New York State School for the Blind Ledger Accounts of Supplies and Special Appropriations

Arranged by type of account, therein chronological by month and day.

This series consists of ledger accounts for supplies and for expenditures funded by special legislative appropriations to the school. Renamed from the New York State Institution for the Blind by the Laws of 1895, Chapter 563, the school's purpose, and the purpose of the special appropriations granted to it by the legislature, was to provide blind students with the best possible academic and vocational development and an environment emphasizing physical progress and the "wise use of leisure."

The accounts in the series are divided between those for supplies, which are at the beginning of the volume, and special appropriations, which begin on page 500. The supplies accounts are divided into those for food and non-food items.

The postings to these accounts are either daily or monthly and include quantity and price in the case of supplies accounts, and a brief description and amount in the case of special appropriations accounts. Year and chapter numbers for pertinent legislation (ca. 1885-1900) are also cited in the heading of each special appropriation account. The legislation typically itemizes use of discrete funds, renews appropriations for unexpended balances, and/or sets additional amounts to complete projects authorized under prior legislation (ca. early 1880s).

The supplies accounts are for specific items which fall into the general categories of: food; household stores; cookery and glassware; fixtures; furniture; household and kitchen utensils; hospital and medical supplies; shop, farm, and garden; amusements; and miscellaneous.

The accounts for special appropriations are for supplies and improvements such as: providing an addition to be used as a boys' industrial department; musical instruments and repairs to pianos; library books, embossing machines, and apparatus; new harness and carriage; typewriters and tables; hospital buildings and furnishings; cement walks; erection and equipping of a gymnasium; purchase of heating, bathing, and draining apparatus; roofs, gutters, pipes, etc.; the sanitary disposal of sewage; watchman's clock system; and improvements to dormitories and general repairs to facilities.

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Food item accounts: indexed alphabetically in the volume.

Non-food items: indexed alphabetically in a separate index.

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