Harold A. Jerry, Jr. papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains correspondence, articles, press releases, environmental studies and field reports, legislation, meeting minutes, summaries, agendas, clippings, writings, report drafts and miscellaneous publications on the Adirondacks created and compiled during service with various New York State agencies, commissions, and environmental organizations.
Dates
- Creation: 1952 - 1995
Creator
- Jerry, Harold A., Jr., 1920-2001 (Person)
- New York (State). Conservation Department (Organization)
- New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee on Environmental Management and Natural Resources (Organization)
- New York (State). Office of Parks and Recreation (Organization)
- Rockefeller, Nelson A., 1908-1979 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research.
Biographical Note
Harold A. Jerry, Jr., 1920-2001, was a politician and lawyer from New York State. Born in Plattsburgh, he was a member of the New York Senate from 1959-1962. Later under Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, Jerry served as Director of the Office for Regional Development and created the Office of Planning Coordination, the first state planning office. By 1968, Jerry became executive secretary for the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks, whose report ultimately led to the establishment of the Adirondack Park Agency and the approval of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan which included proposed Wilderness areas in the Forest Preserve. In 1989, Jerry served as a member of the Commission on the Adirondacks in the 21st Century by Governor Mario M. Cuomo. In his spare time, Jerry served as President of the Wilderness Society; Director and Chairman of the Adirondack Council; Vice President of the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks; Director of the Adirondack Nature Conservancy and Land Trust; Director of the Environmental Planning Lobby and Chairman of Ecologically Sustainable Development, Inc. In short, Harold Jerry devoted his life and career to the Adirondack Park and the furtherance of its wilderness character.
Administrative History
The Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks was appointed by Governor Rockefeller in 1968 to investigate issues that would impact on Adirondack Park use, including private and public lands; wildlife; forest; minerals, water and air; transportation and the economy; recreation; and local government. The mandate of the commission was to make recommendations that would insure development was consistent with the long-range well-being of the park area as an integrated entity. The studies and recommendations of the commission led directly to the creation of the Adirondack Park Agency.
The Commission on the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo. Peter A. A. Berle was chairman, and George D. Davis was executive director of the commission. Issues studied by the commission resulted in technical reports on topics including Adirondack Park economy and quality of life; private land regulation; subdivision and development trends, including zoning rules and regulations; forestry, the Adirondack Forest Preserve, and state land classification and management; land acquisition, management, and parking planning; and natural resources, including biological diversity, aesthetic resources, water quality, and soil productivity.
Extent
11.09 Cubic Feet
11 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Harold A. Jerry, Jr. papers consist of 11.09 cubic feet and date from 1952-1995. The papers include environmental reports, correspondence, writings, and other records associated with Jerry's work as a government official working to prevent overdevelopment in the Adirondack Park.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as two series, Administrative Files (1952-1995) and Printed Materials (1953-1994). Administrative files are further arranged as four sub-series based on Jerry's appointment to various agencies and commissions.
Series 1: Administrative Files, 1952-1995
Sub-series 1: National Park Study Committee, 1963-1969
Sub-Series 2: Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks, 1952-1971
Sub-Series 3: Commission on the Adirondacks in the 21st Century, 1988-1989
Sub-Series 4: Miscellaneous, 1965-1995
Series 2: Printed Materials, 1953-1994
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Jocelyn Jerry-Wolcott, October 2016.
Processing Information
The papers were processed and a finding aid written by Matthew Golebiewski in Summer 2019. Funding was provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Source
- Jerry-Wolcott, Jocelyn (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Harold A. Jerry, Jr. papers
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Repository Details
Part of the Adirondack Research Library Repository