New York State Governor Restoration of Citizenship Rights Application Ledgers
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Overview of the Records
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
3 cubic feet
6 volumes
Arrangement
Chronological by application date.
Biographical Sketch
Articles I and IV of the State Constitution authorize the governor to grant executive clemency to convicted criminals (Executive Law, Sections 15-19). Among the types of clemency offered is restoration of citizenship rights, by which the governor restores civil rights lost as a result of a conviction (e.g. right to vote, right to hold public office).
Scope and Content Note
These volumes were maintained to track the status of applications to the governor for restoration of citizenship rights. Volumes 1-5 provide basic facts about each application including: application number (volumes 3-5 only); journal and page (no indication of what journals are being cited) (volumes 3-5 only); date of application; name; date convicted; prison; date received in prison (volumes 3-5 only); county; crime; term; date term expires (volumes 3-5 only); commutation earned (volumes 3-5 only); date of actual discharge (volumes 3-5 only); documents submitted with application (e.g. petition from citizens, letters from individuals, court documents relating to conviction) (volume 1 only); date application granted or denied; and to whom writ forwarded (e.g. name of judge, attorney, or other individual).
Volume 6 provides a chronological record of actions relating to individual citizenship restoration applications from February 1883 to April 1887. For each application, the volume provides: application number; name; date of application; by whom application made; date application granted or denied; and date writ delivered, and to whom.
Related Material
A0597 Executive Clemency and Pardon Case Files, contains related Governors' records.
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
Rough alphabetical name indexes in Volumes 2-6.
Volume list is available at the repository.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.
Access Terms
Political rights, Loss of--New York (State)
Political rights--New York (State)