Research

Scope and Content Note

From the opening of Craig Colony until circa 1905, patient case histories were recorded in volumes in patient consecutive number order. Individual patient case files replaced the case book format circa 1905; the content of the files changed very little over the next several decades.

A typical file includes a photograph of the resident; an admission sheet giving personal and medical data; a detailed personal, family, and medical history, with emphasis on symptoms and frequency of epileptic attacks; commitment papers (petition to a judge, notice of service, certificates by two examining physicians as to incompetency of the epileptic, and judge's order for committal); and a personal and family history questionnaire, filled in by a relative. Post-admission documents include accident report forms (mostly for injuries suffered during seizures), correspondence about the patient, admission slips for visitors, seizure charts, hospital charts, and clinical notes by physicians and nurses.

Many files are missing, especially for numbers prior to #5,000 (ca. 1920). The missing files were destroyed in about 1975; most were for patients by then deceased.

14197-00: This accretion consists of 10 case books containing case history numbers 1- 1623, from 1893-1904. Admission histories include date of admission, date of birth, name, age, race, place of birth, occupation, marital status, age at onset of epilepsy, duration of epilepsy, cause, heredity, prenatal influences; character, frequency and time of attacks; nature of aura, physical state, signature and residence of examiner.

14197-00: Post-admission histories include individuals bringing patient to colony, assignment of ward, religion, alcohol and tobacco use, education level, and results of subsequent physical and mental examinations. A chronological case history of the patient usually follows.