New York State Commission on Relief for Widowed Mothers Widow's Pension Legislation Research Files A3109

New York State Commission on Relief for Widowed Mothers Widow's Pension Legislation Research Files

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology.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 series consists of legislative summaries, reports, speeches, conference papers, articles, newspaper clippings, and other material gathered by the commission to aid its investigation into the issue of providing pension relief to mothers. Records include sample legislation and testimony from other states, sample forms and draft reports. Also included is a chart of information on mothers' pension and allied laws in other states. Included is information on states that proposed laws and restrictions and methods used by states to administer state aid.

Creator:

New York (State). Commission on Relief for Widowed Mothers

Title:

Widow's pension legislation research files

Quantity:

0.2 cubic feet

(1 microfilm roll 35mm)

Inclusive Dates:

1912-1915

Series Number:

A3109

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of summaries of legislation and copies of reports, speeches, conference papers, articles, newspaper clippings, and other material gathered by the commission to aid its investigation into the issue of providing pension relief to mothers. The commission was empowered by Chapter 588 of the Laws of 1913 to inquire into conditions and statutes throughout the country and to "send for persons or papers" necessary to examine the subject. The series reflects the scope and results of the commission's inquires.

The records include: examples of legislation, drawn from statutes and the testimony of officials who particpated in their enactment, from the states of Missouri (Kansas City and St. Louis), Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Michigan; sample reporting forms specifically required under provisions of the Wisconsin law; sample forms (for reinvestigation and for providing children's histories) used by the Children's Bureau of the City of New York's Department of Public Charities; materials (apparently draft statements) prepared by the New York State Commission to Investigate Provision for the Mentally Deficient; and draft typescript of a report by the commission, with manuscript corrections and annotations.

Of special note is a blueprint copy of a chart of information on mothers' pension and allied laws in other states. The chart was compiled by Richard Neustadt, secretary of the New York State Commission to Investigate Provision for the Mentally Deficient. It shows the persons reached and restrictions imposed by the various state laws, as well as the methods used by the states to administer state aid. The chart also lists the states which proposed laws, or for which there was agitation for legislation, during 1913-1914.