New York State Athletic Commission Financial Records and Reports

This series is arranged roughly by content and function of record.

The State Athletic Commission licenses boxers, wrestlers, and other participants (managers, trainers, promoters, judges, referees, physicians, venue employees, etc.) in these sports; oversees boxing and wrestling matches held in the state; and collects taxes on admission tickets and other revenue sources generated by such events. The records in this series clearly illustrate these functions as carried out on a daily basis by the commission during its early years of operation. While most of the records are financial in nature, they also document individual participation in boxing and wrestling, as well as the many venues in which these sporting events took place.

Financial records that contain information about participants and venues include cash books detailing licensing fees paid by individual boxers, seconds (corner men), wrestlers, managers, referees, judges, clubs, physicians, matchmakers (promoters), and timekeepers. Additional records include registers of licenses issued, which group licensees by role (boxers, wrestlers, seconds, judges. etc.) and list license number, ring name, real name, address, date fee received, date license issued, and date of expiration. One license stub book lists similar licensing details for clubs in the business of holding boxing and/or wrestling events. The commission's typed reports to the State Treasurer include daily, itemized lists of individuals and clubs from whom licensing fees were received.

One unique volume contains venue information and payment amounts strictly for judges. Registers of taxes received by the State Treasurer contain detailed information regarding individual sporting events including date of event, name of club, attendance, receipts, amount of tax paid, date payment received, total tickets printed, tickets unsold, and discrepancies or other remarks. Reports of taxes paid by clubs to the Department of Taxation and Finance contain similar information.

Non-financial records in the series also illustrate the commission's regulatory power over boxing and wrestling and likewise contain detailed information regarding participants. Assignment books indicate the names of judges, referees, and timekeepers assigned to work at New York City, "Upstate," and "local" venues. Daily diaries list venues hosting sporting events each day and the names of officials assigned to work at each.

A final set of records deal strictly with the finances of the commission as whole. These include commission account journals, receipt and disbursement ledgers, audit books, license committee bank books, and check stubs. One volume of records contains notarized copies of personal service schedules submitted by commission employees for payment by the Office of the State Comptroller.

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