ALBANY -- Governor Paterson has left his executive records to Cornell, which is a disappointment to the NYS Archives, which had hoped they would end up there.

The State archivist, some newspaper editorials and historians had lobbied the Governor to leave his papers to the people of New York.  But he opted not to, which isn't all that unusual.  Several former Governors have left their records to private collections of one sort or another.  
 
Lt. Col., Robert Bullock, Ret., NYS Archives Partnership Trust said, "For example Dewey's records…..   It is disappointing."      
 
The New York State Archives was physically opened in 1978.  According to Bullock, it was hoped that all Governors would leave their records to the people of the State, in the Archives hands.
 
Lt. Col., Robert Bullock continued, "You know, that context that arises when you have the records…and it helps historians who were hoping to gain the contexts of previous administration.  

Because Governor Hugh Carey left virtually all of his records to the NYS Archives, historian & former State Senator Seymour Lachman was able to pull together a biography of Carey's time in office.