Research

New York House of Refuge Superintendent's Daily Journals


Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources


Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
The superintendent's daily log of events includes information on admission of inmates ( name, age, and committing agency); discharge or indenture of inmates (name, occupation, and residence of inmate's master or person to whom inmate was discharged); inmate deaths and escapes; purchase of supplies; and Sunday religious services. After about 1900, the entries for admissions and discharges do not refer to individual inmates.
Creator:
Title:
New York House of Refuge superintendent's daily journals
Quantity:

9 cubic feet

29 volumes; 12 microfilm rolls 35mm

Inclusive Dates:
1825-1841, 1844-1935
Series Number:
A2054

Arrangement

Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

This is the superintendent's daily log of events.

Routine entries include information about the following: admission of inmates, containing each inmate's name and age and the name of the agency that committed the inmate; discharge and indentures of inmates, containing the name, occupation, and place of residence of the inmate's master or the name and address of the person to whom an inmate was discharged; inmate deaths and escapes; purchase of supplies; and Sunday religious services. After about 1900, the entries for admissions and discharges are usually brief and do not refer to individual inmates. Events reported occasionally or irregularly in the journals include: visits by officials; meetings of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents; and illness of inmates and staff. The gap in the records for the years 1841 to 1844 falls between volumes 6 and 7. Entries in Volume 7 by Superintendent David Terry state that some of his records were stolen on the night of April 17, 1844. Although Terry did not specify which documents were lost, the missing portion of this series was probably among them.

Alternate Formats Available

Microform is available at the New York State Archives through interlibrary loan.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Volume list.

Custodial History

The Department of Correction placed these records on loan to the Syracuse University Library from 1960-1977.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):