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Felix Infausto papers

 Collection — Box: 1-5, 6+, 7
Identifier: MS-0236

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of University of Buffalo and University of Buffalo Law School alumnus Felix Infausto. The bulk of this collection contains professional correspondence, legal papers, conference proceedings, clippings and newsletters. These documents reflect Felix Infausto's interest and expertise in state, national and international child welfare and adoption laws. There are also a small number of photographs and professional achievement plaques.

Dates

  • 1943-1992

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The Felix Infausto papers, 1943-1992 are open for research.

Restrictions

Legal case and client files are restricted 75 years from the closure of the case. Case and client files may be accessed only if the client or the client's legal representative consent to disclosure. Restricted files are noted as such in the inventory and on the file.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Felix Infausto was born February 13, 1909 in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Buffalo, New York where he attended Hutchinson Central High School. A summer industrial accident at Dunlop Tire Company led to the amputation of both of his hands while in high school. However Infausto returned to school and upon graduation received a four year scholarship to the University of Buffalo as awarded by the Mother's Club. While at the University of Buffalo Infausto studied in the College of Arts and Sciences and later enrolled in the University of Buffalo Law School. He received his LLB in 1932 and was admitted to practice in January 1934.

Infausto maintained a private law practice in Buffalo and in July 1943 was appointed Assistant Attorney General assigned to the New York State Department of Social Welfare. In 1945 Infausto was appointed Counsel of the State Department of Social Welfare. Infausto served the Department of Social Services for thirty-two years. During that time he was responsible for growing and overseeing all legal staff, litigation in State and Federal Courts, and writing legal opinions, regulations and contracts.

Felix Infausto was a leading authority on child welfare and adoption laws, writing and speaking on the national and international level. He contributed to the development of the Uniform Adoption Act, the Interstate Compact on Juveniles and the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children, and the Uniform Child Jurisdiction Act. He also contributed to the development of programs that led to the extension of state aid to cover costs of foster care of neglected and dependent children, Location of Deserting Parents Program, and interstate and international reciprocal enforcement of support for dependent and deserted children and wives.

After his retirement from New York State he resumed his private practice focusing on the areas of children, families and adoption.

Felix Infausto was married to the former Clara G. DiMaria of Buffalo. They lived in Albany and Buffalo, New York.

Extent

4.18 Linear Feet (5 manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, 1 oversize box)

Abstract

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of University of Buffalo and University of Buffalo Law School alumnus Felix Infausto (1909-1992).

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the original order in which is was acquired by the University Archives. Original folder titles were maintained when accurate.

Other Finding Aids

An inventory of the contents of the collection is available on-site. See archivist for further information.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to the University Archives by Randy Borst, Director of Accessibility Resources, in June 2015. The papers were left to the Office of Accessibility Resources by the Estate of Clara Infausto, Felix Infausto's widow.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Processing Information

Processed by Sarah Pinard, August 2015.

Source

Title
Finding aid for the Felix Infausto papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Sarah Pinard
Date
September 2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)