Archive of material associated with the New York State Constitution, including two newspapers, a rare autograph album, two booklets including an official printing of the third New York Constitution (1846), and a set of five books. Includes:
(1.) Newspaper: New York American, New York, November 16, 1821. Front page printing of The Constitution of the State of New York As Amended, signed in type by Daniel D. Tompkins, President of the Convention and Delegate from the County of Richmond; also subscribed by J.V.N. Yates, Secretary of State. Resolution submitting the proposed constitution to the citizens for ratification.
(2.) Autograph album: Rare, possibly unique autograph album of the NYS Constitutional Convention of 1846. Autographs of all of the Members of the State Convention to Revise the Constitution of the State of New York Convened at Albany June 1, 1846. Compiled and bound by delegate C. Swackhamer. Complete compilation of autographs of the delegates including such notables as Samuel Tilden of New York City (later NY Governor and unsuccessful Presidential candidate in controversial race against Hayes in 1876), Ira Harris of Albany (later U.S. Senator), Charles P. Kirkland of Oneida (famed NY lawyer from Utica). The book also includes autographs of the Officers and Pages of the Convention, including John Tracy, President and Delegate from Chenango. At end of the book is a compilation of autographs of reporters from the Albany Argus, Evening Journal, Albany Atlas and Magnetic Telegraph. Acquired from Swann Galleries.
(3.) Booklet: Constitution of the State of New York, as adopted in Convention, Oct. 9, 1846, and Address of the Convention to the People, together with the Present Constitution. New York: published by James S. Burton, 274 Bowery; Albany: From the Steam Press of Carroll & Cook, Printers to the Convention - 1846. Scarce, OCLC and RLIN show only four copies (NYSL, Yale, NYPL and UA Law) of which the latter two lack the title page.
(4.) Newspaper: New York Tribune, October 24, 1846. Published by Greeley & McElrath. Notice of the gratis publication of the New Constitution and editorial masthead recommending a vote of “Yes” on the Amended Constitution. Included as a gratis publication is the Supplement to the New York Daily Tribune, October 24, 1846, with a full printing of the “NEW CONSTITUTION, Framed by the Convention of the State of New York, and to be Approved or Rejected by the People at the State Election, Nov. 8, 1846.”
(5.) Book set: Lincoln’s Constitutional History of New York (five vols, complete), From the beginning of the colonial period to the year 1905, showing the origin, developments, and judicial construction of the NYS Constitution (Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, Rochester, NY 1906).
(6.) 1967 New York State Constitutional Convention Record and Index (Legislative Index Company Albany, NY).
(7.) Booklet: An Act for the Assessment and Collection of Taxes, passed April 23, 1823 (Albany, Printed By Packard & Van Benthuysen).
