New York State Governor Registers of Appointments

Arranged roughly by type of volume (civil appointments, notaries, etc.), then chronological by year(s) covered by each volume. Internal arrangement of volumes varies; see volume list for details.

A0006-95: Chronological by confirmation date.

This series is comprised of volumes maintained in the Governor's office, mostly to track gubernatorial appointments. The volumes apparently originated in several different series and were brought together at an unknown date. The series also includes a few miscellaneous volumes, such as one recording charges made against public officials (1904-1909) and one recording gubernatorial actions such as approving legislation or issuing proclamations (1857-1858).

The volumes take a variety of forms, but in general they provide information about appointees to various offices, including: commissary general; state engineer and surveyor; attorney general; judge; canal appraiser; state prison inspector; superintendent of Onondaga Salt Springs; commissioner of deeds; Indian agent or attorney; manager or trustee of a state institution; Banking Department superintendent; notary public; county coroner; loan commissioner; commissioners appointed under various laws; wreck master; harbor master; port warden; Hell Gate pilot; health officer; commissioner of emigration; police commissioner; street commissioner; and railroad inspector. Liber A (the first volume in the series) also contains names of justices of the peace appointed by the governor between 1823 and 1827 under provisions of the second state constitution, and names of justices of the peace elected in each town in November 1827.

The extent of information provided about each appointee varies. Volumes generally provide some or all of the following types of information about each appointee: name; town and county of residence; date of appointment or commission; date term or commission expires; name of person appointee replaced, and reason (e.g. resigned, deceased); indication if a reappointment; name of prominent individual endorsing candidates appointment (e.g. mayor, senator); and authorizing legislation.

Volume list for each accretion is available at the repository.

These volumes apparently originated in several different series and were brought together at an unknown date, either by the Governor's office or the State Library, before their transfer to the State Archives.

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