Theresa Cooke Collection, 1961-1976
Collection context
PDF Finding Aid
- Full Page PDF:
- Full Page
Summary
- Creator:
- Theresa (Cooke) Page (1935-2017) and Sturman, Lawrence
- Abstract:
- This collection documents the work of Theresa Page, then known as Theresa Cooke, and her supporters, predominantly in the early-mid 1970s in Albany, New York as they investigated how the city managed its finances. Page was president of the Albany Taxpayers Association, served as county treasurer, ran for city comptroller and county executive, and advocated for greater transparency and better management with public finances.
- Extent:
- 2.0 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Theresa Cooke Collection, 1961-1976. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Cooke Collection).
Background
- Scope and content:
- This collection includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, campaign materials, materials related to the Albany Taxpayers Association, materials related to the State Investigation Commission, and materials related to election monitoring.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Theresa Page (1935-2017) was born Theresa Barber in Pleasantville, New York and received her bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany (then called the New York State College for Teacher’s) in 1956. She spent several years teaching English in New York State and in Turkey and Greece, then joined the staff of the Overseas Educational Services in New York City before working on a Ford Foundation project as a research associate with Education and World Affairs.
In 1970, she returned to Albany with her family. Now known as Theresa Cooke, she continued her interest in education by researching the practices of the Albany Board of Education. She also co-founded and became the first president of the Albany Taxpayers Association while attending graduate school at the University at Albany for her MBA.
Cooke advocated for greater transparency and better management of public finances in both the City of Albany and in Albany County. Cooke and the Albany Taxpayers Association brought attention to mismanagement and waste of public funds which led to her clashing with then-Albany Mayor Erastus Corning, City Hall, and the Democratic Party that supported them.
Cooke ran for city comptroller, county treasurer, and county executive. She served as county treasurer until the county government was reorganized and her position was eliminated. Later, Theresa Page was chief financial officer for a Gloversville, New York leather industry corporation and President of the Trustees of the Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York. She was survived by her brother, three children, and seven grandchildren.
- Acquisition information:
- Lawrence Sturman, who worked with Theresa Page, donated all items in this collection to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives in 2026.
- Processing information:
- The collection is unprocessed.
- Arrangement:
- The collection is currently unprocessed and is not yet arranged. Individual items may be difficult to find.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Indexed terms
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 collection is restricted because it is unprocessed. Portions of the collection may contain recent administrative records and/or personally identifiable information. Please contact an archivist for more information.
- Rights and Permissions:
-
This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.
Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
The Department of Special Collections and Archives is eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.
- Preferred citation:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Theresa Cooke Collection, 1961-1976. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Cooke Collection).