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