The Mayor’s Messages are a subset of the Comptroller Files or Clerk Files, known as CF Files, which consist of a wide variety of documents filed with the City Clerk’s Office. In 13 boxes, measuring 5.2 cubic feet, the Mayor’s Messages date from 1896 to 1989. The Messages are arranged chronologically by Mayor. Although a large percentage of Mayor’s Messages are represented in this collection, this collection is not a complete set of the Mayor’s Messages for these years. Additional Mayor’s Messages are added to the record group on an ongoing basis.

Consisting primarily of vetoes to Council Bills, the Mayor’s Messages also include annual messages to City Council, budget messages, executive orders, proclamations and various other communications. The Annual Messages are useful summaries of accomplishments for a specific year and also identify key issues for the following year from the Mayor's perspective. The vetoes are useful for identifying significant issues through the years. For example, liquor licenses are a frequent subject of vetoes through 1913, and railways and related issues can be traced through vetoes through the 1920s. Garbage collection is another issue that arises several times between 1903 and 1913. Of note is the quantity of vetoes submitted by Mayor Gill for the years 1910-1917.

While the Mayor’s Messages, in many cases, reflect the tone of the relationship the mayor had with Council, it should be noted that not all Council Bills were vetoed because of disagreement with the Council. Some Council Bills were vetoed for purely technical reasons. The abbreviation "CB" is used to denote "Council Bill" throughout the collection.