New York State Archives

The New York State Archives was established in 1971 to preserve and make accessible recorded evidence documenting New York States history, governments, events, and peoples from the 17th century to the present. Full operations began in 1978 when the organizations storage and research facility opened in the Cultural Education Center. The Archives preserves and provides access to over 250 million documents dating from the period of Dutch and British colonial rule during the 17th and 18th centuries through the modern day. The State Archives preserves records from the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of state government. Topics covered in those records include relations with Native Americans, the Erie Canal and westward expansion, industrial development, labor, the rise of the modern social welfare system, public education, public health, the environmental movement, and New York State citizens participation in numerous military conflicts. The collection includes nearly 13,0...