Erastus Corning 2nd (1909-1983), was a member of the New York State Assembly, the New York State Senate, and was served as the Mayor of Albany, New York, from 1942-1983. This collection contains correspondence, clippings, photographs, and other personal and political materials.

Erastus Corning I (1794-1872) was born in Norwich, Connecticut to Bliss Corning. He moved to Troy, New York at age 13 to work with an uncle, and moved to Albany at age 19 for a job in the mercantile business with James Spencer. Corning had multiple business interests during his life, including Erastus Corning & Co., which bought and sold iron products, involvement in numerous railroad companies, served as Mayor of Albany, a member of the New York Senate, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He married Harriet Weld in 1819, and together, they had five children. This collection contains account books, business records, correspondence, financial records, and other materials.

A collection of family papers from George Hornell and Ursula Jane (Boyd) Thacher and their three children, Margaret Euphemia, John Boyd and George Hornell. The bulk of the collection is correspondence to and from various family members between the 1830’s to the 1880’s. The collection has a limited amount of the children’s schoolwork and grades; financial papers concerning day-to-day living and educational expenses including numerous bill heads of Albany business from that period; and a limited amount of unidentified photographs. Lastly, the collection includes financial materials from the Albany Army Relief Bazaar in 1864. A list of who donated money and other items is included.