New York State Department of Law Office Registers and Related Records

Roughly chronological based on opening date of case.

The seeming basis for the creation of these records is Section 65 of Executive Law. This law which dates to the 19th century, specifies that: "The attorney-general shall keep a register of all actions and proceedings prosecuted of defended by him, of all proceedings in relation thereto, and shall deliver the same to his successor."

Office register volumes in this series contain handwritten entries summarizing the status of legal cases handled by the Department of Law. Each case is summarized on a single page with the cases appearing in chronological order based on the date of the case opening. Summaries for later actions on each case are entered as part of the relevant case entry. The early pages for each volume index the cases, based on the names of concerned parties. Many types of cases are described, including habeas corpus actions, workmen's compensation claims, mortgage foreclosures, claims, incompetency actions, liens on public improvements, civil actions, agricultural cases, and so forth. A few volumes concern only agricultural cases. The volumes contain lists of witnesses, notices of intentions, alphabetical and numberical indexes, judgements received, and dismissals received.

Each volume contains name index of concerned parties. In addition to the indexes at the front of each book there are four small index ledgers which cover the period 1925-1954.

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