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New York State Archives
Genealogical Records in New York State Archives
New York State Archives was established in 1971 but did not become operational until April, 1978 when it occupied its first permanent quarters in the Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany. The Archives is mandated to appraise and preserve official records with sufficient historical or other research value to warrant their continued retention by the State. The Archives holds approximately 20,000 cubic feet of material, most of it transferred from the State Library at the time of the move to the CEC. Additional material is being accessioned continually by the Archives and finding aids are being developed or refined to improve access to these records. The Archives research room on the 11th floor, Cultural Education Center, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Genealogical Records in the State Archives.
Enterprising and imaginative researchers will find genealogical and family history information scattered through many series in the Archives. In fact, practically any record in the Archives is likely to contain at least some identifying information on a person or group. The Archives summary guide and other available finding aids should be consulted to ascertain just what records are available. More specific possibilities for genealogical and family history research include:
- Vital Records. Birth, death, marriage records can be found among the scattered holdings of local government records in the State Archives. Most of these vital records date from before 1880, when the state began recording of vital statistics under the Public Health Law which required the filing of birth, death and marriage information with local vital statistics registrars and with the State Health Department in Albany.
The Archives has early vital records for the following localities:
- ALBANY COUNTY: Towns of Coeymans, Guilderland, and Westerlo
- DELAWARE COUNTY: Town of Stamford
- DUTCHESS COUNTY: Town of Amenia
- HERKIMER COUNTY: Towns of Fairfield and Wilmut
- MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Town of Root
- ONONDAGA COUNTY: Towns of Pompey and Tully
- ORANGE COUNTY: Town of Deerpark
- SARATOGA COUNTY: Town of Greenfield
- SULLIVAN COUNTY: Town of Liberty
- ULSTER COUNTY: Town of Olive
A brochure describing these records in detail and giving their inclusive dates is available from the Archives. Additional vital records may be found in the microfilm copies of local records in the Archives. An inventory of these records is available upon request from the Archives. "Marriage Bonds 1753-1783" recorded with the Department of State, although extensively damaged in the 1911 fire, have been largely restored.
- Census Records. The Archives holds census returns from the 1915 and 1925 statewide censuses and also original returns for Albany County for 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880 and 1892.
- Military Records. The Archives holds military service, pension, and land grant records for soldiers who served in the Revolution and the War of 1812. These records are incomplete, as many of them were damaged in the 1911 Capitol Fire.
Records series which are particularly helpful include:
- Comptroller's Office, Revolutionary Manuscripts, 1775-1800
- Audited Account's of the State Auditor, 1782-1794
- NYS Dept. Audit and Control Accounts, 1783-1454
- Claims of Soldiers of the War of 1812
- Land Papers. Deeds, assessment and tax rolls, and maps dating from 1643 may be searched for information on purchasers or other recipients of land under Colonial State Governments.
Specific records groups are:
- N.Y. Colonial Manuscripts, Land Papers, 1643-1803
- Surveyor General Maps, ca. 1775-1900
- Albany City Records, Deeds, Leases and Maps, 1731-1810
- Probate Records. Wills, Surrogate Court records, and related probate records are found in:
- Albany County Surrogates Court Papers, 1800-1840
- Assembly Papers, Volumes 29-31 "Estates of Deceased Persons, 1779-1831; and Forfeited Estates, Volumes 25-28
- Albany County Court Records, "Wills and Actions of Surrogates Court,1935."
- Naturalization and Alien Deposition Records. While most naturalization records remain on the local level, some naturalization and alien deposition records are in the Archives, namely:
- Albany County, Naturalization Administration, 1896-1905
- Alien Deposition Records, 1825-1913
- Miscellaneous Petitions and Correspondence.
- Albany City Records, Accounts of Overseers of the Poor, ca. 1774-1816
- Governor George Clinton Papers, containing correspondence, petitions, occasional census returns of towns during the Revolutionary War period.
For further information contact:
New York State Archives
Cultural Education Center
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12230
Phone (518) 474-8955
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