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 >