Transcript of testimony taken by a special committee of the Board of Social Welfare investigating conditions at the school

Chronological by order of testimony.

This is a carbon transcript of hearings held March 9 and 10, 1938 by an eight-person committee comprised of members of the Board of Social Welfare from the 4th through 8th Judicial Districts and New York City, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Director of the Bureau of Child Welfare; four members of the institution's Board of Visitors were also present by invitation.

The committee took sworn testimony from the institution's superintendent, assistant superintendent, cottage supervisors, and other staff concerning: witness's background and experience prior to and during employment at the institution; methods of discipline and punishment and their effectiveness; general responsibilities of and extent of cooperation among staff; extent of witness's contact with and responsibilities toward inmates; work, education, and recreation programs; bureaucratic obstacles in administration, e.g. in procuring needed supplies; methods of assigning inmates to cottages and skill training programs; and criteria for granting inmates visits home or parole.

There was no stated purpose to the hearings in the transcript, and there was no particular focus or order to the questioning.

Alphabetical name index of witnesses.

The Department of Social Welfare placed these records on loan to the Syracuse University Library from 1960-1977.

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