Island City, Queens and in 1931 received a law degree from St. John's University. Between 1936 and 1944, Delaney served as an assistant to the Queens District Attorney's office. Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress in November 1944, Delaney was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1946 and resumed his law career thereafter. Delaney's hiatus from politics was short-lived following his election to the 81 st United States Congress in 1948. Having been reelected to 14 succeeding congresses Delaney served as Congressman from Queens, New York from January 3, 1949 until his retirement on December 31, 1978.
Delaney is noted for his campaign to have cancer-causing agents banned from food, drugs and cosmetics. Passed in 1958, the Delaney Amendment was a clause in the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that outlawed cancer-causing additives in food and commenced the federal government's role in protecting the public from cancer. His amendment required the Food and Drug Administration to monitor for any chemical additives in food that were found to induce cancer in man or animals. Delaney became involved with this issue as chairman of the Select House Committee that conducted an investigation and study of the use of chemicals, pesticides, and insecticides in and with respect to food products in January 1949 and again in January 1951. In 1996 Congress amended the Delaney Clause with the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) that changed the "zero risk" standard, which made no allowances, to one of "reasonable certainty."
Delaney was frequently at odds with fellow Democrats over his votes against federal aid to education, support for public aid to parochial schools, school busing, and his support of the Vietnam War. As chairman of the New York City Congressional delegation in the mid-1970's, he played a key role in shaping the federal legislation that helped rescue the city from its financial crisis by securing a 2.4 billion dollar low-interest loan. His three decades in Washington catapulted him into the chairmanship of the powerful Committee on Rules in January 1977.
Delaney married Lola Mathis in 1939 and had a son, Patrick. Following his retirement in 1978 James Joseph Delaney was a resident of Key Biscayne, Florida until his death at his son's home in Tenafly, New Jersey on May 24, 1987. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, by James Joseph Delaney in 1978.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2008 by George Asante.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1 - Legislative Files, 1950-1978
- Series 2 - Communications, 1956-1978, Arranged chronologically, 2 cubic ft.
The folders in this series are arranged chronologically and include speeches, statements, press releases and other communication between Delaney's office and the media. Folders with H.R. jackets include correspondence and Delaney's notes. Topics of statements and press releases include abortion, social security, and the international drug trade.
- 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:
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Access to this record group is unrestricted.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
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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, James Joseph Delaney Papers, 1950-1978. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Delaney Papers).