Research


Custodial History

The files dating prior to 1926 were created and maintained by the former Bureau of Canal Affairs (earlier called the "Canal Department") in the Office of the State Comptroller. Since construction of the original canal system in the early 19th century, the Office of the State Comptroller had created and maintained records of the financing, construction, administration, and operation of the canal system. In 1926 the Comptroller's canal-related functions and the canal records needed for current operations were transferred to the recently-established Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW also absorbed all functions and records of the former Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor. Established in 1846, that office had maintained state records relating to canal construction. After 1926 the Barge Canal land appropriation files were presumably maintained by DPW's Division of Canals and Waterways. Most of the older canal records were retained by the Office of the State Comptroller and were transferred to the State Library in the 1950s and from the Library to the State Archives in 1978.