The Mighty Chain: A Guide to Canal Records in the New York State Archives

117 pp. "This guide describes 360 series of records documenting New York's canals from the earliest Erie Canal surveys to the completion and operation of the Barge Canal. These records, spanning 1794-1958 (bulk 1817-1926) and totaling over 2,560 cubic feet, are part of the holdings of the New York State Archives and Records Administration. ...The guide is organized into sections reflecting current names of State agencies responsible for creating canal-related records. ...This guide includes a brief history of the development of the State's canal system during the period covered by the bulk of the records; brief histories of the major offices and agencies responsible for canal administration and development; descriptions of each record series; and a glossary of terms commonly found in series descriptions of canal records."--Introduction