Abstracts and analyses of bills B1682

Abstracts and analyses of bills

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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 consists of monthly abstracts or analyses of bills paid by the New York State Asylum for Idiots (later the New York State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children). Entries are by type of product or commodity and cover salaries, provisions, utilities, maintenance and repairs, inmate needs (clothing, transportation, funeral expenses), medical supplies, shop and farm supplies, and household needs.

Creator:

Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children

Title:

Abstracts and analyses of bills

Quantity:

2 cubic feet

6 volumes

Inclusive Dates:

1869-1912

Series Number:

B1682

Arrangement

Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of monthly abstracts or analyses of bills paid by the New York State Asylum for Idiots (until 1891), and later the New York State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, during the period 1869-1912. Although there is a certain similarity of content, the format among volumes is not entirely consistent.

Titles in volume 1 begin with "Annual Analysis of Asylum Bills." The first is "commencing 1870," with entries for 1869; the final analysis is from October 1875 to October 1876. Typically only the commodity category, date, and bill amounts are shown, with dollar amounts in each category totaled. Sometimes numbers appear (designation unknown) with a list of dollar amounts (e.g., one of three listed under the category "Rice" is "No. 62" with the amount "37.28").

There are no years shown in headings of Volume 2, but span dates 1879-1880 appear in the inside front cover. Entries are by type of product or commodity. Provisions are divided into seven "classes" for which no other category headings are given. There are also entries under categories of salaries, wages, repairs and improvements, funeral expenses, freight, postage, and other general expenditures. Under each product heading is the month and day, a number (designation unknown), description of item, and cost. The final column is a subtotal amount for selected groups of items, often in red ink. An alphabetical product index is at the fore of the volume.

Volume 3 has the binder missing, but begins at stamped page "1" with entries dating 1883 and continuing through 1888. Arrangement is apparently by "class" (similar to previous volume) and then chronological by year, month, and day.

In Volumes 4-6 printed column headings replace manuscript. Volume 4 is entitled "Monthly Abstract of Bills Paid by the Treasurer of the Syracuse State School for Feeble-Minded Children" and dates span October 1891 - October 1894. Headings include name (vendor); "No." (consecutive from October to October); Groceries and Provisions; Household Supplies; Fuel and Light; Water and Ice; Repairs and Improvements; Furniture and Fixtures; Clothing of Inmates; Farm, Garden and Stable; Postage Stationery, and School Supplies; Salaries and wages; Freight, Express and Telegraph; Medicines and Medical Supplies; Traveling Expenses; Shop Expenses; Funeral Expenses; Miscellaneous; and Total.

Volume 5 (October 1897- September 1904) and Volume 6 (October 1904-October 1912) are consecutive volumes with nearly identical headings. Headings include Salaries of Officers (and Employees in Volume 6); Wages and Labor (excluded in Volume 6); Expenses of Managers; Provisions; Household Stores; Clothing; Fuel and Light; Hospital and Medical Supplies; Shop Farm and Garden; Ordinary Repairs; Transportation of Inmates; and Miscellaneous.

Following those headings (in both Volumes 5 and 6) occur: a category for "Sundry Accounts" that includes headings for Cash and Ledger Folio Dr.; a category for "Articles (Day Book and Journal Entries") including "amounts brought forward"; and a category for "Sundry Accounts" that includes headings for Ledger Folio Cr., Items, Total and Cash. Data are rarely found under all of these headings.