New York State Education Department Division of Archives and History Historical Research Working Files

Arranged by topic.

This series contains correspondence, unpublished historical articles, notes, clippings, photographs, posters, and a few original or photostatic copies of historical documents collected by the State Historian in the course of research on historical topics. The subjects of these files vary widely.

A3167-78: This accession contains correspondence, unpublished historical articles, notes, clippings, photographs, occasional photostats of historical documents, and a few original historical documents. Some examples of the contents are: information on researching American history in the Netherlands archives; New York's participation in the Spanish-American War and World War I; celebration of the sesquicentennial of the American Revolution; program and proceedings of the Educational Congress held under the direction of the University of the State of New York, May 19-28, 1919; history of the Schuyler family; report on the records of Suffolk County (1921); printed rules of the Seneca County Court of Common Pleas (1818); and a list of marriages performed by a justice of the peace in Caledonia, N.Y., 1833-1843.

A3167-78A: This accretion contains photographs, correspondence, unpublished historical essays, clippings, newsletters, and posters. Some examples of the contents are: photographs of Troy businesses, veterans, women's groups, and parades during and after World War I; photographs of American Revolution Sesquicentennial pageants and ceremonies; photographs of War of 1812 historic sites; autographed portrait of Governor Alfred E. Smith; bills and receipts for expenses of Saratoga sesquicentennial celebration; genealogical essays on prominent New York State families; historical essays on local history; extracts from official reports of New York State military units serving in France during World War I; and typescript of reminiscences of the Civil War by a veteran from Canajoharie (1891).

A3167-78B: This accretion is similar in form and content to the second accession (from old collection #551), though no photographs are found. As with the other accessions of this series, topics vary widely but include many county and town celebrations (including the Albany Tercentenary) and numerous church anniversaries, and a number of broader subjects including the War of 1812.

World War I records: Material on New York's participation in World War I, and life on the homefront during the war era is found in accretions A3167-78 and A3167-78A. Examples include: circulars from the New York State Food Supply Commission advocating patriotic agricultural practices (May 1917); copies of organization charts of the Resource Mobilization Bureau; materials issued by the National Security League's Committee on Patriotism Through Education (1917) to promote patriotism and national efficiency by affecting public opinion through the press, educators, and preparing printed materials and encouraging public discussions; materials issued by the National Board for Historic Service, which helped historical agencies to document local reactions and events relating to the war; and a depiction of "Distinguishing Marks of the U.S. Army" and a "Station List of Units Since Arrival in the America E.F." that includes field orders and messages, reports on recent operations, and commendations relating to the 53rd, 105th, and 106th Infantry units.

Of special note is material that was apparently gathered to document work of the War Council of the America Red Cross and wartime humanitarian relief efforts. This material consists of copies of photographic portraits of major historical figures. Military and political figures represented include: General John J. Pershing; Woodrow Wilson; Winston Churchill; Marshall Joseph Joffre; Georges Clemenceau; and Franklin Roosevelt (Assistant Secretary of the Navy). Humanitarian relief workers represented include: Herbert Hoover (Chairman of the Committee for Relief of Belgium); Commissioner of Education Colonel John H. Finley (Red Cross Commissioner to Palestine); Edith Cavell (nurse/hospital administrator who was executed during the German occupation of Belgium); Henri Durant; and Ignacy Jan Paderewski (famed Polish pianist who raised great sums in America for Polish war relief).

There are also extensive photographs (many of which are captioned) of Troy during wartime, apparently collected by City Historian Mary T. Ryan, including: photographs of the Tank Center at Bourc, France (1919) showing servicemen, living quarters, and facilities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus organization; photographs and postcards of sites in France, Belgium, Germany, and Jerusalem apparently acquired from Troy servicemen; group photographs of the Students Army Training Corps (and Naval Section) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; photographs of soldiers stationed at the Watervliet Arsenal; photographs of Troy scenes, businesses, civic leaders, women's groups, and parades during and after the war (especially for Liberty Loan campaigns and greeting returning troops), including many portraits of Troy veterans; and photographs of citizen organizers of Liberty Loan campaigns, and participants in Salvation Army or other unidentified civilian war work.

B0802Series B0802, Abstracts of muster rolls for National Guard units mustered into federal service during the 1916 Mexican Punitive Campaign, contains related records.

A3167-78A: Container list.

A3167-78: Originally accessioned as old collection #575, accession -328, ca. 1795-1940, 2 cubic feet.

A3167-78A: Originally accessioned as old collection #551, accession -372, ca. 1883-1945, 5 cubic feet.

A3167-78B: Removed from Series A0412 by Archives staff in 1992 and filed with this series.

Collation date ca. 1911-1945.

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