New York State Department of State Administrative Files of the Council of Appointment
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Overview of the Records
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
7 cubic feet
Administrative History
The Council of Appointment was created by the 1777 state constitution for the purpose of selecting individuals to fill non-elective offices. The council was composed of the Governor and four senators chosen by the Assembly. The council was abolished in 1822 after the ratification of the 1821 constitution.
Scope and Content Note
These records are the working files of the Council of Appointment and almost entirely concern themselves with the appointment of local offices and rarely with military appointments (save for the commissions). Most of the records are petitions to the council from residents requesting to be appointed to minor local offices (e.g. cod inspector, leather inspector etc.). The files contain proceedings of court materials, petitions for appointment to non-selective offices, indices, military commissions, lists of appointed county officials, letters of recommendation and a small number of fiscal related records. The bulk of the series suffered extensive damage (from the 1911 fire and some of the records are completely unusable.
Access Restrictions
Restricted due to severe burn damage.