New York State Superintendent of Public Works Minutes of the Canal Commissioners and Superintendent of Public Works B0201

New York State Superintendent of Public Works Minutes of the Canal Commissioners and Superintendent of Public Works

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

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

Summary:

This series contains minutes of meetings, maps, diagrams, drawings, tracings, decisions, petitions, correspondence, resolutions, contract lists, testimonies, depositions, affidavits, and newspaper clippings. Minutes are missing from this series from early December 1883 through late May 1887 and from early January 1889 late October 1896.

Creator:

New York (State). Superintendent of Public Works

Title:

Minutes of the Canal Commissioners and Superintendent of Public Works

Quantity:

7 cubic feet

14 volumes

Inclusive Dates:

1817-1921

Series Number:

B0201

Arrangement

Chronological.

Administrative History

The first Canal Commissioners were appointed pursuant to Chapter 237 of the Laws of 1816. They were authorized originally to construct a canal between the Mohawk and Seneca Rivers and between Lake Champlain and the Hudson River at Fort Edward. The Canal Commissioners held office until it was abolished by an 1876 constitutional amendment. Article V, Section 3 authorized that all of the Commissioners' powers be transferred to the newly created office of Superintendent of Public Works. This occurred on February 8, 1878.

Scope and Content Note

These records are bound volumes of minutes of the Canal Commissioners. The volumes contain not only minutes of meetings but also maps, diagrams, drawings, tracings, decisions, petitions, correspondence, resolutions, contract lists, testimonies, depositions, affidavits, and newspaper clippings.

There are two books for the first volume of minutes. One appears to be the original minutes and the other a transcription. Volumes 1-5 and part of volume 6 contain the minutes of the Canal Commissioners. The bulk of volume 6 and the remaining volumes contain the minutes of the Superintendent of Public Works. These are not "minutes" in the true sense but more of a history of actions taken by the Superintendent (e.g. appointments made, contracts reviewed and awarded, etc.).

Related Material

Series 10970, Canal Construction Permit Files, 1828-1915 contains numerous detached pages from this series, B0201. In the early 20th century hundreds of pages containing entries of permits for use of or access to canal lands or waters were detached from the minute books and filed with the Canal Construction Permit Files.

Series B1789, Inactive Revocable Permits, 1837-1988, contains numerous detached pages from this series, B0201. In the early 20th century hundreds of pages containing entries of permits for use of or access to canal lands or waters were detached from the minute books and filed with the Inactive Revocable Permits.