Research


Scope and Content Note

The Division of Human Rights (DHR) Executive Subject and Correspondence files document the activities of the DHR Commissioners. These records were created by the commissioner and agency executive staff.

The DHR is responsible for both enforcing and promoting awareness of the New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law, Article 15, sect. 290-301), which involves complaint processing and adjudication, educating the public on matters of discrimination, and informing the public on the complaint adjudication process. It is under the jurisdiction of the DHR to combat violations of the Human Rights Law in cases involving discrimination in employment; housing, land and commercial space; public accommodations; training and education; and credit. Records types include correspondence; inter-agency memorandums; reports; information involving division activities such as budgeting, staffing changes, updates regarding legislation, committees and their roles, and commissioner directives; meeting minutes; policy material; as well as information on various subjects including abortion, civil rights, religious practices, school integration, statutes of limitations, and the various types of discrimination. The types of complaints received by the division include those involving discrimination based on age, race, sex, and marital status in cases of preemployment questions, insurance withholdings, retirement, and issues involving the purchasing of real estate. Correspondence relating to specific cases and complaints are also included in this series.

Commissioners represented in this series include George H. Fowler (1962-1967); Robert J. Mangum (1967-1970); Jack M. Sable (1970-1975); Werner H. Kramarsky (1975-1982); Robert Shaw (Acting Commissioner 1982-1983); H. Carl McCall (1983-1984); Douglas H. White (1984-1990); Evonne W. Jennings Tolbert (2000-2003); Michelle Cheney Donaldson (2003-2007); and Kumiki Gibson (2007-2008).

19280-19: Unpublished reports on case processing, including use of information technology; meditation training; economic costs of sexual harassment in the workplace; discrimination against individuals with HIV/AIDS; and other topics. Also present are a comprehensive description of the agency in 1995 and the Division's budget proposal for fiscal year 1995/1996.