Indenture agreements

Chronological by date of agreement.

This volume contains copies of contractual agreements between the reformatory managers, inmates, and employers (or "masters") to bind out inmates for vocational training until the age of twenty-one. The indenture system, which was authorized by the law that established the Western House of Refuge, operated until 1871, when it was discontinued by Superintendent Levi Fulton. However, no indenture agreements are extant for the period after 1860.

The agreements are printed on standard forms. In return for the inmate's labor, the master agreed to provide the inmate with clothing, room and board, medical care, and educational and vocational training. In addition to signatures of the inmate, master, and the President of the Board of Managers, the following information is entered on each form: inmate's name and age; master's name and place of residence; and type of vocational training to be provided.

The most common entry for vocational training is farming. Other entries include shoemaking, chairmaking, housepainting, carpentry, and brushmaking.

A microform use copy of the series is available at the New York State Archives; however, the copy is not available for use because of access restrictions that apply to the records.

Restricted in accordance with Executive Law, Section 501-c(1)(b), relating to confidentiality of individuals in custody of the Division for Youth (now Office of Children and Family Services).