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Kenneth B. Pick Demographic and Electoral Statistics Professional Papers

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources

Overview of the Records

Biographical Sketch

Kenneth B. Pick was a demographic analyst who held prominent positions at both the state legislature and at multiple state agencies. He began his state service working for the Office of the Minority in the State Assembly in 1980, becoming Coordinator for the Director of Operations by 1983. During the 1990s, he worked in both the Office of the Minority and the Legislature's Office of Statistical Information.

In 1998, he left the legislature to work at the Empire State Development Corporation (Bureau of Economic and Demographic Information), the New York State Education Department, and as chief statistician for the Department of Economic Development. From 2010-2014, he returned to the legislature as Executive Director of the New York State Senate/Assembly Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force, under Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz.

His work involved the gathering of data from across the state, usually by region or legislative districts. His research was highly instrumental in helping to develop reapportionment lines and for a number of gubernatorial and legislative transitions. The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force used Pick's expertise in research and demographics to identify communities with growing Hispanic populations and determine the need for policies to help these communities grow economically, educationally, and in the realm of employment opportunity.

Scope and Content Note

Much of this material in this series is undated and not arranged in a recognizable order. The largest single grouping of material are "Multivariate Application of Population Statistics" (MAPS) prepared by Pick, likely for the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force. MAPS data is arranged in binders by municipality, including all cities and major media markets. Information for municipalities includes ethnic composition (including percentage of population with ancestry that is Hispanic, Asian, Irish, German, etc.), voting trends, and media behavior. The ethnic data is primarily presented in map form, while other data is presented in statistical tables. Although binders do not indicate the source of the demographic data that has been repurposed, it is almost certainly drawn from the federal census. The MAPS analyses likely contributed to Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force reports and were provided as background to task force members about demographic changes in New York.

This series also includes material generated by the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment pertaining to the 1992 legislative redistricting in New York. These records include public hearing transcripts, correspondence among legislators and with the public, legislative proposals, fact sheets, schedules, history of previous redistricting efforts, lawsuits based on perceived gerrymandering, and other records.

Also included are reports generated by the Legislature's Office of Statistical Information, including major projects, demographic and electoral profiles of Assembly districts in 1998, and county-level demographic and political guides. Later records include surveys of voters in a sampling of legislative districts in 2002, and both federal and state electoral voting tabulations for 2004.

The series also contains two floppy disks with promotional artwork featuring New York State's role in the 2000 federal census.

Acquisition Information

Staff at Somos New York (affiliated with the Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force) contacted the State Archives in 2014, following Kenneth Pick's death, to inquire about interest in transferring his records. Records were accessioned in 2015 by the State Archives.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

Detailed Description