Guide to the Collections --
Series Descriptions -- Series
201-225

 

Series 201
Testamentary Letters. 1830-1897.
19 v. Chronological. Indexed by: Series 171.
Formal instruments of authority and appointment given to executors of estates for which a will exists. Letters include the name of the deceased, town in which he/she lived, and name of the executor.

Related records: Series 16, Estate Records, 1775, 1782-1909; Series 132, Wills, 1782-1941; Series 167, Guardianship Records, 1802-1896; Series 168, Administration Letters, 1787-1940.
               
Series 202
Miscellaneous Surrogate Court Letterbooks, 1852-1913
3 v. Chronological
Letters appointing executors when none was named in will or replacing named executor who had died since will was signed.
                   
Series 203
Hotel Reports, 1947-1972
22 v. Chronological
Yearly reports of boarding house residents, including names, length of stay and age (sometimes reported as "21+").

Related records: Series 3, Board of Elections Hotel Reports, 1967-1977

                          
Series 204
Historic Records Advisory Committee Records, 1983-1985
Less than 1 cubic ft. Chronlogical
Correspondence documenting the establishment of a Westchester County Historic Records Advisory Committee. Issues covered include plans to survey all county government records, grant submission to National Historical Publications and Records Commission for planning support, and plans to hire a permanent archivist for the County.
                 
Series 205
County Clerk Property Map Index (Block Index), ca. 1930s-1992
30 v.  By block number
Indexing system created by the WPA for all maps filed with the County Clerk's office, from 1766-1992. Under the system the County was divided into 324 geographical sections ("blocks"), and every map was identified and indexed as to which "block" it touched upon. [Note: the "blocks" define in this index are unique to the system and do not correspond to tax blocks or any other "block" identifying system within the county.]  Each page of the index provides the map number, title of map, date of filing, made by (surveyor or engineer), and remarks (may reference a deed or mortgage liber).
                         
Series 206
Environmental Health Services Monthly Reports, 1961-1972
Less than 1 cubic ft.  Chronological
Narrative and statistical reports documenting the monthly activities of the Health Department's Division of Environmental Sanitation, which in 1969 became the Division of Environmental Health Services.  Records include narrative monthly reports from the entire division as well as section narratives, statistics, calendar for the divisional head and supporting documentation.  The narrative division report consistently deals with the following topics: water and public sanitation, quality of milk and milk products sold in Westchester, quality of food and food handling, animal complaints, miscellaneous complaints, radiological technology, air quality, and Con Edison's Indian Point facility.
                    
Series 207
Environmental Health Services Master's Thesis, 1934
Less than 1 cubic ft.  Topical
Thesis by New York University Master's candidate Henry L. Nelson.  The thesis, entitled An Investigation of the Pollution of Bathing Beach Waters at Kingsland Point Park, NY, dealt with the outflow of sewage on the beach and the subsequent levels of e-coli.
                         
Series 208
Sanitary Sewer Commission Annual Reports, 1930-1932
Less than 1 cubic ft.  Chronological
Narrative and statistical reports describing the various sewage disposal facilities in use in the early 1930s and those being built.  Also mentioned are plans for the riddance of pollution on shores, beaches, and river beds.  The reports include drawings of facilities, photographs of construction, maps, and charts.
                       
Series 209
Westchester Library Association Records, 1937-1990
6.6 cubic feet. Chronological
Correspondence, minutes, and reports of board meetings and various committee meetings.  Also includes financial reports and audits, incorporation papers, union catalog statistical reports, and proceedings and annual meetings.  The records for 1960-1969 are less detailed that those for other years.
                       
Series 210
Unassigned
                        
Series 211
New Rochelle Health Department Annual Reports, 1938, 1942-1972
Less than 1 cubic ft.  Chronological
Annual reports created by the Health Department of the City of New Rochelle prior to its merger with the Westchester County Health Department in 1973.  The report begins with an overview of the health events of the past year, followed by more detailed descriptions of data; some tables and charts are included.  The data progresses from the general, such as statistics on the population of New Rochelle according to the previous census, to the more specific, such as the number of births, the number of people who contracted or died of disease, and the number of murders and suicides.  Also includes data on number of reported doctor visits, dental visits, complaints of health and sanitation, and permits for businesses relating to food and health.
                   
Series 212
Liquor Licenses, 1778-1846
3 cubic feet.  Chronological

Applicants wishing to serve or sell liquor in a tavern, inn, hotel, or store were required to complete an application or petition agreeing to run an orderly and quiet business establishment and file the document with the Commissioners of Excise.  The majority of the liquor license applications are made up of the signatures of friends or townspeople who attest to the fact that such an establishment is necessary to the community.  They also recommend the petitioner as a person of good moral character and vouch for his financial ability to operate such an establishment.

                             
Series 213
Board of Legislators Videotapes, September 1990-present
516 tapes.  Chronological
Videotapes of all public meetings of the Westchester County Board of Legislator.    
                           
Series 214
Historic Building Inventory Forms, 1982-2001
12 cubic ft.  Alphabetical by city/town/village, and then street
Registration form for New York State Parks and Recreation, Division for Historic Preservation for Westchester County.  Forms include identification of building by name, address, owner; use and accessibility to public; description by building material, structural system, condition and integrity; and notes of additions and changes. Photograph of house usually included as well as indication of property on map of town or village.  Houses are included for many communities within Westchester County (although by no means all the houses within each community).  However, White Plains and majority of Yonkers are not included at all.  An online folder index is available for this series.
                        
Series 215
Board of Supervisor Minutes, 1772-1930
53 v.  Chronological
Includes resolutions, bills discussed, payments approved, town matters, and voters’ canvasses.  Minutes for 1907 are missing.

Related records: Series 216, Board of Supervisors Records, 1853-1913

                                 
Series 216
Board of Supervisors Records, 1853-1913
158 cubic ft. Chronological
Notes and receipts which justified payment of bills by Committees of the Board of Health, Constables, Coroner, County Clerk, District Attorney, Judiciary and Justices, Printing, Roads and Bridges, School Board, Sheriff and Jailor, Superintendent of the Poor, Treasurer, and for matters brought by the Towns to the Board of Supervisors.  Included in some records are names of deceased persons subject to coroner inquest, arrested persons, county and state prisoners, inmates of the County Poor House, Westchester inmates of State institutions for the blind, deaf, feeble-minded and insane, and Westchester children sent to protective agencies.  Also, information regarding materials and costs for building and maintaining bridges, petitions to change town boundaries, notes about riots and cases requiring private detectives, and epidemics of disease.

Related records: Series 215, Board of Supervisor Minutes, 1772-1930

                                 
Series 217
Bastardy Proceedings, 1778-1846
Less than 1 cubic ft.  Chronological
Orders issued by Justice(s) of the Peace of Westchester towns requiring reputed fathers to pay for the birth and upkeep of bastard children, and mothers to pay if they abandoned the child to the Overseers of the Poor.  Some bonds, certificates of settlement, subornation of perjury, trial records and lawyer’s notes are included.
                                 
Series 218
Common Pleas -- Judgment Records, 1782-1847
9.5 cubic ft.  Chronological, by term, according to date case was initiated
Judgment Records summarize the parties, complaint, and proceedings in a case, followed by the signed and dated judgment.  They constitute formal records generally prepared at the conclusion of a case, and rarely contain transcripts of testimony or other proceedings.  Intermingled with the Judgment Records, particularly for the later period, are some certiorari cases called up from the justice courts.
                         
Series 219
Common Pleas -- Affidavits, 1781-1847
2 cubic ft.  Chronological
Sworn, voluntary statements of fact, which notify the court of various legal actions taken or inform it of particular circumstances.  This series includes affidavits of service (of legal papers) and of defense, as well as affidavits concerning the posting of bonds, the settlement of debts, the residency of available witnesses, and requests to postpone trial.
                     
Series 220
Common Pleas -- Minutes (draft), 1791-1797, 1804-1847B
2 cubic ft.  Chronological
Draft of minutes found in Series 9.  Although the minutes in Series 9 are more complete, these drafts should some process, with marginal comments and correction.
                             
Series 221
Common Pleas -- Capias, 1781-1842
5 cubic ft.  Grouped by outcome, then chronologically by year
                                   
Series 222
Common Pleas -- Insolvency Papers, 1790-1839
3 cubic ft.  Chronological
Records regarding the voluntary or involuntary assignment and sale of property belonging to insolvent debtors.  Generally provided are a petition for assignment, accounts of debts and personal property, notices of sales, and a discharge for the debtor. 
                          
Series 223
Common Pleas -- Calendar, 1813-1820, 1838-1845
Less than 1 cubic ft.  Chronological
Calendars compiled by the court clerk listing the cases to be heard before a session of the Court of Common Pleas.  In many cases there are two copies of the calendar, one marked "draft" (or "For the Bar") and the other prepared "For the Court".  The court's copy lists cases in order of appearance, and in some cases notes the action taken.
                 
Series 224
Common Pleas -- Partition Papers, 1808-1841
1 cubic ft.  Chronological
Parties had to petition the court to divide real property held in joint tenancy or by tenancy in common.  Partition papers also concern the appointment of guardians for minor heirs, the reports of commissioners describing the property, and rules and notices of sale or division.
                         
Series 225
Common Pleas -- Certiorari, 1830-1847
1.5 cubic ft.  Chronological
The Court of Common Pleas removed cases from justice courts by issuing a writ of certiorari, which instructed the justice court to "return" a certified copy of its proceedings in a case for the court to review.  Certiorari cases differ from other appeals in this formal removal.  The returns are among the few Common Pleas documents that relate actual testimony.
                  
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