Opening - O'Hara St - Bouquet St to DeSoto St, 1919

The collection contains approximately 8,000 case files from 1870 to 1967 (only three files fall outside this range, from 1859, 1869, and 1969-1970, respectively). Each case file includes at minimum a viewers’ report, which is a standardized form listing assessments of damages and benefits. The majority of the files also include a plan of the improvement that indicates which properties are being assessed and identifies their owners. Other documents that are typically though not always included are copies of ordinances approving the project; viewers’ notes and tabulations; correspondence between the City and real estate appraisers; correspondence and forms from the City Treasurer's Office concerning outstanding balances; and court documents such as verdicts, appeals, and transcripts of testimony from appeals heard at trial. Transcripts typically include testimonies of defendants in the case (usually the City), plaintiffs (the property owners making an appeal), and witnesses (often real estate appraisers).

In addition, many of the files from 1911 through 1967 include photographs of the project before, during and/or after construction. The majority of the photographs were taken by city photographers, though there are occasionally photographs submitted by plaintiffs and presented as exhibits at trial. Files that include photographs are indicated as such in the container list.