Finding Aid Search

Title

Court of Chancery (1st Circuit) decrees

Series Number

JN312

Summary

This series constitutes a full record of the judicial proceedings in such equity matters as foreclosure (the majority of cases), divorce, marital separation, dower rights, partitions of real property, injunctions against the performance of certain acts, and the settlement of legacies. Typical documents in addition to decrees and final orders include bills of foreclosure, answers to charges, reports of the Masters in Chancery, and subpoenas.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Chancery

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Enrolled decrees transcribed into libers

Series Number

JN307

Summary

This series contains original enrolled decrees that were transcribed into the bound volumes that comprise Series JN306, Transcriptions of Enrolled Decrees into Libers. The enrolled decree was the final determination in an equity case involving a complainant and defendant.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Chancery

Access Restrictions

This series is closed to researchers due to its fragile physical condition. Researchers should use the transcription of the case papers found in Series JN306, Transcriptions of Enrolled Decrees into Libers.

Title

Record of deeds, mortgages, Regents charters, and other documents

Series Number

A0453

Summary

THis series contains copies of conveyances (deeds and mortgages), and many other types of private and public documents recorded by the Secretary of the colony of New York, 1664-1783, and by the Secretary of State, 1783-1890. Series also includes applications for and copies of academy charters granted by the Board of Regents, 1788-1855, and notices of discovery of gold and silver mines, 1789-1839.

Creator

• New York (State). Secretary of State

Access Restrictions

Microfilm is not available for duplication or interlibrary loan.

Title

Senator Karen Burstein women's issues files

Series Number

L0101

Summary

These records, created or collected by Senator Karen Burstein, provide information on the development of leadership strategies by women's movement advocates. Include are correspondence, memorandums, reports, conference materials, press clippings, and other materials from state agencies, advocacy organizations, and individuals relating to abortion; childcare; displaced homemakers; women in prisons; International Women's Year; and the National Women's Conference (1977). Many records, representing both sides of the issue, relate to the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in New York State.

Creator

• New York (State). Legislature. Senate. Senator (1973-1978 : Karen Burstein)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Chancellor's enrolled decrees after 1800

Series Number

J0063

Summary

This series consists of records pertaining to original cases decided by the Chancellor. Records include the abstract; the original bill of complaint or petition; the answer or pleading of the defendant; amendments to the original bill or to the answer; orders issued in the case; and a bill of costs or fees assessed by the court. Other investigative records may include Masters' or other reports, depositions, affidavits of witnesses, transcripts of testimony, evidence submitted, and other documents.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Chancery

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Letters patent

Series Number

12943

Summary

Letters patent (commonly called a "patent") convey a grant of real property from a government to a person or persons. This series contains patents granted since 1664 by either the governor of the province of New York in the name of the king of England or the state of New York. Patents are arranged in chronological order by book and page number. They are indexed by name of grantee and by location.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State. Bureau of Miscellaneous Records

Access Restrictions

Microfilm produced by the Genealogical Society of Utah is not available for duplication or inter-library loan.

Title

Dutch colonial administrative records

Series Number

A1881

Summary

This series contains patents issued under the administration of Dutch Governor Anthony Colve, and a few private deeds from the same period. In one notable document, Governor Colve granted the Lutheran congregation in Albany free exercise of their religion (September 26, 1673).

Creator

• New Netherland. Council

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Motions and notices of joinder in demurrer

Series Number

J0125

Summary

Most of the documents in this series are notices of joinder in demurrer, in which the plaintiff states that the demurrer will be opposed and the court moved for judgment on the ground that the defendant's demurrer is frivolous. There are also a few special motions for appointment of commissioners to admeasure dower, for stay of proceedings, for issuance of writs of certiorari or mandamus, and other actions. Earlier Geneva motion papers appear to have been lost.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Closed case files of investigations and proceedings of civil rights matters

Series Number

10219

Summary

The Civil Rights Bureau enforces laws to protect New Yorkers from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, source of income, or disability. The series consists of closed case files covering a broad variety of civil rights issues in which the attorney general's office was involved. An individual case file may contain reports, memoranda, research files, news clippings, legal case citations, court proceedings, legal briefs, petitions, and/or correspondence.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Law. Civil Rights Bureau

Access Restrictions

State Archives staff will review requests for access and disclose information pursuant to New York State Freedom of Information Law.

Title

Governor Alfred E. Smith central subject and correspondence files

Series Number

13682_53A

Summary

Alfred E. Smith served four terms as governor of New York. He is best remembered for advocating a comprehensive program aimed at reforming the administration of state government. His central subject and correspondence files pertain to an array of topics of critical importance during the post-World War I era and the 1920s. Topics of special interest include postwar readjustment, reorganization of state government, enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment (prohibition), industrial relations, and Moreland Act investigations of state agencies.

Creator

• New York (State). Governor (1919-1920, 1923-1928: Smith)

Access Restrictions

Access to certain records documenting Moreland Act investigations is restricted. Records are subject to review by State Archives staff prior to disclosure.

Title

Record of wills and probates

Series Number

J0043

Summary

This series consists of wills, grants of administration, and (prior to ca. 1710) inventories and accounts of decedent estates. These documents were recorded and maintained by New York Colony's Prerogative Court and then by the State Court of Probates. Many of the wills were made by widows; several executors were women; some wills bequeathed slaves; and Dutch wills sometimes had English translations. Volumes before 1700 also include other records such as governor, council, and criminal proceedings; marriage licenses, and coroner's inquests.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

Microfilm is not available for inter-library loan or reproduction for any purpose.

Title

Motions

Series Number

J0126

Summary

This series consists mostly of affidavits stating the grounds for a motion and sometimes summarizing proceedings in the cause, and attached notices informing the opposing party of the motion for a court rule. The series also includes other motions, petitions, draft rules, demurrers, notices of joinder in demurrer, and other documents.

Creator

• New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature (Utica)

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Alien depositions of intent to become U.S. citizens

Series Number

A1869

Summary

This series consists of ninety two volumes of bound depositions of resident aliens affirming their intentions to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Arranged in loose chronological order by the date on which they were received in the Department of State, the depositions include: name of alien and place of residence (later years sometimes list address); alien's signature or mark; and occasionally the country of origin and/or occupation of the resident alien.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of State

Access Restrictions

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

Title

State Legislature petitions

Series Number

A0204

Summary

These petitions submitted by localities, citizens, organizations, and businesses, request legislative action on topics such as women's suffrage; liquor licensing and prohibition; division of counties; banking practices; and manufacturing duties. Access to records is restricted due to extensive burn damage.

Creator

• New York (State). Legislature

Access Restrictions

Records are extensively burned and fragile. Due to their extreme fragility and the lack of access tools, the records are closed.

Title

Legislative bill and veto jackets

Series Number

12590

Summary

"Jackets" or files documenting the governor's legislative decision-making process were compiled by the Counsel to the Governor and include records relating to each bill passed by the legislature and sent to the governor for approval. The jackets are comprised mainly of memoranda and correspondence to the governor from state agencies, legislators, legislative committees, commissions, legal associations, lobbyists, private firms, and citizens, expressing approval of or opposition to particular legislation.

Creator

• New York (State). Counsel to the Governor

Access Restrictions

Restricted: Pre-1920 records are closed to research because of extreme fragility.

Restricted: Pre-1940 records may be too fragile to reproduce.

Title

Division of Human Rights discrimination case files

Series Number

10409

Summary

These case files were compiled by the New York State Division of Human Rights and its predecessor entities, the State Commission for Human Rights and the State Commission Against Discrimination, while investigating discrimination complaints. These bodies have been empowered to prevent and eliminate practices of discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, or physical disability. The files consist of correspondence, memoranda, publications, decisions, and copies of petitions, complaints, contracts, and agreements.

Creator

• New York (State). State Division of Human Rights

Access Restrictions

Restricted in part. Disclosable documents include the initial complaint and the final determination. Other documents will be disclosed as permitted by the New York State Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law Art. 6).

Title

Reports to the Legislature

Series Number

A0767

Summary

The committee was charged with investigating and studying existing statutes related to matrimonial and family actions. Topics addressed include the rate of matrimonial or family court actions; foreign decrees affecting the marital status of New York citizens; separation agreements; fraud, collusion and perjury; conciliation; adoptions; and support-maintenance and alimony. Also included are a comprehensive study of state judicial procedures, laws, and regulations; a report on fraudulent matrimonial actions; and two studies on matrimonial and family actions.

Creator

• New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee on Matrimonial and Family Laws

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Department of Law Executive Office subject files

Series Number

18571

Summary

These records, from a variety of senior staff members, reflect the interests and activities of the Attorney General's Office. Included are files related to audits, litigation, opinions, engagements, and interests of the office on such topics are housing discrimination, civil rights, Indian land claims, sex discrimination, child abuse, banking, crime, and business.

Creator

• New York (State). Department of Law. Executive Office

Access Restrictions

18571-02: Access to furlough applications restricted to protect personal privacy.

18571-07, 18571-09, 18571-10, 18571-10A, 18571-10B, 18571-11, 18571-11A, 18571-12, 18571-12A, 18571-12C, 18571-13, 18571-13A: Designated records may contain information that is exempt from disclosure pursuant to state or federal statute or common law. Requests for access to designated records are reviewed by staff of the State Archives and the Office of the Attorney General (Dept. of Law). In certain circumstances, designated records or portions of records may be withheld.

Usage Restrictions

18571-12C: Records in this accretion may be protected by U.S. Copyright. Consult with archivist to obtain more information.

Title

New York State Constitutional Convention, 1915 committee correspondence, minutes and proposals files

Series Number

L0076

Summary

The series contains records produced or received by 29 individual committees active during the Convention. The records document meetings and hearings held by these committees as they discussed adoption of a large number of possible amendments. The records also document the pressure placed on these committees by individuals, private agencies and organizations, local and state officials, businesses, educators, attorneys, and others trying to influence changes in the State Constitution.

Creator

• New York (State). Constitutional Convention, 1915

Access Restrictions

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

Title

Investigation case files of charges and complaints against public officials and agencies

Series Number

A0531

Summary

This series documents successive governors' authority to investigate the management, operations, and affairs of state and local government officials, agencies, and institutions. Records include correspondence, documents specifying charges, answers to charges, transcripts of testimony before the governor or investigating commissioner, supporting documentation (e.g. court records, financial records), reports to the governor of findings, and notices of removal from office of public officials found guilty of charges.

Creator

• New York (State). Governor

Access Restrictions

Restricted: Some later case files after 1907 document Moreland Act investigations. All investigative materials in Moreland Act commission records are indefinitely restricted pursuant to Executive Law sect. 6 and 63.8 and Civil Rights Law sect. 73.8, as applicable. Requests for access to such materials are referred to the Governor's Office.