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• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Other Finding Aids
• Alternate Formats
• Access Restrictions
• Processing Information
• Custodial History
• Access Terms
• Detailed Description
• Items Online

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New York State Office of General Services Empire State Plaza (South Mall) Construction Progress Photographs

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Overview of the Records

Arrangement

15727-92: Arranged by building, then by book number.

15727-93, 15727-98: Rough chronological or reverse chronological order.

15727-97: Photographs are arranged numerically, in consecutive binders. Prints are roughly by roll number, in envelopes.

15727-99: Roughly chronological.

15727-16: Unarranged.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of slides, negatives, and photographic prints documenting progress on the construction of the Empire State Plaza (South Mall) in Albany, New York.

15727-93: This accretion consists of still photographic material documenting progress on the construction of the Empire State Plaza (South Mall). The images depict construction from overall aerial shots of the entire site and surrounding vicinity to closeups of construction details. Approximately one third of the material deals exclusively with the Meeting Center (The Egg). Much of the material is stamped or otherwise marked with a number, date, and in some cases, name of photographer. The material consists mostly of 35mm black-and-white negatives and 8x10" prints. There are also approximately 75 small color prints and negatives, some larger black-and-white negatives, and approximately 220 color slides.

15727-97: The accretion consists of over 300 black-and-white photographs (8 x 10 inches) of a street condition survey in the City of Albany, about 30 "South Mall slides" and about 300 black-and-white prints (5 x 7 inches) of an "F & H Inventory" (19533-C) of work party construction progress. Photos, slides, and prints are numbered and captioned. They are arranged in binders (photos) or envelopes (slides/prints).

In addition to the photographs, the Albany street condition survey group also includes a binder of maps showing photo locations and direction; a photo log index by date and number; a group of general views of the South Mall project; and a copy of contract specifications for reconstruction work on South Swan Street.

15727-98: This accretion consists of approximately 2,500 35 mm color slides. Slides typically depict progress on concrete structures such as walls, floors, overhangs or other slabs. Also shown are non-typical events such as accident sites, repairs, a discovery during excavation of human remains, and a visit to the construction site by Governor Rockefeller. Slides are numbered, dated, and captioned.

15727-99: The accretion consists of ninety-one (91) black and white photoprints (8 x 10 inches) of various aspects of construction of the South Mall state office building complex during the years 1965-1975. Approximately one-third of the photographs depict construction of the Cultural Education Center building.

15727-14A: This small accretion consists of black and white photographs chiefly depicting overall site preparation and construction progress on the South Mall. The photographs are almost always stamped and dated by the photographer and agency.

15727-16: This accretion consists of ca. 400 4 x 5 ? inch black and white photographic negatives. Negatives are housed in envelopes typically labeled with assignment number, date, name of photographer, and brief description of subject.

Besides typical views and details of South Mall construction, the negatives also depict Office of General Services projects, personnel, and activities such as Capitol tours, Capitol tour guides, views of the Capitol basement, South Mall cornerstone ceremony, meetings, OGS car auction, luncheons, damaged vehicles at State garage, and other events which OGS was mandated to document.

15727-16A This accretion consists of assorted images covering many aspects of construction. The most frequent subjects are the performing arts center (The Egg) and the convention center. Also included are a very complete group of 4x5 inch black and white negatives taken from a single vantage point from the Alfred E. Smith Office Building covering the period from November 1965 to August 1968.

Alternate Formats Available

Items Online

Selected photographs from this series have been digitized and are available in State Archives Digital Collections.

New York State Archives Digital Collections

Empire State Plaza (South Mall) construction progress photographs, circa 1960-1978

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

15727-97: A binder of maps showing photo locations and direction, with a photo log index by date and number, is available at the repository.

15727-92, 15727-93: Container list is available at the repository.

15727-97: Volume list is available at the repository.

15727-14: Folder list is available at the repository.

Processing Information

15727-92: These records were originally found within a series transferred as 16187, George A. Fuller Company South Mall Project Central Files, and were separated by Archives staff at time of accessioning.

15727-97, 15727-98, 15727-99: These accretions resulted from an ongoing project by Archives staff to accession or integrate estrayed or unidentified records.

Custodial History

15727-14, 15727-14A: Accompanying documents indicate that many of the photographs were supplied to W.W. Wanamaker, Office of General Services, by C.F. Dodge, Project Manager of the George A. Fuller Company, Inc.

Access Restrictions

Records relating to existing facilities may be withheld under FOIL sect. 87.2(f) ("if disclosed could endanger the life or safety of any person").

Access Terms

Detailed Description