New York State Consumer Counsel to the Governor Legislative Records

Chronological.

Dr. Persia Campbell, a former professor of economics at Queens College, was appointed Consumer Counsel by Governor W. Averell Harriman on January 19, 1955. For many years, Dr. Campbell had been supporting the interests of consumers as an advisor for New York City and the federal government and through her association with non-governmental consumer organizations and activities. Her many activities included the directorship of Consumer Services for the New York Civil Defense Voluntary Organization during the early part of World War II and later membership on the Consumers' Advisory Committee of the President's Council on Economic Advisors.

The primary function of the consumer counsel was to advise the governor on matters affecting the consumer interest from a consumer point of view; to support and coordinate the consumer services being carried out by various state agencies and to define and represent the consumer interest before these agencies; to assist all efforts to increase the competence of the public as consumers; and to protect consumers from fraud and misrepresentation through cooperation with mass media and communication and cooperation with private groups and organizations.

This series consists of records relating to the legislative program of Governor Harriman's consumer counsel and legislation impacting New York State's consumers. Included are printed copies of the consumer counsel's legislative program, preliminary drafts of legislation, memorandums on legislation before the governor for signature, and printed statements of the consumer counsel regarding legislation. This series also contains some preliminary drafts of legislation planned for 1959. Topics of note include the regulation of consumer credit (with emphasis on motor vehicle financing and installment sales), the licensing of television service and repair workers, and the restriction of "bait" advertising practices.

This series was transferred to Syracuse University from Governor Harriman in 1959, and was transferred to the New York State Archives in 2006. It was accessioned in June 2018.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.