New York House of Refuge Contracts for Labor, Goods, and Services

Roughly chronological within type of contract.

This volume contains contracts for inmate labor or for the supplying of goods or services to the institution. The rules of the institution required that contracts for inmate labor, service to the institution worth over $5.00, and hiring of employees be drawn up and kept in a contract book.

Half of the volume consists of contracts between the Board of Managers and manufacturers for the labor of inmates. These records cover the years 1845-1880 except for extracts of two contracts from 1826-1842. The contracts provide: date; name of employer; type of work; number of inmates to be employed; date employment to commence; and amount employer will pay managers per day for each inmate. In some cases agreements modifying the terms (e.g. hours, rate of pay) of the original contract are attached. Contract labor was employed in shoemaking, chair making, hosiery, printing, and other jobs.

The other half of the volume contains contracts for goods or services. These include employment contracts providing: date; name of employee; position (teacher, matron, assistant superintendent, etc.); and compensation (wage, board, lodging). This half of the volume also includes contracts for goods such as food or clothing providing: date; name of supplier; goods supplied; and price. These records cover the years 1826-1895.

The New York State Department of Correctional Services 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.