Harold A. Jerry, Jr. 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Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology.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
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
7.2 cubic feet
Arrangement
Series consists of five sub-series created during the author's tenure with various state government agencies and commissions: Office for Regional Development, Temporary Commission on the State Court System, Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks, Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century, and Adirondack Highway Council.
Biographical Sketch
Harvard educated attorney Harold A. Jerry's career in public service spanned five decades. From 1959 to 1962, Jerry represented Elmira in the New York State Senate. In 1963, he was named director of the Office for Regional Development within the Executive Chamber. He held that position until the Office of Planning Coordination succeeded the Office for Regional Development in 1966. The following year, Governor Nelson Rockefeller named Jerry executive secretary of the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks. The commission's recommendations led directly to the creation of the Adirondack Park Agency in 1971. From 1970 to 1973, Jerry served as director and counsel of the Temporary Commission on the State Court System. In 1973, he was appointed to the Public Service Commission, on which he served until his retirement in 1997. In the meantime, Jerry also served as a member of the Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century, which was created under Governor Mario Cuomo.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of Harold Jerry's personal copies of records compiled during public service with the Office for Regional Development, the Temporary Commission on the State Court System, the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks, the Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century, and the Adirondack Highway Council. Records include correspondence; working, policy, and issue papers; press releases; economic and environmental studies; environmental field reports; draft legislation; meeting minutes, summaries, and agendas; budget materials; and newspaper clippings.
Related Material
18880 Administrative Files on Establishment and Early Planning of the Adirondack Park Agency, contains records of the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks and the Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century
16290 Subject, Correspondence, and Meeting Files, contains records of the Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century
10360 Research and Administration Files contains records of the Temporary Commission on the State Court System
10984 Subject, Correspondence, and Meeting Files, contains records of the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks
Processing Information
This collection's description was enhanced as a part of the New York State Archives Environmental History Virtual Research Collection Project, 2004. The National Endowment for the Humanities provided funding for this project.
Custodial History
Harold Jerry deposited these records with the State Library in 1997. Records pertaining to Jerry's career in public service
were then transferred to the State Archives and accessioned as record series 18880-97 and B1580-97. In 2004, the records were
reexamined and those accessioned as 18880-97 were removed from series 18880. These were then combined with the records originally
accessioned as B1580-97 to form record series B1830
, entitled Harold A. Jerry, Jr. Professional Papers.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.
Access Terms
New York (State). Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century
New York (State). Temporary Commission on the State Court System
New York (State). Adirondack Highway Council
New York (State). Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks
Urban renewal--New York (State)
Criminal justice, Administration of
Court Administration--New York (State)
Detailed Description
Subseries 1: Office for Regional Development
Scope and Content Note:
Sub-series reflects the office's function, which was to prepare a comprehensive statewide development plan. A major component of the plan was the formulation of functional policies on social and economic development, urbanization, natural resources, transportation, and public facilities. Records include budget materials, policy papers, draft legislation, correspondence, and press releases. The author labeled folders containing these records "Urban Renewal Administration" and that designation has been preserved. This reflects the office's involvement in the implementation of the federal Urban Planning Assistance program, which was created by Section 701 of the federal Housing Act of 1954. Municipalities were required to undertake comprehensive urban planning in order to be eligible for federal urban renewal assistance.
Subseries 2: Temporary Commission on the State Court System
Scope and Content Note:
Sub-series consists predominantly of correspondence sent and received by the author after the commission had ceased to function. Correspondence pertains to requests for the commission's final report; employment assistance for commission staff; financial and human resources matters requiring attention or forwarding; and disposition of the commission's official records. However, a small amount of material pertaining to the commission's work is included, such as a speech detailing the major components of the commission's final report and a press release in which Governor Rockefeller outlined the commission's duties and responsibilities.
Dates | Contents | Box | Folder |
---|---|---|---|
Accretion: ![]() ![]() |
|||
1972-1974 | Temporary Commission on the State Court System | 12 | 1 |
Accretion: B0830-04 |
|||
1973-1977 | Temporary Commission on the State Court System | 12 | 2 |
Subseries 3: Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks
Scope and Content Note:
Sub-series consists of correspondence with and field reports submitted by wilderness ecologist and natural resources planner George D. Davis; draft legislation relating to the establishment of the Adirondack Park Agency and the Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System; sample forest preserve management plans; financial statements and budget requests; meeting minutes, agendas, and notices; press releases; newspaper clippings; biographical data on commission members and staff; and contracts executed with consultants.Arrangement:
Sub-series is arranged by subject.
Subseries 4: Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century
Scope and Content Note:
Sub-series reflects Governor Cuomo's charge to the commission, which was to develop a strategy to prevent land speculation and unwarranted development from causing the division of vast privately held tracts of forest land and open space in the Adirondack Park. Records include an extensive set of draft working or "issue" papers on various topics including private land use regulation, natural resources, forest preserve management, agriculture, tourism, and park planning; additional land use and economic development studies prepared for or compiled by the commission; commission position papers, vision statements, and policy recommendations; correspondence with the general public and private organizations regarding the commission's policy recommendations; correspondence with the governor and other state agencies regarding the commission's studies and final report; commission meeting materials; public meeting summaries; and files pertaining to the Vincent J. Vaccaro eminent domain case.Arrangement:
Sub-series is arranged by subject
Subseries 5: Adirondack Highway Council
Scope and Content Note:
Sub-series consists of correspondence and subject files compiled while Jerry represented the Public Service Commission on the Adirondack Highway Council. Files pertain to such issues as the creation of a bikeway system in the Adirondack Park; development of a transportation plan and highway sign program in preparation for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games; widening of Route 73 in preparation for the Olympic Games; creation of parking areas at trail heads to accommodate trail users; creation of visitor information centers to service the Adirondack Park; regulation of the design and placement of off-premise advertising signs in the Park; design and installation of distinctive signs at Park entrances along the Adirondack Northway and other State highways; development of special design, construction, and maintenance standards for federally-aided State highways in the Park; construction of scenic overlooks and scenic vistas along the Park's travel corridors; and installation of underground utility transmission and distribution facilities.Arrangement:
Sub-series is arranged chronologically, with the exception of several subject files which are filed separately.