Collections

This collection documents the day-to-day activities of the Zonta Club of Albany, a service organization in the Captial Region of New York, comprised of executives, professionals, and businesswomen, as well as documenting the activities of the Club within Zonta International.

The collection documents the history of the YWCA of Albany, which was founded in 1888 by a group of women led by Mrs. Acors Rathbun in order to provide housing and recreational activities for young women searching for work. Through the years, the organization expanded to include classes, childcare, athletics, essay contests, teen issue programs, and an annual awards dinner honoring women. Strengths include the extensive photographic material and meeting minutes from the board of trustees and directors. The collection is weakest at the beginning and end of the YWCA of Albany's existence.

This collection is made up of the published yearbooks of the New York State Normal College, the New York State College for Teachers, and the State University of New York at Albany.

The Women's Building collection records the formation and day-to-day administrative and programming activities of the Women's Building and its predecessor, the Tri-City Women's Center. The organization provided a safe space for community groups to meet and organize, and informational and educational programming to support the women of the Capital District. Inspired by a feminist perspective and driven by a commitment to social justice, the Women's Building provided physical meeting and office space to local organizations and programming and informational services on financial planning, legal issues, parenthood, childbirth, and women's health. The collection includes administrative records and programming material from the organization's inception in the early 1970s until 2000.

The Woman's Club of Albany Records document the day-to-day operations of the first 100 years of this community organization founded in 1910.

This collection contains records of WMHT Educational Telecommunications.

This collection contains material related to William Scheuerman, a local, state, and national labor leader.

The William Kennedy Papers document nearly a half century of research, writing, and publishing efforts of the internationally recognized, Pulitzer Prize winning author, playwright, essayist, journalist, script writer, professor, and champion of the arts. The collection consists of records related to all of Kennedy's fiction and nonfiction books through 2002, including his "Albany Cycle" of novels, film scripts, essays, and newspaper articles from the Albany . In addition, there is correspondence with other significant authors of American literature, biographical materials, and records documenting a trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with President Bill Clinton.

The collection contains materials from William Kelsey's career working for New York State government especially related to the Public Employees Federation (PEF).

This collection documents the professional work of William J. Murray, who served as assistant administrative director of the New York State Department of Civil Service from 1946-1952 and then administrative director of the Department from 1952 until his retirement in 1971.

William Abramowitz Hyman was born on July 29, 1893 in Baltimore. Hyman was a partner of Hyman & Harris and served as special deputy attorney general of New York under Governor Alfred E. Smith. Hyman is best known for his legal theories on the use of space which he propounded in his 1961 book, The Magna Carta of Space. This collection contains records relating to his career in law and politics.

This collection contains recordings of a number of locally-produced WAMC/Northeast Public Radio programs.

This collection contains material related to Walther Lederer and his family.

The collection consists of correspondence and transcripts of interviews which Walter Zenner conducted with his family concerning their life in Germany and the United States. In addition, there are other materials pertaining to the life and work of the Zenner Family.

This collection documents gay and lesbian publications with a particular emphasis on the Capital Region and Upstate New York. Material from New York City and neighboring states is also included.

The collection contains seven plays in English on theater, dance, and German literature.

This collection is primarily composed of copies of materials documenting Walter Stettner's and his parents' efforts to obtain safe passage for the parents from Nazi-occupied Europe.

Volker Mohnen joined the faculty at the State University of New York at Albany in 1967 and later served as director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) from 1975-1985. He later became a full professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science and currently is professor emeritus. This collection primarily documents his research activities and university duties from the late 1960s through the 1980s. It includes research materials, correspondence, newspaper clippings and files discussing professional activities such as meetings/conferences and testimonies.

This collection contains materials used by Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) in its efforts to end capital punishment in Virginia.

The Violet and Irwin F. Bender, Sr. Papers document the Pennsylvania couple's shortwave radio monitoring and subsequent correspondence about prisoners of war during World War II. The papers also contain correspondence about Axis Sally, an American radio broadcaster who was working for the Third Reich during the war and was later tried and convicted of treason in the United States.

The Vincent J. Schaefer Papers represent the professional accomplishments and personal interests of the scientist who discovered cloud seeding. Schaefer spent more than 20 years with General Electric in Schenectady, New York, working his way up from apprentice, to research assistant, to research associate. In those years he was mentored by Irving Langmuir, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry. The work Schaefer did at General Electric laid the foundation for further success as he became director of research for the Munitalp Foundation, began a highly successful summer science program for high school students, acted as an independent consultant, and founded the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at the State University of New York at Albany. This collection contains research data, notes, correspondence, publications, and photographs that showcase Schaefer's long, industrious scientific career as well as highlighting his many hobbies in local history and environmentalism.

Documentation on Dr. Anna Perkins, a physician from Westerlo, NY noted for her 65 year career caring for residents of the Northern Catskills.

The Victor Streib Papers contain research materials and legal case files on the death penalty in the United States with a focus on how it has been applied to women and juveniles.

This artificial collection documents university students who served in the military during armed conflicts, particularly during World War II.

The Versatile Club Records document the day-to-day operations of this community organization founded in 1910.

This collection documents the lifelong activism of Albany, N.Y. resident Vera Michelson, especially her work with the Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism.

The Urban Documentation Project Records contains research related to the waste industry, the environment, and related interests in New York State and across the country.

This collection consists of the University Update publication, as well as its predecessor publications produced by the same office.

The collection includes the records of the University Towers Investment Club ranging from 1965 to 1991. The records detail the club's the investment activities, politics, and the financial status of the club.

The University Senate is a legislative arm of the faculty comprised of 78 faculty, professional, and student senators (78 positions are currently filled out of 89 possible positions). Records include legislation, meeting records, and Council Records.

This collection is made up of various pubilcations from the University at Albany, and groups within the institution.

This collection is made up of negatives, contact sheets and photographic prints produced by the Univeristy Photo Services student group.

This artificial collection documents the history of the University at Albany, SUNY and its predecessors through photographs and moving images. Images often depict the school's campus, university events, students, or faculty and staff.

This collection consists mainly of the records of the Office of the Director, records of the Library's divisions and departments, and the University Library Faculty. Includes accession and withdrawal records, 1929-1957; book circulation records, 1929-1960; correspondence, reports and minutes of bibliographers' meetings, 1966-1979; and bound volumes of the University Libraries newsletter, 1972-1976; announcements, schedules of events, memoranda, newspaper clippings, and brochures relating to Community University Day, 1972-1983; memoranda and pamphlets about access policy, 1979-1983; and annual reports, 1979-1987.

This collection is made up of reference material related to the history of the University at Albany and its earlier iterations.

The University Faculty consists of the voting faculty and is the body that grants power to the University Senate to develop and enact policy. The collection primarily consists of meeting minutes, audio recordings of meetings, and election results.

Includes meeting minutes and supporting documentation of the Executive Committee of the New York State Normal School, 1844-1990; the Board of Trustees 1890-1928; and Board of Visitors, 1928-1939, of the New York State College for Teachers; and minutes, correspondence, reports, and publications of the University Council, 1965-2015. The power of the original Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors extended to the hiring and firing of all employees, prescribing the curriculum including the texts used in courses. These bodies reported jointly to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and the Superintendent of Education, the later individual serving as Chairman of successive bodies. The powers of the University Council, created by the SUNY Board of Trustees in 1954, are far more restricted, being limited to nominating presidents, naming buildings, and reviewing and approving major policy changes and initiatives.

Documents the University Commission for Affirmative Action, which "aimed to enhance the university's diversity among the student, staff, and faculty populations by developing structures and incentives that promoted gender, racial, ethnic,... equity among the university community".

This collection is made up of copies of the University at Albany Calendar.

The collection documents the day-to-day student life at the University at Albany and its predecessor institutions, including the State Normal School (1844-1890), the New York State Normal College (1890-1914), the New York State College for Teachers (1914-1959), and the State University of New York at Albany (1962-1986).

The State University of New York at Albany Alumni Association Records document the day-to-day operations of the Alumni Association from the 1850s to the early 21st Century.

This collection consists of materials used in the drafting and publication of the UAlbany Magazine.

This collection is made up of copies of the Carillon and University at Albany Magazine.

Contains correspondence, financial statements, and other administrative records for the University at Albany Foundation, which is a not-for-profit corporation that manages philanthropic contributions given in support of the University at Albany.

Records of the Art Museum that was built on UAlbany's Uptown Campus with the support of Governor Nelson Rockefeller.

The records of United University Professions (UUP) document the activities of the union and collective bargaining agent for the faculty and non-teaching professionals of the State University of New York. They begin in the 1960s with UUP's antecedents, the State University Professional Association (SUPA) and the Senate Professional Association (SPA), and continue through June 2000 for the materials produced by UUP's Communications Department, and through May 1993 for most other series.

The UUP Oral History Project's intent was to capture the history of the UUP as well as its predecessors through interviews with union executives and members.

United University Professions (UUP) is the union and collective bargaining agent for the faculty and non-teaching professionals of the State University of New York (SUNY). UUP (initially named SUNY/United) was created by the 1973 merger of the Senate Professional Association (SPA) and the State University Federation of Teachers (SUFT).

The United Tenants of Albany is an association dedicated to improving housing situations for Albany's low to moderate income families and businesses with safe, affordable living and working space.

Contains records from the Two-Year College Development Center (later referred to as the Two-Year College Student Development Center, and subsequently renamed the Center for Innovation and Career Development). The collection contains annual reports, workshop and conference materials, and educational materials.

The Tom Blandy Papers document the group Concerned Citizens for the Environment's legal and political opposition to the proposed Green Island Solid Waste Incinerator

Sir Thomas Smith served in official positions during the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. This collection contains the manuscript entitled, "A Discourse for the Common Welthe of England," which was one of five known early manuscripts of a political treatise completed in 1549 in response to socio-economic problems in Tudor England at the time and first published in 1581.

The Thomas Nattell papers document the life of a mental health worker and political activist active during the 1980s and 1990s in Albany, New York. He created and participated in organizations like the Albany Peace and Energy Council (APEC) and the Three Guys From Albany poetry troupe. He also acted as promoter and event coordinator for movie showings, poetry open mics and an annual 24-hour poetry reading alongside a coinciding international postcard art event. Nattell used poetry and other arts to advance world peace, anti-nuclear power and proliferation, and environmental issues. This collection contains videos of events, photographs, scrapbooks full of art and poetry mailed from around the world to Nattell, subject files with research on topics related to his professional work as well as his activism, poetry, correspondence, and clippings.

Theodore Roosevelt Kupferman was a Representative from New York. Kupferman was born in New York City on May 12, 1920. Kupferman was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-ninth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Representative John V. Lindsay. Kupferman was reelected to the Ninetieth Congress (February 8, 1966-January 3, 1969), but was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-first Congress in 1968. Kupferman was also a justice of the New York State Supreme Court, 1969-1996. Kupferman died on September 23, 2003, in New York, NY. This collection contains materials related to Kupferman's political career.

This collection contains the papers of Thomas Keefe.

This collection contains some administrative materials related to the running of the school, as well as information on class reunions, and copies of the yearbook Bricks and Ivy.

This collection contains records documenting the day-to-day activities of the Pride Center of the Capital Region.

Primarily files related to his tenure as a professor of Political Science, internal political science department files but also 1 box of a proposed but never realized Asian Studies Major in the early 1970s.

Tenants and Neighbors is a statewide coalition of New York's tenants and tenant associations that fight for tenants' rights and affordable housing for all people. The origins of Tenants and Neighbors dates to a meeting of tenant and housing activists from across the state in August 1972 at St. Rose College in Albany, N.Y. By December 1974, a formal organization was developed by housing and tenant activists across the state that drew up by-laws and created the original name as the New York Tenants Coalition. The first statewide membership meeting was held in February 1975. In 1995, the organization changed its name to New York State Tenants and Neighbors. The collection includes: minutes, annual reports, newsletter and other publications, legislative and organizational memoranda, press releases, clippings, video and press coverage.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is the preeminent statewide organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of individual civil liberties and civil rights in New York State. Founded in 1951, the NYCLU's mission is to defend and uphold the basic rights and liberties articulated in the Bill of Rights and to advocate, litigate and educate for the protection of civil liberties. Through litigation, legal counsel, advocacy and legislative lobbying, the NYCLU has, among many issues, protected political freedom during the McCarthy era, argued against the constitutionality of the Vietnam War, created the first project focused on the rights of mentally disabled, and was the first civil liberties organization to advocate for reforming the foster care placement system. Over the last thirty years, the NYCLU has advocated for issues surrounding voting rights and censorship, fought to end gender discrimination and school segregation in New York State schools, and defended the separation of church and state. The collection consists of legal case files, administrative records and other archival materials. The collection is being processed and is currently closed, unless permission to access is granted in writing from the NYCLU Executive Director.

This collection contains materials from the Milne School related to administrative activities from faculty and staff, as well as records pertaining to student activities from various clubs and publications.

This collection contains materials about The Legislative Correspondents' Association of the State of New York, especially its celebrated annual dinner held since 1900.

The Hunger Action Network of New York State was founded at the Food, Famine and Federalism conference on May 20th, 1982. The statewide membership organization is comprised of direct food providers, advocates, and others with the same goal of ending hunger and poverty in New York State. Today, HANNYS has more than 200 member organizations fighting in unison. The organization holds offices in New York City and Albany, New York.

The Environmental Clearinghouse, Inc. also known as ECOS, is a regional environmental organization founded in Schenectady, New York in October 1971 by members of the Junior League of Schenectady, Inc. and supported since 1974 by membership contributions, donations, and volunteers.

The collection contains materials related to capital punishment and criminal justice.

The collection contains records of the the Eighth Step, an independent, non-profit organization which held held concerts of folk, traditional, ethnic, blues, and jazz music and was originally involved in and influenced by late 1960s politics.

The Edward E. Potter Club And Alumni Association Records includes documents and objects related to the finances, activities, and history of the Club and subsequent Alumni Association. Materials related to the Edward E. Potter Club include financial settlements, photographs, correspondence, and meeting minutes. Materials related to the Alumni Association include Alumni addresses, memorabilia, and a newsletter. Objects in this collection include mugs, a blanket, stamp, letter opener, compact makeup, and ledger books.

The Capital District Transgender Community Archive Collection contains material pertaining to local trangender history. This collections contains a large variety of publications about transgenderism.

The Brothers was a civil rights group that was active in Albany, New York for several years beginning in 1966.

The Tanya M. Melich Papers contain materials relating to the political landscape of the United states throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, as well as various social movements with a particular emphasis on Women's rights.

Adminsrative records of the System Dynamic Society, a professional organization of academics devoted to furthering research into system dynamics and systems thinking. The Society holds an annual international conference, and the administration of the group was based at UAlbany until 2018.

Records of the social and community activities performed a social group of faculty wives and other women that perfomed university and community service.

Collection is made up of publications from students of the University at Albany, the vast majority of them publishing prose and poetry, as well as artwork created by students.

The University at Albany, SUNY student newspapers (State College News,, State University News, Albany Student Press), from 1916-present. Issues from the years 1916-1985 and 2015-present are available online. Additional issues are only available in-person.

Collection is made up of the student handbooks issued by the student association.

The Student Association Records contains records documenting the proceedings of the UAlbany Student Association from its inception in 1921 to 2020. This collection contains records that relate to the changing duties, functions, and governmental structure of the Student Association.

Records of Steven W. Hawkins's tenure as Executive Director of the National Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The papers include extensive minutes of board meetings, speeches, travel arrangements, fundraising and reception notes, and pamphlets and other papers relating to his attendance at various board and committee meetings with related organizations.

This collection documents Steve Hall's work with and knowledge of criminal justice and the death penalty, especially in Texas.

The University Faculty Senate was created to centralize and govern all of the colleges throughout the SUNY system. This is an artificial collection assembled from the records held by University at Albany, SUNY representatives.

State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees Records document the activities of public higher education campuses across New York State, during the later half of the twentieth century.

Organized in 1974, the Southern Coalition on Jails and Prisons was formed to promote greater awareness of the problems of prisons and corrections, improve communication between the prison population and the outside world, and advocate for alternatives to the death penalty.

The Greyhound Strikers Solidarity Committee of the Capital District was created by Albany-area labor union activists in support of the autumn 1983 Amalgamated Transit Union strike against Greyhound Bus Lines. After the strike, the group was reconstituted as the Solidarity Committee of the Capital District (SCCD) and worked to support hundreds of strikes and labor activities in Eastern New York, across the country, and in Latin America.

This collection documents the operations of the Society of Indian Psychologists. The Society of Indian Psychologists highlights and celebrates the heritage and identity of the Indigenous people of the Americas. Members create a community that supports psychologists and graduate students studying psychology.

From its formation in 1966 in Albany, New York, the Society of Bibliophiles aimed to encourage and foster a love of books along with an appreciation for the art of bookmaking. The Society of Bibliophiles arranged trips to various lectures and exhibits both within and outside of the Albany area, and arranged meetings and events at which books were the central focus. The collection consists of records produced between 1966 and 2002, and includes newsletters and announcements, organizational documents, materials from various sites visited and events, information about booksellers and bookbinders, as well as a number of other general administrative documents.

Documents major projects the society undertook to protect water resources, including the Wilmorite project, the Bonded Concrete project, and the water supply applications of the city of Schenectady and the town of Rotterdam.

The Center was formed in 1981 by an alliance of non-profit activist organizations in order to provide a central location, office space, and basic services for activist groups in Albany, New York.

The Sigma Pi Phi, Beta Psi Boulé Records document the history and day-to-day operations of the Beta Psi Boulé. A professional fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi was founded on May 15, 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its members are distinguished African American men with college and graduate degrees. Beta Psi is the fraternity's 69th Boulé founded on May 5, 1984 in the Capital District of New York.

The collection documents the day-to-day work of the Sierra Club's Atlantic Chapter over three and a half decades.

This collection contains materials from Sherwood Boehlert's service in the United States Congress from the State of New York.

The Serphin R. Maltese Papers document his career as a State Senator in the New York's 15th Senate District and his pre- and post-Senate service.

Records from the Senior Assistant to the President, Susan Supple.

The School of Social Welfare Records document the history and day-to-day operations of the School at the University at Albany since its first full year of operation in 1964 through 2000.

Contains materials from the School of Public Health, including educational videos and administrative records.

Contains inactive records from the School of Business, including: planning documentation, reports and budgets, MBA proposals, and faculty meeting minutes.

Founded in 1990 to to promote the preservation of agricultural, scenic, forest, natural, recreational, and open space land in Schoharie County.

This collection contains a small amount of photocopied material about international law expert Magdalena Schoch.

Records of Save the Pine Bush, Inc., a non profit organization concerned with protecting the rare inland pine barrens sand dunes of the Capital District, known as the Albany Pine Bush, which are home to the Karner Blue Butterfly.

The Saratoga Springs Open Space Project worked for the preservation of open space in Saratoga Springs. It supported the creation of nature trails, scenic walkways, and biking paths as well as vigorously opposed sprawl and loss of open space by organizing opposition to unsustainable development. In addition, the organization coordinated several programs aimed at aiding the development of Saratoga Springs and maintained a special interest in the development of the downtown area. The collection includes administrative files, grant files, material related to programs and issues, documentation of trails, and subject files.

This collection documents the legislative career of New York State Assemblywoman Sandy Galef.

The Sandra Shapard Papers consist of Ms. Shapard's (largely political) button collection.