Research


Scope and Content Note

The last box contains letters announcing the attorney general's departure from office. A chronological file of carbon copies of outgoing correspondence was maintained for the earlier years.

18565-94: This accretion consists of correspondence between Attorney General Robert Abrams and other state agencies, private businesses, federal and local government agencies, various constituent organizations, and other public and private organizations and individuals. Most material is arranged in categories such as congratulations, thank you's, appreciations, general correspondence, correspondence handled by executive assistants, sympathy, legislation, and recommendations.

Records typically consist of expressions of support/opposition to a particular position or piece of legislation; designations of staff duties; commendations to staff; constituent comments and complaints; personal greetings; condolence letters; and acknowledgements of invitations, appointments and resignations, or resumes received.

18565-99: This accretion consists of the office correspondence of Attorney General Dennis C. Vacco. It exists in two parts: letters received (1996-1998) with replies prepared for the attorney general by his press office; and letters received (1994-1998) and forwarded to the office of Assistant Attorney General Donald P. Berens for reply.

Letters with replies prepared for the attorney general by his press office are arranged alphabetically by name of the correspondent. A copy of the reply is usually attached. Letters forwarded to Donald Berens for reply are arranged by year and therein by "reference #". What reference numbers are represented and/or the system by which they were assigned is unknown. However, they generally reflect arrangement according to the date the letter was answered. There are many and wide gaps in the numbering sequence. A copy of the reply is usually attached.

18565-07: This accretion consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and his staff (1999-2006). Incoming correspondence usually consists of letters from other state agencies, private businesses, federal and local government agencies, various constituent organizations, and other public and private organizations and individuals. Much of the incoming correspondence regards salient topics and legislation of the time such as tobacco, anti-trust laws, gun control, the September 11th attacks, pregnancy centers, gas price gauging, same-sex marriage and illegal immigration.

The outgoing correspondence usually consists of letters from Attorney General Spitzer regarding responses to invitations, holiday greetings, letters of sympathy, and letters and certificates of merit. Most of the correspondence usually contains the original letter sent to the Attorney General's Office, the database entry page with a note for the necessary actions to take place, and a letter from the Attorney General's Office responding to the letter. Some incoming correspondence contains supplements such as CDs, DVDs, and videotapes. The 1999 incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically. The remainder of the correspondence is arranged by the Reference Number which is usually in chronological order by the date the letter was written and answered.

18565-07A: This accretion consists of correspondence files of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer during his tenure in office. A majority of the correspondence is between the Attorney General and other state agencies, private business, federal and local government agencies, various constituent organizations, and other public and private individuals. The correspondence regards salient topics and legislation of the time such as tobacco, school violence, organized crime, and Internet safety.