Ms. Smith:

        We have the records of the Albany Orphan Asylum, begun in
1831 and the records continue to about 1940. They do include some
case files for children, but these files end about 1900 and we have
not had any problem with people using them. In fact we get quite a
few genealogical requests from descendants of the orphans who were
resident there. A recent book by Judith Dulberger, "Mother don'it for the best. Correspondence of a 19th
century orphan asylum," used these records extensively; in fact they
are the archival basis for the book. The AOA is now known as the
Parsons Center, but is not an orphanage any longer. Publication of
most of the recent or modern case files should follow what is usual
practice, that is, removal of personal names prior to publication.

        We also have the records of Vanderheyden Hall, which was
originally known as the Troy Orphan Asylum.

        Both the Troy and Albany records above are extensive; that
is, several cubic feet each in quantity.

        You (or any researcher) are welcome to use these records
from Mon-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.


                                Jim Corsaro





James Corsaro
Associate Librarian
Manuscripts and Special Collections
New York State Library
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York  12230
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
(518) 474-5963


On Wed, 20 Aug 1997, epsmith wrote:

> I am looking for orphanage records in NY State and elsewhere,
> particularly for institutions that closed.  I have already read those
> of the Thomas Indian School, the Colored Orphan Asylum, the Howard
> Colored Orphan Asylum, the Home for Destitute Children of Seamen,
> the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum, and the Children's Aid Society Shelter,
> Windsor Ontario.
>
> Can anyone tell me the location of other records, and how I can get
> to read them?  I would also like to know more about the Ladies'
> Deborah aslylum, which, I believe, was closed in about 1914, and St.
> Peter's School, which was closed in the late 1970s or early 1980s..
>
> I am an about-to-be retired professor, and would like to do a book on
> why children's institutions closed.  I am not particular about dates,
> but would like material up to and including the 1980s.  I did a
> previous article on the history of orphanages, which appeared in a
> special issue of Child Welfare.
>
> I would also welcome discussion from any other child and social welfare history
> buffs.  Are there any out there?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Eve P. Smith, DSW
>