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Summary

Abstract:
The Ernest I. Hatfield Papers document Hatfield's service in the New York State Senate, where he served from 1948-1964, and the years immediately following. The collection includes correspondence, scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, speeches, and bills he introduced.
Extent:
3.78 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Ernest I. Hatfield Papers, 1949-1968. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Hatfield Papers).

Background

Scope and Content:

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.

Biographical / Historical:

Ernest I. Hatfield was born in Mt. Pleasant, Westchester County, NY in 1890. He graduated from Westchester County schools and attended the Eastman-Gaines Business College in New York City. Hatfield worked in insurance and real estate, and was a farmer. A resident of Poughkeepsie, NY, Hatfield was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly (Dutchess County 2nd District 1943-1944, Dutchess County 1945-1947) and served as chairman of the Mortgage and Real Estate Committee, and on the Insurance and Public Service Committees.

He then ran for and won election to the New York State Senate representing the 33rd District from 1948-1954 and the 35th District from 1955-1964. While in the State Senate, Hatfield was chairman of the Banks Committee and served on the Agriculture, Education, Excise, Finance, Labor and Industry, Public Relief and Welfare, Public Service, and Rules Committees. In addition, Hatfield was chairman of the temporary New York State Commission on Historic Observances.

Hatfield also was a member of the Freemasons, Knights Templar, Grotto, Exchange Club and Common Council in Poughkeepsie. He owned the business E.I. Hatfield, Inc. He died in 1977 in Dutchess County.

Acquisition information:
Ernest Hatfield initially donated his papers to Syracuse University in a series of deliveries from 1966-1970. In 2006, the papers were transferred to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives.
Processing information:

Processed in 2011 by Ga Yue Lau.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series:

  1. Series 1 - General Correspondence, 1953-1968
  2. Series 2 - Legislative and Public Affairs, 1950-1951, 1954-1957, 1959-1964, 1967, Undated
  3. Series 3 - Scrapbooks, 1949-1964

Series 1 and 3 are arranged chronologically. Series 2 is arranged alphabetically by the subject of the legislative bills.

Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

Contents


Access

Using These Materials

ACCESS:
The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
RESTRICTIONS:

Access to this record group is unrestricted.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

PREFERRED CITATION:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Ernest I. Hatfield Papers, 1949-1968. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Hatfield Papers).

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