New York State Counsel to the Governor Records Relating to Investigations

Records relating to pursued investigations: Alphabetical by name of the person, office, or department being investigated.

Records relating to closed investigations: Numerical by case number.

General records of investigations: Chronological.

This series contains correspondence, memoranda, transcripts of hearings, testimonies and interviews, reports and findings of the New York State Commission of Investigation, copies of court decisions and grand jury reports, newspaper clippings, and other records relating to investigations brought to the attention of the Governor's office. These investigations relate to matters concerning the conduct of public officials, the management and affairs of any department or public agency of the state, proper enforcement of the laws of the state, or any matter concerning public peace, public safety, and public justice that the governor had the authority to investigate. Notable investigations include the Mafia meeting at Apalachin, NY, the parole of Joseph Lanza, a Ballston Spa murder, a Brooklyn cave-in, the Corning police chief, funeral homes, Westfield State Farm, and numerous county and municipal government officials.

The series includes records both of investigations pursued by the Commission of Investigation, and also of those that were closed because of a lack of basis for an investigation or prosecution, because the case was transferred to another agency, or because the complainants brought action of their own through the courts. The series also includes general records of investigations, as well as records pertaining to the establishment of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Commission of Investigation.

B1933Series B1933, Interim Report Investigation of Joseph Lanza, contains related records

18266Series 18266, Master Case Files of the Temporary Commission of Investigation, contains related records.

Folder list is available at the repository, but it may contain restricted information.

This series was a gift to Syracuse University from Governor Harriman in 1959, and was transferred to the New York State Archives in 2006.

Series B2438: Partially restricted by Laws of 1953, Chap. 887; Civil Rights Law, sect. 73.8; Civil Practice Law and Rules, sect. 3101(b), (c), and (d) and 4503(a); Freedom of Information Law, sect. 87.2(b), (e)(iii) and (iv), and (g). For further information, please contact the State Archives.