New-York tribune., 1902-01-22
LOCAL RECORDS NOT PRESERVED.
NEED OF OFFICIAL ACTION TO SAVE vALUA-
Bile MATERIAL FROM DESTRUCTION.

The American Historical Association is alarmed
the way in which local records within the State
OF New-York have been neglected and is calling
attention 10 the desirabity Of creating State
Record Commission The archives OF the State at
Albany and the larger Of those Of the counties,
so far as the association has examined. are we'll
arranged. although many of them not in fire
proof buildings. The records Of towns villages and
cities. however. are in deplorable state. Many
Of them have been utterly lost by carelessness or
fire. Others are missing and only thorough search
will lead to their recovery In nearly every instance
these local records only partially accessible and
in many cases incomplete. With the records In
their present condition IL would be impossible TO
work out the history of the local institutions In this
State, and little is known about their development
The investigation which the association has re-
Gently made brings out interesting facts in this
regard. The records of the towns of Staten Island
prior to 1924 cannot be found. The records Of the
former towns Of Bushwick and New Lots, in Kings
County. are longer in office. The few re-
naming volumes of records of Williamsburg were
found covered with dust in a neglected case in
the Borough Hall. Brooklyn. The ancient and most
valuable records of Jamaica, Flushing and Newtown
are now lodged in the Stewart Building Manhattan.
where, with of other archives. they are ex
posed TO destruction by fire The records of West
Chester were found in Manhattan. and those of
East Chester are in private hands. The crowded
condition of offices and the neglect of officials make
most of the earlier records of New-York City and
Brooklyn practically inaccessible.
An even worse state of affairs prevails in other
counties, as Is shown by Dr. Scsco in his report
on Onondaga County. He SAYS:
Only three towns have town halls In the others
the older records are stored wherever and however
convenience dictates Town clerks have learned
made for anything except chattel mortgages, local
a9Sordingly kept al hand. and others reegated to
storage; bf Two towns have deliberately burned
follow the example from time to time
That rerorm in this matter is possible. and at
small expense. has been demonstrated by the State
49,.
the condition Of local records bad it is
now in New-York and other States. In 1854 COM
missioner was appointed to report the condition
Of records of parishes. towns and counties. He
demonstrated his usefulness and the office was
made permanent in 1892 Old and partially decayed
records have been repaired and bound by the most
approved process. Wherever possible towns and
cities have been induced provide freproof vaults
The expense to the State has been less than $4,000
Professor Herbert L. Osgood. of the department
of history of Columbia University. has taken con-
siderable interest IN this question and has issued
a circular in which he says:
@ ~ IS 5aken I9r granted that among intelligent per-
SONS tnere VIII be agreement in regard the de-
srability OF preserving local records and max
Of our knowledge OF local institutions and histopy
geneaogtst and antiouar Is 81 great Ta!qe b 70 the
IKE that OF the other State OF the Union has always
Of the officials in whose office they % oTignated Tst1{
ferenf Is no aesiTe or intention TO advocate diff
nteret in the care OF records throughout the State
SUPERVISION. Neither OF these helps viii be sum
clent OF itself. but the two, working in harmony
WiLl accomplish the desired end 1t is believed that
t1e only way in which the proper care of local
archlves can be secured is through State Record
commission, furnished by law with proper author
lty ana resources TO enable it to supplement- and
1 %neTe necessary. control the work of town, village
Inc local records need in cases to be copied
ana pound, preserved in freproof buildings safes
or Vaults and cared for in accordance with regua-
Iions which will make them accessible to all prop
cry accreolted persons. Under the regime which
at present exists these duties are not adequately
practically inaccessible. - " 0'et'