New York State Civil Service Commission Security Risk Program Files

Organized into three subseries: 1. Background and administrative files; 2. Subject files; 3. Correspondence files.

Background and administrative files are at beginning of series.

Subject and correspondence files: alphabetical by folder title.

Under the security risk program, the Civil Service Commission first determined, subject to court review, what private organizations or groups were subversive and then designated state agencies and individual positions as "security agencies" or "positions."

An applicant, eligible, or employee found through questionnaire (administered to all employees and applicants), special investigation, or other means (e.g. accusation, previous police record) to be a member or former member of a subversive organization was considered a security risk and could be refused entrance to an examination or certification on an eligibility list for a security position. If already a State employee, he could be transferred or suspended without pay from a security position. All such actions, however, were subject to appeal to the Commission. A special Security Unit in the Department was created in 1953 to investigate and coordinate with police agencies the investigation of applicants, eligibles, and public employees. The unit's investigation files were transferred to the State Police in 1960 and are included with the Non-Criminal Investigation Files now held by the State Archives.

The Commission and a Security Risk Committee of high Department officials designated security agencies and positions and subversive organizations, handled security risk appeals, established program procedures, and monitored and administered the State's security risk program.

This series consists of the administrative files for the Civil Service Commission's security risk program established by law in 1951 and active until 1960.

Within the series are three subseries.

Background and administrative files contain reports and memoranda on the development of the program and its procedures, monthly reports of the Security Unit, and correspondence and memoranda concerning the designation of security agencies.

Subject files include records of appeals (containing briefs and hearing transcripts), court cases, subversive organizations and literature, municipal programs and other subjects germane to the program.

Correspondence files contain correspondence with the Governor, the U.S. Attorney General, and others.

The records contain detailed information on all aspects of the development and operation of New York's Security Risk Program. The series also contains some information on groups designated as subversive, organizations opposing the program, and individuals and groups who appealed security risk determinations to the Courts or the Commission.

B0501Series B0501, Disciplinary Appeals Case Files, contains related records

B0500Series B0500, Commission Meeting Minutes (Verbatim), contains related records

A0795Series A0795, State Police Non-Criminal Investigation Case Files, contains related records.

Folder list is available at the repository.

Restriction on disclosure of names or other personal identifying information on dismissed individuals who are still living for 40 years after records produced.