Between 1848 and 1890 the New York State Commissioners of
Emigration (so-called) were responsible for the reception of immigrants
entering New York Harbor and New York City.  The commissioners
conducted medical inspections of immigrants, and they regulated port
vessels, boarding houses, railroad agents, and other businesses dealing
with immigrants.  After 1855 the commissioners operated an immigrant
reception center at Castle Garden in lower Manhattan, under contract
with the Federal government.  (This facility was the predecessor to the
Ellis Island facility opened in 1892.)  The published annual reports of the
Commissioners of Emigration are available in the New York State Library
and other major research libraries holding New York State government
documents.  However, the records of the New York State
Commissioners of Emigration are not in the State Archives or the National
Archives, and are presumed to have been destroyed.

--from NY State Archives Information Leaflet no. 5 "Naturalization
Records," page 5

James D. Folts
Head, Research Services
New York State Archives
Cultural Education Center Room 11D40
Albany, NY 12230  USA
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Phone (518) 474-8955; Fax (518) 473-9985