New York State Counsel to the Governor Authorities Subject Files

Statement on Language

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Overview of the Records

Repository
New York State Archives
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Summary
This series consists of the subject files of the Counsel to the Governor's office which relate to New York State authorities. The Counsel's responsibilities included clearing all contracts that required the Governor's signature, making recommendations on proposed legislation, and advising on policy and program matters. Records include correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, reports, plans, press releases, copies of legislative bills and acts, and newspaper clippings relating to the administrative, legal, jurisdictional and legislative aspects of New York State authorities.
Title
Authorities subject files
Quantity
2 cubic feet
Inclusive Dates
Series Number
B2334
Creator
Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Administrative History

Governor W. Averell Harriman chose Judge Daniel Gutman, President Justice of the Municipal Court of New York, as his counsel. Mr. Gutman, a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and an Assistant District Attorney of Kings County, served in the New York State Assembly from 1938 to 1939 and the New York State Senate from 1939 to 1943. In 1943, he was elected as a Justice of the Municipal Court and in February 1954, he was appointed President Justice.

The duties of the Counsel to the Governor included clearing and making recommendations on proposed legislation; acting as a liaison between the Governor's Office and the State Legislature; negotiating interstate or international agreements; clearing all contracts, as to content and form, which required the Governor's signature (Power Authority contracts, etc.); making recommendations on all appointments to the judiciary; acting as a liaison between the Governor and all investigative bodies; making recommendations on applications for pardons and clemency; and advising the Governor on many policy and program matters.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of the subject files of the Counsel to the Governor's office which relate to New York State authorities. Records include correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, reports, plans, press releases, copies of legislative bills and acts, and newspaper clippings relating to the administrative, legal, jurisdictional and legislative aspects of New York State authorities. Included are files documenting the Niagara Frontier Authority, Port of New York Authority, the Power Authority, the Thruway Authority, and the New York City Transit Authority.

13682-07Series Accretion 13682-07, Governor Harriman central subject and correspondence files, contains related records

B2340Series B2340, Power Authority contract records, contains related records on the State Power Authority.

Other Finding Aids

Folder list.

Custodial History

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 October 2011.

Access Restrictions

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

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