New York State Governor Notaries Public Appointment Registers and Correspondence

Arranged by type of volume, then either alphabetical by county and/or name, or chronological by appointment or expiration date, then alphabetical by name.

The bulk of this series consists of registers tracking individuals applying for or appointed to the position of notary public. Also included in the series are letter copybooks regarding notary appointments.

The first ten volumes, mostly entitled "Notaries Public" on the bindings, appear to be the central register for information regarding notaries. These volumes are arranged chronologically by expiration date of commission, then alphabetically by last name. They generally provide: page (it is not known what volumes these page numbers refer to); how vacated (e.g. "failed to qualify;" "removed;" "dead"); when vacated (rarely); by whom succeeded (rarely); name; if "new"; appointed in place of (rarely); date of commission; and date commission expires.

Five volumes list "recess appointments," apparently referring to those appointed as notaries while the Senate, which generally confirmed notary nominations, was in recess. Two of the volumes, entitled "Expirations and Recess Appointments," list only names in rough alphabetical order. Three volumes entitled "Recess Appointments" provide name, address, date of appointment, and "by whom requested" (e.g. "resigned;" "failed to qualify;" whom replaced).

Four "blotters," arranged chronologically by date of appointment, contain typed sheets glued onto the pages of the volumes. The sheets have the date written on top and list counties in alphabetical order. Under each county are the names of notaries appointed, also in alphabetical order, followed by their city of residence.

Two volumes entitled "New Appointments" provide name, county, recommended by, and date appointed. These volumes are in rough alphabetical order.

Twenty-two volumes of "Applications" provide: date application received; recommended by; address; name; date nominated; date confirmed; and remarks (e.g. occupation or position, whom replaced, when commission expired).

The series also includes ten letter copybooks containing outgoing correspondence from the "notarial desk" of the governor's office, usually replying to inquires regarding vacancies, appointments, and application and appointment policies and procedures.

Volume list is available at the repository.

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