Ernest Curto :
- Author:
- Curto, Ernest, 1902-1998.
- Call Number:
- MSS APAP-238 local
- Abstract:
- Ernest Hatfield Papers donated his papers a few years after he left the New York State Senate. The collection contains correspondence, scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, photographs, printed bills, and legislative transcript materials mostly dating from 1950 to 1964 during his Senate service. A Republican, Hatfield represented the Dutchess County 33rd district from 1948-1954 and 35th district from 1955-1964 in the State Senate. Although he previously served in the New York State Assembly, the collection does not include materials from this tenure. Topics of interest in the collection include documents related to Hatfield's role as chairman of the New York State Commission on Historic Observances and the Social Security bill, which prevented the separation of Social Security from the pensions of retired civil service employees.
- Historical Note:
- New York State Assemblyman Ernest Curto was born in Pentone, Italy on July 28, 1902. In 1904, his family moved to Niagara Falls, New York. Curto studied at Niagara University and Syracuse University. He received his law degree from the University of Buffalo Law School, and became a member of the New York State Bar Association in 1935. Prior to his service in the New York State Assembly, Curto was employed as research counsel for Assemblyman Harry D. Suitor. He served two terms as the acting city and police court judge for the city of Niagara Falls. Curto represented the Second District, which included Niagara County, in the New York State Assembly from 1946-1964. He was first elected in a special election held November 6, 1945, following the death of Assemblyman Suitor. During his almost two decades in the Assembly, he had a number of committee assignments, including: Codes, Rules, Public Service, Ethics and Guidance, and Canals and Waterways. He served as the chair of the Assembly Mortgage and Real Estate Committee. Curto also participated in several joint legislative committees, including: Commerce and Economic Development, Lake Erie-Lake Ontario Canal, and Housing and Urban Redevelopment. During his term in office, the New York State Power Authority, under the leadership of Robert Moses, constructed a massive power plant on the Niagara River. As a result of conflicts between the local governments in Niagara County and the Power Authority, Curto took a keen interest in local government matters, including taxes and land annexations. Following his retirement from the Assembly in 1965, Curto returned to his private law practice, where he continued to pursue his interest in local labor and urban renewal activities. He retired in 1992. On January 6, 1998, Ernest Curto passed away after a year-long illness.
- Physical Description:
- 17.25 cu ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Ernest Curto Papers, 1944-1965. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York.
- Subjects:
- Politicians New York (State), Mortgage loans New York (State), Political ethics New York (State), Strikebreakers Legal status, laws, etc. New York (State), Urban renewal New York (State), Mortgage loans, Political ethics, Politicians, Politics and government, Strikebreakers Legal status, laws, etc, Urban renewal, and Water-power
- Genres/Forms:
- Bills (legislative records) aat, Clippings. aat, Files by subject. aat, Correspondence. aat, Legislative records. aat, Questionnaires. aat, Reports. aat, and Resolutions (administrative records) aat
- Names:
- Curto, Ernest, 1902-1998
- Corporate Names:
- New York (State). Legislature. Assembly, New York (State). Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Canals (1840- ), New York (State). Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Ethics and Guidance, New York (State). Legislature. Joint Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Power Authority of the State of New York, New York (State). Legislature. Assembly, and Power Authority of the State of New York
- Geographic Terms:
- Niagara River (N.Y. and Ont.) Power utilization, New York (State) Politics and government, Niagara County (N.Y.), New York (State), New York (State) Niagara County, and North America Niagara River
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