New York State Governor George Clinton Letterbook of Official Correspondence and Proclamations

Chronological.

This volume contains official correspondence between Governor Clinton and the legislature as well as gubernatorial proclamations and annual messages.

Most of the volume consists of transcripts of letters to the legislature. These are written and signed by George Clinton or, in a few cases, are written and signed by DeWitt Clinton, his nephew and secretary from 1790-1795. Many are transmittal letters giving little information on the items being transmitted. Also included in some cases are the original replies of the Senate and Assembly to the Governor's annual message to the legislature.

The correspondence concerns such matters as: bounty lands for Revolutionary War troops; organization of the militia and other military matters; treaties and relations with Indians; appointments to state offices; and land purchases and settlement.

The volume also contains the Governor's annual messages to the legislature, proclamations concerning the legislature, and proclamations delaying the execution of convicts.

Governor Clinton apparently used this book to record his official gubernatorial correspondence concerning legislative and judicial matters; the volume breaks off after Clinton retired from the office in 1795 and resumes in 1802 following his return to that office.

A0142Series A0142, Gubernatorial and Personal Records of George Clinton, contains most extant gubernatorial correspondence of George Clinton.

Calendar is available at the repository.

The "Clinton Letterbook" was purchased by the State Library some time in the 1960s. Although stored separately, it was considered part of the "Clinton Papers" (now State Archives Series A0142) and never assigned a separate manuscript collection number.

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