New York State Agricultural and Industrial School Male Inmate Case History Books

Held by the New York State Archives

Overview

Arrangement

Scope and Content

Related Information

Use of Records

Access Terms

Detailed Description

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Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by admission date and numerically by inmate number.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains basic information, including personal, family, and criminal history, regarding each male inmate admitted during the period from 1849 to 1939. Most of the information was entered at the time of admission, with some additional information added later to document inmates' progress or changes in status. The first eight volumes (to 1871) contain handwritten, narrative case histories. After November 1871, information was entered on a standard printed form, which was revised and expanded in 1875 and 1889.

For the period from 1849 to 1871 (volumes 1-8), the case histories contain the following information on each inmate: age, name, committing court, criminal offense, previous crimes, education, quality of companions, grade assignment, discharge, indenture, activity after discharge (infrequently included), and general comments on problems and prospects (infrequently included). Information provided on parents includes nationality, whether owner of own home, and criminal history.

Additional information provided regarding inmates beginning in 1871 (volume 9) includes weight, height, eye color, hair, complexion, occupation, and nativity. Additional information on parents includes habits (temperate or intemperate), occupation, and number and gender of children in family.

Additional information provided regarding inmates beginning in 1875 (volume 10) includes name of person making complaint and whether inmate was previously in almshouse, orphan asylum, reform school, house of refuge, or truant house. Additional information on parents includes whether separated; whether stepfather or stepmother; religion; if ever arrested, and if so type of offense and whether convicted or imprisoned; and whether previously in almshouse.

Additional information provided regarding inmates beginning in 1889 (volume 16) includes religious training, apparent susceptibility to moral influences, institution life (prior placements), school record, general deportment (number of badges), physical condition and record of development, record of work, and record of parole. Additional information on parents includes education, pecuniary circumstances, and presence of insanity or epilepsy in family.

Related Information

Record series A1960, New York State Agricultural and Industrial School Supplementary Case Files for Male Inmates, contains more detailed information regarding inmates admitted during the period from 1876 to 1913. Especially noteworthy are details provided regarding the circumstances of commitment and parole. Record series A1960 has been microfilmed on 36 rolls and is available for use onsite or through interlibrary loan.

Other finding aids

Name indexes are included at the front of each of volumes 1 through 15 (1849-1889) in this record series. Record series A3063, New York State Agricultural and Industrial School Index to Male Inmate Case History Books, includes an alphabetical name index covering the years 1849 to 1867 and 1891 to 1949. A3063 has been microfilmed on one roll and is available for use onsite or through interlibrary loan.

Use of Records

Access Restrictions

Inmate case records are generally disclosable 75 years after date of discharge, but some information in case records of any date may be exempt from disclosure pursuant to Freedom of Information Law, or FOIL (Public Officers Law, Article 6), sect. 84-90; and Personal Privacy Protection Law, or PPPL (Public Officers Law, Article 6-A), sect. 91-99. For this reason, microfilm containing case records less than 100 years old is not available through interlibrary loan.

Available Alternate Formats

This series has been microfilmed on 25 rolls and is available for use onsite or through interlibrary loan.

Access Terms