City of Brockton Massachusetts City Government Reports (Lot of 9 Reports)

• City Clerk (1971-1991): John J. “JJ” Lyons, Jr. (1930?-2012)

• City Clerk (?1924-1950?): J. Allan Sullivan

• Chief of Fire Department (1975): Edward L. Burrell

• Publisher: City Standing Committee on Elections and Printing Brockton, MA U.S.A between 1924 & 1984

Brockton was the only city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts during the periods of these reports. The area was settled in the 1700s and incorporated as a town in 1821. By 1860, Brockton was known as a manufacturing center for shoes and leather goods. Brockton became a city on April 9, 1881. It is now the 6th largest city in the state.

All but one of these reports were prepared under the direction of the City Clerk. The report titled “Rules and Regulations Governing the Fire Department” (Fire) was attributed to the 1975 Fire Chief. 6 reports were issued during City Clerk Lyons’ term, the other 2 were under City Clerk Sullivan’s term. One of the reports directed by City Clerk Sullivan was titled “The City Charter” (Charter) dated 1950. All the rest were titled “City Government of Brockton Massachusetts” (CG).

The CG reports were required to be published by the Standing Committee for Elections and Printing to provide detailed information on election results and city department members and city operations. The subtitle of these reports stated “(Year) Organizations, Committees, Boards, Commissions, Members, (Statistics) City of Brockton Massachusetts.” Some years the CG subtitle did not include “Statistics.” The body of the report contains personnel detail by the subtitle categories. Detail includes names, dates of birth, salaries, when term expires, history & function, and election results by precinct.

Individual volume descriptions:

- Fire dated 1975. Issued & effective 11/15/1931. Amended 6/2/1975. Second Edition assumed, no ISBN, MSR nor LCCN. 16mo – over 5¾” - 6¾” tall booklet, i.e. softcover with stapled binding, 37pp + 3pp notes. Opens as new. Interior is tight, clean and unmarked. Red cardstock cover with black lettering. Near Fine (As New).

- Charter, dated 1950. 64 sections relating to general laws as amended through that date. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. You can be sure there have been amendments and changes in the last 70 years. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall booklet, i.e. softcover with stapled binding, 55pp + 1pp notes. Cream cardstock with brown lettering throughout. Interior tight, clean, and unmarked. Very Good.

- CG, dated 1924. Individuals’ information included address and telephone number. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall book with sewn binding, 42pp + 3pp notes. Black leatherette cover with gold lettering on front cover. Page-edges gilt. Interior tight, clean, and unmarked. Very Good.

- CG, dated 1972. Only politicians’ information included both address and telephone number. Heads of city departments still had their telephone included. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall book with stapled binding, 62pp + 1pp calendar + 3pp notes. Powder blue cloth boards with gold lettering on front cover. Interior tight, clean, and unmarked. Very Good.

- CG, dated 1975. Only politicians’ information included both address and telephone number. Heads of city departments did not have their telephone included. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall booklet, i.e. softcover with stapled binding, 71pp + 1pp notes. Yellow cardstock with brown lettering on front cover. Interior tight and clean, but heavily marked with red ink to denote changes in city structure and history narrative into the future. Acceptable.

- CG, dated 1976. U.S. Bicentennial Edition. Only politicians’ information included both address and telephone number. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall book with sewn binding, 70pp + 1pp calendar + 3pp notes. White laminated boards with blue lettering, red designs on front cover. Interior tight, clean, and unmarked. Very Good.

- CG, dated 1980. Only politicians’ information included both address and telephone number. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall book with stapled binding, 69pp + 1pp calendar + 8pp notes. Gray cloth boards with silver lettering on front cover. Interior clean and unmarked, but pages in center are loose and some pages bent from use of paperclip bookmarks. Fair.

- CG, dated 1981. City Centennial (1881 – 1981) Edition. Only politicians’ information included both address and telephone number. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall booklet, i.e. softcover with stapled binding, 67pp + 1pp calendar + 1pp notes. Cover has creases and indents from poor storage. High gloss red cardstock with B&W lettering on front cover. Interior tight, clean, and unmarked. Good.

- CG, dated 1984. Only politicians’ information included both address and telephone number. No ISBN, LCCN nor MSR. 32mo – over 4” - 5” tall booklet, i.e. softcover with stapled binding, 66pp + 2pp notes. Cover has tears, creases, indents from poor storage, and is separated from text of booklet, but stabilized with tape to maintain completeness. Red cardstock with black lettering on front cover. Interior tight, clean, and unmarked. Fair.

Set likely was used by someone in Brockton’s City Clerk’s office to help produce the reports 1972-1984. Curiously, the older reports are in better shape than the newer reports. No ownership markings.

• Size: Varies - over 4” - 6¾" tall, 567pp.

• Condition: Fair to Near Fine (As New) Books – Curiously, the newer books are in worse condition than the older books. All designed to be working copies, never part of a public library.

Copyrights are not applicable to reports produced by public entities. Nine reports dated 1924, 1950, 1972, 1975(2), 1976, 1980, 1981 & 1994. Made in U.S.A. Details listed above for each report.