Baltimore Neighborhoods, Incorporated Records
Scope and Contents
Collection contains materials documenting the work and history of the Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. organization between 1958 and 2018. It includes program descriptions and history, minutes, reports and financial statements, surveys, tenants' manuals, correspondence, reports and studies, and newsletters. Also included are papers of the Research Advisory Committee and the Leadership Council for Fair Housing in Maryland. Also present are outreach materials, photographs, artifacts, audiovisual VHS tapes, and housing case information and restricted legal case files. Topics of note include fair housing, tenant-landlord relations, housing discrimination, real estate practices, open housing and the Baltimore Plan.
Dates
- Creation: 1958-2018
- Creation: 1967-1970
Creator
- Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (Organization)
Language of Materials
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
A 25-year donor-imposed access restriction applies to all legal case files, settlement files, and field testing files in the 2018 BNI Closure Records.
Conditions Governing Use
To the extent that they own copyright, the donor has assigned the copyright of this collection to the University Foundation. However, copyright for some items in this collection are held by their respective creators.
Historical Note
Established in Baltimore Maryland in 1958, Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. was formed to promote an open housing market and viable integrated neighborhoods in the Baltimore area. It was established by several neighborhood associations and supported by civic organizations like the Greater Baltimore Committee. The early focus of the organization was to obtain open housing and stable neighborhoods during a period of widespread white flight, segregation, and blockbusting in Baltimore City. Through education and advocacy, it sought to counter racial prejudice, to fight discrimination in the real estate industry, and to combat neighborhood deterioration resulting from segregated housing. More recently, BNI focused on tenant-landlord relations and renters' rights. BNI provided information for those with housing discrimination complaints and counseled individuals regarding numerous housing issues including evictions, maintenance issues, and more. After financial difficulties, the organization ceased operations in August 2018.
Extent
72.92 Linear Feet (78 containers)
Arrangement
Collection is arranged in ten series:
- Organizational Records
- Board of Directors
- Publications
- Committees
- Correspondence
- Reports and Studies
- Open Housing
- Financial, 1981-1982
- Baltimore Plan, 1978-1982
- BNI Closure Records
Custodial History
The collection was donated to the University of Baltimore by Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. on May 29, 1981. Four additional accessions of records were transferred by John Herron and received by Aiden Faust in 2018, upon closure of the organization.
Accessing Digital Copies
Digital versions of items in this collection are available online. Locate records by using the "Print" button above, or browse records in “Collection Organization." Records with associated digital objects are identified with a red Digital Object icon.
Processing Information
Collection was processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. Materials from this collection selected and digitized for an online exhibit by Aiden Faust in 2012. Additional accessions with restrictions were added to the collection in 2018 and described in a series.
Source
- Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (Organization)
Subject
- Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. (Organization)
- Leadership Council for Fair Housing in Maryland (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Baltimore Neighborhoods, Incorporated Records
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives staff. Revised by Aiden Faust (2011). Revised (2018). Revised by Laura Bell (2020).
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Baltimore Studies Archives Repository
H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons, Room 104
1415 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore Maryland 21201 USA
410-837-4253
specialcollections@ubalt.edu