Central New York Institution for Deaf Mutes Student Appointment Register

Chronological by date of student appointment.

The series consists of a microfilm copy of one volume containing information on students appointed to the Central New York Institution for Deaf Mutes (later known as the New York State School for the Deaf at Rome) from October 1875 through November 1918. The register primarily lists dates of appointment and reappointment to the school as well as the county and/or town of each student's residency.

From its inception in 1875 until 1963, the school was privately owned and operated. As was the case with other such facilities, state and county governments supported the care and training of students through appropriations of public funds. Chapter 213 of the Laws of 1875 authorized placement of deaf mute children under 12 years of age whenever any such child became a charge on the town or county of residence. The town overseer or county supervisor could place the child, who would be maintained at the expense of the county from which he or she came. Chapter 13 of the Laws of 1876 authorized the school to receive deaf and dumb persons aged 12 to 25 who were eligible to be appointed as state pupils. The superintendent of public instruction made such appointments.

Entries for each student in the register are listed in manuscript (on pages 1 through 25 of the volume) under column headings that span two adjacent pages in the volume. There are column headings for the following information: name; county from which appointed; town from which appointed; date the county appointment expired; county certification number; place from which student transferred; date appointed "state pupil"; state certification number; number of years ("term") for which the appointment was made; how clothed (at the expense of parents or the county); date reappointed; date state appointment expired; date selected for "High Class"; date selection expired; and remarks.

Remarks are usually limited to the date the student left school (typically by transfer, discharge, graduation, or death). There are occasionally references to the place and/or cause of death or departure. Other remarks include dates of renewed appointments, and the student's date of birth.

The microfilm constituting this series is available for use at the New York State Archives or through inter-library loan.

This material was microfilmed by State Archives staff in 1993 as part of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Originals were returned to the School for the Deaf after filming.

This volume might originally have been referred to as "Pupil's register, A. Central N.Y. Institution for Deaf Mutes."

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