Research

New York State Department of Law Civil Rights Bureau Closed Case Files of Investigations and Proceedings of Civil Rights Matters


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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:
The Civil Rights Bureau enforces laws to protect New Yorkers from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, source of income, or disability. The series consists of closed case files covering a broad variety of civil rights issues in which the attorney general's office was involved. An individual case file may contain reports, memoranda, research files, news clippings, legal case citations, court proceedings, legal briefs, petitions, and/or correspondence.
Creator:
Title:
Closed case files of investigations and proceedings of civil rights matters
Quantity:

1327.5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:
1979-1998, 2003
Series Number:
10219

Arrangement

Arranged by year file was closed, then by case name or subject of investigation.

10219-08C, 10219-14: Uncertain arrangement.

Administrative History

The Civil Rights Bureau enforces laws to protect New Yorkers from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, source of income, or disability. Among its many functions, the bureau investigates and prosecutes alleged discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, credit, and education, and educates the public about civil rights issues.

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of closed case files covering a broad variety of civil rights issues in which the attorney general's office was involved. An individual case file may contain reports, memoranda, research files, news clippings, legal case citations, court proceedings, legal briefs, petitions, and/or correspondence.

10219-96: This accretion consists of closed case files and related material covering many civil rights issues, including Article 78 proceedings; refusal to rent to families with children; racially discriminating real estate referrals; height requirements for police officers; discrimination by banks in lending on the basis of religious affiliation; and discriminatory practices in terms or conditions of employment.

10219-99: This accretion consists of closed case files and related material covering civil rights issues such as domestic violence; reproductive hazards in the work place; discriminatory practices in the terms or conditions of employment; and school desegregation.

10219-03: This accretion contains case files of investigations and proceedings that were closed in 1986, 1991, and 1992. Among the cases documented in the files are the following: People of the State of New York v. Data-Butterfield, Inc., which centered on the racially discriminatory real estate practice of racial steering; Fight Back, et al. v. F. Ray Marshall, et al., in which the State of New York joined the plaintiff in an action to compel federal labor officials to enforce Executive Order 11246 prohibitions against employment discrimination in federally funded construction projects; State of New York and the New York State Department of Health v. Richard S. Schweiker, which challenged the legality of federal regulations requiring federally funded family planning clinics to notify parents when they dispense prescription contraceptives to minors;

People of the State of New York v. 11 Cornwell Company, which stemmed from the efforts of a neighborhood organization to prevent the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities from establishing a community residence for the mentally retarded at 11 Cornwell Street in Rockville Centre; and People of the State of New York v. The Ocean Club, Inc., in which the defendant, a public accommodation in Atlantic Beach, was accused of discrimination against Jewish persons.

10219-05: This accretion documents the investigation of the Lake Isle Country Club, Westchester County, Town of Eastchester, New York.

10219-08: This accretion consists of cases closed in 1996. Cases and subjects include: People v. Dover Employment Agency, Apkujungdong Restaurant, Laundry Shirts Investigation, Cosmo Employment Agency, People v. Larosa, People v. Mahony, LILCO, miscellaneous employment agency investigation, Pier v. Niskayuna, Mesmer, Dr. Paul Bellman, and matter of Dana.

10219-08B: This accretion consists of cases closed in 1994 and 1996. Cases closed in 1994 include: People v. Roosevelt Firemen's Association, People v. Colony Beach Club, People v. Hub Realty, and People v. Norell Agency. Cases closed in 1996 include: People v. Zirinsky, People v. Lambs of Christ, People v. Operation Rescue, and People v. Pro-Choice/Western District.

10219-08D: This accretion consists of cases closed in 1986 and 1994. Cases and subjects documented extensively by the records include: Minority Business Enterprise; NYCTA Investigation; People v. Merlino; NY v. Sullivan; Tawana Brawley Investigation; Roosevelt Exempt Firemen; People v. Norrell; and Huntington Highway.

10219-13: This accretion documents the case Bucaro v. City University of New York (CUNY), which dealt with disabled access at the College of Staten Island. The case was closed in 2003.

10219-14: This accretion documents the case Abrams v. Queens College.

10219-14A: This accretion relates to the Hilary Klein/Better Homes investigation.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Folder lists for additional accretions are available at the repository, with the exception of 10219-08, 10219-08A, 10219-08B, 10219-13, and 10219-14, for which box lists are available. No lists are available for accretions 10219-08C, 10219-09B, 10219-09E, and 10219-14A.

Acquisition Information

10219-13: This accretion includes records from transfer list 03/0910.

10219-14: This accretion includes records from transfer list 03/0907.

10219-14A: This accretion includes records from transfer list 050470.

Access Restrictions

State Archives staff will review requests for access and disclose information pursuant to New York State Freedom of Information Law.

Access Terms

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