Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of photographic prints, film negatives, color slides, and at least one videotape of materials produced by the New York State Bicentennial Commission to publicize/illustrate the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. The series does not include administrative or operating files of the commission.

Images include portraits of notable persons; historic structures, scenes, artifacts, and documents; illustrative and promotional materials (for exhibit catalogs, posters, calendar); and program materials from special events (e.g., the "Critical Choices" convention, Federalist Day, and Capitol Days) held during 1987-1988. There are folders for most of the major activities of the commission, including an exhibit of Federal period furniture at the State Museum, the publication of an 18th century cantata of musical selections performed at George Washington's first inauguration, and a Law Day tree planting ceremony in Albany.

Some of the images were used in commission-sponsored publications. Chief among these were "New York, the Eleventh Pillar of the Federal Republic" and "Well Begun; Chronicles of the Early National Period" (edited by Stephen Schecter). The commission also produced a wall calendar featuring photographs documenting people and events during the constitutional period. Of special interest among publicity photographs are those of chairman Sol Wachtler (narrator of a commission video), shown with former New York governor Charles Poletti, congressman Michael McNulty, and Albany mayor Thomas Whalen at the event honoring delegates of New York's 1938 Constitutional Convention (November 3, 1988).