Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of descriptions and impressions of the Great Seal and Privy Seal of the State of New York, the seals of the clerks of the Assembly and Senate, of state agencies of the various courts, of county clerks and surrogates, and of a very few towns and notaries public. The description and sample impression are accompanied by certificate signed by the official submitting the document for filing by the Secretary of State. The first volume covers the years 1798-1891; the second, 1849 - 1977. The description were originally filed as folded documents, but were apparently rebound in the early 20th century. Both volumes have indexes at the front, but the descriptions were not bound in chronological or any other particular order. Many of the pages have come loose from the binding, and many of the seals themselves are quite fragile, particularly those impressed on wax or paper wafers.