The subjects of the collection are the letters and communications of Former Mayors of the City of Albany to others. This collection contains receipts, licenses, property deeds, supply queries, and correspondence.

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.

John Boyd Thacher II (1882-1957), was the Mayor of Albany, New York from 1926-1941. The correspondence covers the Mayor’s activities on behalf of veteran’s organizations, Albany hospitals, social welfare, playgrounds and women’s organizations of the city during the period 1932-1939.

The Lansing/Townsend/Spenser Family Papers contain the records of twenty individuals from more than three families connected by marriage. The Lansing/Townsend/Spencer Family Papers span the period from 1717-1889 and contain correspondence, diaries, financial documents, and photographs relating to family life.

The main photograph collection contains all types of photographic images, from daguerreotypes to contemporary inkjet prints from digital files. The collection also includes glass plate and cellulose acetate negatives. The images are organized into subject series. Most images relate to the people, locations, and events in Albany and other upper Hudson Valley communities. The collection also contains works by contemporary artists.

Teunis Van Vechten (1785-1859) was a prominent Albany, New York, attorney, trustee and director for numerous Albany organizations, and served as the mayor for four terms. This collection includes receipts for goods and services, business letters, real estate insurance policies, legal agreements, real estate transactions, a copy of a summons and complaint in Saratoga Supreme Court.