Research

New York State Agricultural and Industrial School Parole Agents' Registers of Occupation and Conduct of Paroled Inmates


Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology.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:
Catholic and Protestant Chaplain, who served as Parole Agents, kept these records about paroled inmates', home, schooling, occupation and conduct at the State Agricultural and Industrial School. Information may include inmate name and number; reference marker to inmate's case history; if died, discharged, "dropped" or "discontinued"; name and relationship of parent or guardian; address; parole date; age; and quarterly employment records. Records are restricted.
Creator:
Title:
Agricultural and Industrial School parole agents' registers of occupation and conduct of paroled inmates
Quantity:

1 cubic foot

5 volumes

Inclusive Dates:
1888-1908
Series Number:
A3144

Arrangement

Each volume: chronological by date paroled.

Scope and Content Note

The Catholic and Protestant Chaplains, who also served as Parole Agents, kept these records in compliance with institution bylaws directing them to keep records concerning the home, schooling, and employment of paroled inmates and of their adherence to or violations of the terms of their parole. Information is recorded on standard forms printed in the volumes, but the level and type of information included varies widely between and within volumes.

For each parolee, information recorded may include: inmate name and number; book and page on which inmate's history is recorded in Chaplains' Registers of Inmate Case Histories (Series A3146); a consecutive order number assigned to inmates as each was entered; notation if died, discharged, "dropped" (usually if whereabouts unknown for an extended period), "discontinued" (e.g. reports discontinued by order of the Board of Managers), etc.; name and relationship to inmate of parent or guardian; address; date of parole; age; and quarterly employment records, kept for up to four years, very briefly noting what the inmate is doing and his/her conduct (e.g. "School - Very Good", "Farm - Good", "Wherabouts unknown", "Sporting House - Hopeless"). Employment records were not kept in these volumes from 1908 on; Volume 4 indicates that those records were kept on cards, but no such cards have survived.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Volume 1: rough alphabetical index to inmates names. Also: Series A3153, Indexes of Occupation and Conduct of Paroled Inmates.

Custodial History

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

Access Restrictions

Restricted in accordance with Executive Law, Section 501-c(1)(b), relating to confidentiality of individuals in custody of the Division for Youth (now Office of Children and Family Services).

Access Terms

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