New York State Office of General Services Empire State Plaza (South Mall) Construction Progress Photographs
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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 slides, negatives, and photographic prints documenting construction of the Empire State Plaza (South
Mall) in Albany, New York. The images depict construction from overall aerial shots of the site and surrounding vicinity to
closeups of construction details; progress on concrete structures; work on office buildings; as well as non-typical events
such as accident sites, repairs, a discovery during excavation of human remains, and a visit to the construction site by Governor
Nelson Rockefeller.
Creator:
Title:
Empire State Plaza (South Mall) construction progress photographs
Quantity:
Inclusive Dates:
circa 1960-1978
Series Number:
15727
Arrangement
15727-92: Arranged by building, then by book number.
15727-93, 15727-98: Rough chronological or reverse chronological order.
15727-97: Photographs are arranged numerically, in consecutive binders. Prints are roughly by roll number, in envelopes.
15727-99: Roughly chronological.
15727-16: Unarranged.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of slides, negatives, and photographic prints documenting progress on the construction of the Empire
State Plaza (South Mall) in Albany, New York.
15727-93: This accretion consists of still photographic material documenting progress on the construction of the Empire State
Plaza (South Mall). The images depict construction from overall aerial shots of the entire site and surrounding vicinity to
closeups of construction details. Approximately one third of the material deals exclusively with the Meeting Center (The Egg).
Much of the material is stamped or otherwise marked with a number, date, and in some cases, name of photographer. The material
consists mostly of 35mm black-and-white negatives and 8x10" prints. There are also approximately 75 small color prints and
negatives, some larger black-and-white negatives, and approximately 220 color slides.
15727-97: The accretion consists of over 300 black-and-white photographs (8 x 10 inches) of a street condition survey in the
City of Albany, about 30 "South Mall slides" and about 300 black-and-white prints (5 x 7 inches) of an "F & H Inventory" (19533-C)
of work party construction progress. Photos, slides, and prints are numbered and captioned. They are arranged in binders (photos)
or envelopes (slides/prints).
In addition to the photographs, the Albany street condition survey group also includes a binder of maps showing photo locations
and direction; a photo log index by date and number; a group of general views of the South Mall project; and a copy of contract
specifications for reconstruction work on South Swan Street.
15727-98: This accretion consists of approximately 2,500 35 mm color slides. Slides typically depict progress on concrete
structures such as walls, floors, overhangs or other slabs. Also shown are non-typical events such as accident sites, repairs,
a discovery during excavation of human remains, and a visit to the construction site by Governor Rockefeller. Slides are numbered,
dated, and captioned.
15727-99: The accretion consists of ninety-one (91) black and white photoprints (8 x 10 inches) of various aspects of construction
of the South Mall state office building complex during the years 1965-1975. Approximately one-third of the photographs depict
construction of the Cultural Education Center building.
15727-14A: This small accretion consists of black and white photographs chiefly depicting overall site preparation and construction
progress on the South Mall. The photographs are almost always stamped and dated by the photographer and agency.
15727-16: This accretion consists of ca. 400 4 x 5 ? inch black and white photographic negatives. Negatives are housed in
envelopes typically labeled with assignment number, date, name of photographer, and brief description of subject.
Besides typical views and details of South Mall construction, the negatives also depict Office of General Services projects,
personnel, and activities such as Capitol tours, Capitol tour guides, views of the Capitol basement, South Mall cornerstone
ceremony, meetings, OGS car auction, luncheons, damaged vehicles at State garage, and other events which OGS was mandated
to document.
15727-16A This accretion consists of assorted images covering many aspects of construction. The most frequent subjects are
the performing arts center (The Egg) and the convention center. Also included are a very complete group of 4x5 inch black
and white negatives taken from a single vantage point from the Alfred E. Smith Office Building covering the period from November
1965 to August 1968.
Alternate Formats Available
Items Online
Selected photographs from this series have been digitized and are available in State Archives Digital Collections.
New York State Archives Digital Collections
Empire State Plaza (South Mall) construction progress photographs, circa 1960-1978
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
15727-97: A binder of maps showing photo locations and direction, with a photo log index by date and number, is available
at the repository.
15727-92, 15727-93: Container list is available at the repository.
15727-97: Volume list is available at the repository.
15727-14: Folder list is available at the repository.
Processing Information
15727-92: These records were originally found within a series transferred as 16187, George A. Fuller Company South Mall Project
Central Files, and were separated by Archives staff at time of accessioning.
15727-97, 15727-98, 15727-99: These accretions resulted from an ongoing project by Archives staff to accession or integrate
estrayed or unidentified records.
Custodial History
15727-14, 15727-14A: Accompanying documents indicate that many of the photographs were supplied to W.W. Wanamaker, Office
of General Services, by C.F. Dodge, Project Manager of the George A. Fuller Company, Inc.
Access Restrictions
Records relating to existing facilities may be withheld under FOIL sect. 87.2(f) ("if disclosed could endanger the life or
safety of any person").
Access Terms
Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):
Detailed Description
Dates |
Contents |
Box |
Accretion: 15727-16A |
1964, 1971-1972 |
Oversize photographs |
1 |
1975-1977 |
Oversize photographs |
2 |
|
Prints of The Egg and Convention Center |
3 |
1965 November-1968 August |
circa 750 4X5" black and white negatives |
4 |
|
circa 1,200 35mm color slides |
5 |
Accretion: 15727-89 |
|
Albany South mall Project Index of Photographs by book identification number with tabs |
1 |
|
Albany South mall Project Index of Photographs by book identification number without tabs |
2 |
1967 April-September |
Slide Indexes Book numbered 1-2 |
3 |
1967 September-1969 January, 1977 |
Slide Indexes Book numbered 3-4 |
4 |
1969-1971 |
Main Platform Foundation Photographs, Main Platform Foundations Cultural Center Foundations Progress Photographs |
5 |
1970 July 7-10 |
Main Platform Foundations Progress Photographs |
6 |
1970 January-December |
Main Platform Superstructure |
7 |
1971 November, 1971 December (parts 1-3), 1971 June |
Main Platform Superstructure |
8 |
1971 July-December |
Main Platform Superstructure |
9 |
1972 January-April |
Main Platform Superstructure |
10 |
1972 May-August |
Main Platform Superstructure |
11 |
1972 September, 1972 December |
Main Platform Superstructure |
12 |
1973 January, 1973 May-June |
Main Platform Superstructure |
13 |
1973 July-December |
Main Platform Superstructure |
14 |
1974 January-Novermber |
Main Platform Superstructure |
15 |
1975 February-June |
Main Platform Superstructure |
16 |
1975 December-1976 December |
Main Platform Superstructure |
17 |
1976 April-October |
Main Platform Superstructure |
18 |
1976 September |
Main Platform Superstructure |
19 |
1976 November-1977 June (missing 1977 May) |
Main Platform Superstructure |
20 |
1970 December, 1970 January-1971 June |
Cultural Education Center Book numbers 1-2 |
21 |
1971 December |
Cultural Education Center Book number 3 |
22 |
1972 June |
Cultural Education Center Book number 4 |
23 |
1972 September-December |
Cultural Education Center Book number 5-6 |
24 |
1973 April |
Cultural Education Center Book number 7 |
25 |
1973 August |
Cultural Education Center Book number 8 |
26 |
1973 September-1974 March |
Cultural Education Center Progress Photographs Book numbered 9 - 10 |
27 |
1974 June-December |
Cultural Education Center Progress Photographs Book numbered 11 - 12 |
28 |
1975 January-April |
Cultural Education Center Progress Photographs Book numbered 13 - 14 |
29 |
1975 May-June |
Cultural Education Center Progress Photographs Book numbered 15 |
30 |
1975 July |
Cultural Education Center Book Numbered 16 |
31 |
1975 November |
Cultural Education Center Book Numbered 17 |
32 |
1975 February |
Cultural Education Center Book Numbered 18 |
33 |
1976 March |
Cultural Education Center Book Numbered 19 |
34 |
1976 June-December |
Cultural Education Center Book Numbered 20-21 |
35 |
1972 August-1973 May |
The Egg Book Numbered 1-2 |
36 |
1974 May-September, 1975 February |
The Egg Book Numbered 6,8 |
37 |
1975 July-October |
The Egg Book Numbered 9 |
38 |
1976 March |
The Egg Book Numbered 10 |
39 |
1976 October-1977 July |
The Egg Book Numbered 12, 14 |
40 |
1972-1974 |
Accidents Book Numbered 101, 102 |
41 |
1970-1974 |
Cardinal McCloskey Progress Photographs Books Numbered 201, 202 |
42 |
1972-1973 July |
Cardinal McCloskey, Damage Progress Photographs Books Numbered 203, 301 |
43 |
1971 November-1973 September, 1968 September-1970 January |
Guilderland Interim Storage Facility, Legislative Building Books Numbered 401, 501 |
44 |
1972 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 601 |
45 |
1973-1974 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 602, 603 |
46 |
1973-1975 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 603 |
47 |
1974 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 604 |
48 |
1974-1974 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 605 |
49 |
Contents |
Box |
Folder |
0000 |
49 |
49 |
1975 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 606, 607 |
50 |
1975 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 608, 609 |
51 |
1975 |
Governor's Mansion and Site Parking Lots Books Numbered 610 |
52 |
1970 |
Reconstruction of South Swan Street: Madison Avenue to State Street |
53 |
1971-1972 |
Reconstruction of South Swan Street: Madison Avenue to State Street Book Number 701 |
54 |
1972-1973 |
Reconstruction of State St. |
55 |
1972-1973 |
Reconstruction of State St. Book Number 801 |
56 |
1973 |
Reconstruction of State St. Book Number 802, 803 |
57 |
1973 |
Reconstruction of State St. Book Numbered 804, 805 |
58 |
1970-1973 |
Reconstruction of State St., Site Access Roads Books Numbered 806, 807, 901 |
59 |
1971-1972 |
Site Security Book Numbered 1001 |
60 |
1972-1973 |
Site Security Book Numbered 1002 |
61 |
|
Works of Art Book Numbered 1101, 1102 |
62 |
1971 September-November, 1973-1975 July |
Works of Art, Storm Sewer Connection Book numbered 1103, 1201 |
63 |
1969-1972 January |
Agency Building Progress Photographs, Agency Building Progress Photographs Miscellaneous, Agency Building Progress Photographs
Agency Building 4, Folder Miscellaneous Photographs, Books Numbered 1301 and 2
|
64 |
1970-1974, 1973, 1974 |
Fire Damage, Fallen Cross Book Number 1401 |
65 |
1971-1973 |
Capitol, Arterial Connections Book Number 1501, 1601 |
66 |
1973-1974 |
McCarty Avenue Reclamation Site Book Numbered 1701, 1702 |
67 |
1974 |
McCarty Avenue Reclamation Site |
68 |
1966-1974 |
South Mall Progress Report, Site Progress Photographs Book Number 1801 |
69 |
1973 July-1975 August, 1971 January-May |
Miscellaneous Progress Photographs, South Mall Project Photographs General View, Miscellaneous Photographs of Issues During
Inspections Books Numbered 1901 and 1
|
70 |
1974 |
Madison Avenue Trestle Book Numbered 2001 |
71 |
1974 |
Madison Avenue Trestle Book Numbered 2002 |
72 |
1974 |
Madison Avenue Trestle Book Numbered 2003 |
73 |
1974-1975 |
Madison Avenue Trestle Book Numbered 2004, 2005 |
74 |
1971 |
Site Photographs Agency Building Book Numbered 2 |
75 |
1974 |
Demolition of Buildings Spec. No. 26051-D 60 Eagle Street and 132 Hudson Avenue Book Numbers 1,2 |
76 |
|
Miscellaneous slides & photos of South Mall construction |
92 |
|
Documentation of Effects of Vehicles on Albany City Streets from Construction and photos of houses up for demolition |
77 |
1968-1972 |
South Mall construction photos, Cultural Education Center construction photos, Swan Street building photos |
78 |
|
South Mall Project Progress Photos |
79 |
1964-1968 |
Annual Photographs |
80 |
1969-1971 |
Annual Photographs |
81 |
1966-1974 |
Account book, photograph documentation need, miscellaneous progress negatives |
82 |
1976 February-1968 November |
Miscellaneous Slides of Swan Street Building Book Numbered 1-4 |
83 |
|
Misc. Slides and Negatives of Cultural Center, Corning Tower, Plaza, South Mall, Myrtle Avenue, Legislative Office Bldg.,
Madison Ave., Trestle, [Wford] Pumping Station, A.E. South Bldg.
|
84 |
1972 January-August |
Negatives |
85 |
1972 September-1973 July |
Negatives |
86 |
1973 August-1974 December |
Negatives |
87 |
1968-1972 |
Slides of Plaza aerials, Corning Tower, Governor's Mansion, Plaza construction |
88 |
|
Miscellaneous slides & photos of South Mall construction |
89 |
|
Miscellaneous slides & photos of South Mall construction |
90 |
|
Miscellaneous slides & photos of South Mall construction |
91 |
1962 September 24- 1963 March 17 |
Negatives |
93 |
1962 October 30-1963 April 24 |
Negatives |
94 |
1963 June 15- 1964 December 17 |
Negatives |
95 |