New York State Education Department Executive Deputy Commissioner's Office Deputy Commissioner's Subject Files

Arranged into three subseries: 1. Deputy Commissioner Lewis A. Wilson's subject files; 2. Deputy Commissioner James E. Allen's subject files; 3. Deputy Commissioner Ewald B. Nyquist's subject files.

The position of Deputy Commissioner of Education was created in 1916. The deputy was charged with assisting the Commissioner of Education in the administration and oversight of the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Up until this time, three assistant commissioners, titled First, Second, and Third Assistant Commissioners, served directly underneath the Commissioner of Education. From 1916 to 1950, deputy commissioners were named by the Commissioner from the ranks of assistant commissioners, maintaining administrative control over their previous divisions or offices while serving as deputy. Stating with James Allen in 1950, the Deputy Commissioner was a separate position apart from the other assistant commissionerships. In 1969, the position of Executive Deputy Commissioner was created to distinguish the "second-in-command" from other deputy commissioners in charge of program offices. While Richard Mills held the office of Commissioner, this position was eliminated in favor of a Chief Operating Officer.

This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, clippings, meetings minutes, occasional photographs, copies of publications and legislation, speeches, and press releases created or received during the tenures of Lewis A. Wilson (1941-1950), James E. Allen (1950-1955), and Ewald B. Nyquist (1961-1970). The records contain much routine administrative material, but also document educational policy formulation, development of legislation, the budget process, participation in education organizations, planning for and proceedings at Regents meetings, NYSED participation in national defense programs during World War II, public appearances by the Deputy Commissioner, and the functioning of the departmental Cabinet.

Lewis A. Wilson's subject files include correspondence to and from bureaus and offices related to Wilson's work as Assistant Commissioner of Vocational and Extension Education on topics such as adult education, military training, agricultural education, industrial education, career guidance, and vocational rehabilitation for the handicapped. Also included are correspondence with other NYSED offices, reports from research projects, reports from the Motion Picture Division on films reviewed, correspondence with members of the Board of Regents, and letters of recommendation written by Wilson for admission into colleges and other state educational programs.

James E. Allen's files include correspondence with cabinet members, Commissioner of Education Lewis A. Wilson, lower-level department heads and assistant commissioners, district superintendents and other local school personnel, and members of education-related organizations, such as the New York State Teachers Association and the U.S. Office of Education. Also included are texts of speeches given by Deputy Commissioner Allen, on subjects such as educational finance, teacher training, the use of television in education, and the role of school boards in public education.

Ewald B. Nyquist's files include a large amount of correspondence with education organizations with which Nyquist was involved, including the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, Higher Education Assistance Corporation, Educational Testing Service, National Accreditation Council for Agencies Servicing the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Education Commission of the States, and the Grants Administration Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Also included are records from advisory councils, task forces, and ad hoc commitees that Nyquist served on in NYSED and in other areas of state government.

B0468Series B0468, Executive Assistant's Subject Files, and

B0470Series B0470, Executive Assistant's Administrative Files, contain related records

Series 15080, of which the subject files of Commissioners Wilson (15080-78), Allen (15080-77), and Nyquist (15080-80 and 15080-93) form part, contains similar types of records from their tenures as Commissioner of Education

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