The office was established by Governor Mario M. Cuomo's Executive Order No. 79 in 1986, with jurisdiction over several executive agencies which handled large sums of money in contracts with local governments, community organizations, and private corporations. The jurisdiction of the office was expanded by Executive Order No. 86 of 1986 to include all agencies, departments, or divisions headed by appointees or nominees of the governor. Executive Order No.
In the context of the early years of the Cold War, as American forces were engaged in a war against communist North Korea and the country braced for a potential attack by the Soviet Union, civil defense became a significant focus at both the federal and state levels. In 1951, a year after the U.S. government passed the Federal Civil Defense Act, New York State crafted its own legislation known as the Defense Emergency Act (Chapter 784, and amended by Chapters 785 and 786).
The Military Training Commission was established by Chapter 566 of the Laws of 1916, to provide military and disciplinary training to boys in order to "more thoroughly and comprehensively" prepare them for "the duties and obligations of citizenship." The commission was composed of three members, all of whom served without compensation for a term of four years: the major general commanding the National Guard ex officio (as chairman); one member appointed by the Board of Regents (in practice this appointee was the Commissioner of Education); and one member appointed by the governor.
The New York State Archives is part of the Office of Cultural Education, an office of the New York State Education Department.