New York State Superintendent of Public Works Minutes of the Canal Commissioners and Superintendent of Public Works

Chronological.

The first Canal Commissioners were appointed pursuant to Chapter 237 of the Laws of 1816. They were authorized originally to construct a canal between the Mohawk and Seneca Rivers and between Lake Champlain and the Hudson River at Fort Edward. The Canal Commissioners held office until it was abolished by an 1876 constitutional amendment. Article V, Section 3 authorized that all of the Commissioners' powers be transferred to the newly created office of Superintendent of Public Works. This occurred on February 8, 1878.

These records are bound volumes of minutes of the Canal Commissioners. The volumes contain not only minutes of meetings but also maps, diagrams, drawings, tracings, decisions, petitions, correspondence, resolutions, contract lists, testimonies, depositions, affidavits, and newspaper clippings.

There are two books for the first volume of minutes. One appears to be the original minutes and the other a transcription. Volumes 1-5 and part of volume 6 contain the minutes of the Canal Commissioners. The bulk of volume 6 and the remaining volumes contain the minutes of the Superintendent of Public Works. These are not "minutes" in the true sense but more of a history of actions taken by the Superintendent (e.g. appointments made, contracts reviewed and awarded, etc.).

Series 10970, Canal Construction Permit Files, 1828-1915 contains numerous detached pages from this series, B0201. In the early 20th century hundreds of pages containing entries of permits for use of or access to canal lands or waters were detached from the minute books and filed with the Canal Construction Permit Files.

Series B1789, Inactive Revocable Permits, 1837-1988, contains numerous detached pages from this series, B0201. In the early 20th century hundreds of pages containing entries of permits for use of or access to canal lands or waters were detached from the minute books and filed with the Inactive Revocable Permits.

Volume list.

Series B0202, Index to Minutes of the Canal Commissioners and Superintendent of Public Works, indexes this series.

B0201-83: Volumes 3, 5, and 6 contain separate alphabetical subject indexes in the fore of the volumes.

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