Collections : [New York State Modern Political Archive]

The John Wolcott Papers document the revival of the historic Pinxter Festival in Albany, New York between 1972-1992.

The papers of Joseph Persico focus on his careers as a full-time author and as a political speechwriter for New York State Commissioner of Health, Hollis Ingraham, and New York State Governor, Nelson Rockefeller.

This series contains Persico's public papers, including press releases, transcripts of press conferences, television and radio interviews, and drafts of speeches written for New York State Commissioner of Health Hollis Ingraham and Nelson A. Rockefeller (1964-1977). Press releases and transcripts associated with the speeches are also present in the Persico files. Rockefeller's Messages to the Legislature and "Quotes on Issues" during the late 1960s and early 1970s have been filed in this series with the speeches written by Persico. Several boxes contained in this series are subject files relating personally to the author, his work, and to Nelson Rockefeller. A partial index to speeches is available in the Department of Special Collections and Archives. Consult a staff member for details. Also included in this series are subject files and news clippings. While most of these documents date from 1964-1977, some related materials date from 1947-1981.

Joseph Murphy of Manhattan was a Republican candidate for New York State Senate (25th District) in 1956 and 1958.

Joseph Yale Resnick was a U.S. Representative from New York. Educated in electronics and during World War II served as a radio officer in the United States Merchant Marine. Resnick was founder and chairman of the board of Channel Master Corp. He was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-ninth and Ninetieth Congresses (January 3, 1965-January 3, 1969). Resnick was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives in 1968. Resnick was also an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate. Resnick returned to his business interests and died in Las Vegas, Nevada while traveling to California on a business trip on October 6, 1969. This collection contains materials related to his time in Congress.

Joseph Zaretzki was born in New York City on March 9, 1900. Zaretzki served in the U.S. Army during World War I and was a lawyer. Zaretzki was a member of the New York State Senate from 1948 through 1974 (23rd District 1948-1965, 32nd District 1966, 28th District 1967-1974) and was Senate Majority Leader in the 1960s. He was a member of the NAACP, American Legion, Freemasons, and Elks. Zaretzki died on December 20, 1981, with an extensive obituary for him on December 21, 1981, in the New York Times.

This collection contains material related to the dealth penalty abolitionist work of Judith "Jude" Filler in Texas.

The Julius Volker Papers document Assemblyman Volker's work related to New York State Assembly sessions and legislation from 1958-1966, including undated material. Also included are papers relating to Mr. Volker's professional development as a lawyer.

Legislation introduced by Assemblyman Volker with related correspondence, notes, reports, clippings and printed matter. The dates on the finding aid correspond to the date of the respective bill's introduction, although related materials in each folder may encompass different dates.

Kenneth L. Wilson of Woodstock, NY was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly from 1953 through 1968 (Ulster County 1953-1965, 109th District 1966, 99th District 1967-1968). Wilson was also an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention from New York in 1960.

This collection documents the day-to-day activities of the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Dr. James "Jim" Kiepper served on the faculty in the School of Education at the University at Albany for 35 years. During the 1960s, he also was special assistant to Michigan Governor George Romney, and New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller in his national bid for the U.S. Presidency in 1968. This collection documents Kiepper's long-time interest and work in politics. It includes a significant amount of memorabilia (dresses, stickers, pins, balloons, posters, fans) related to the Romney and Rockefeller presidential campaigns in 1964 and 1968. It also features Kiepper's personal notebooks from the 1964 Republican National Convention and from his work as an advance man for Rockefeller in 1968 as he traveled the country seeking a presidential bid. There also are materials from other 20th Century U.S. Presidential and Congressional political campaigns. In addition, the collection features news clips, calendars and schedules, notes, lectures and teaching materials. Kiepper is the author of Styles Bridges: Yankee Senator (2001) and previously edited the papers of Bridges and U.S. Representatives Perkins Bass and James Cleveland.