Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Custodial History

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Willard State Hospital Patient Case Files

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Numerical by case number, corresponding to admission date.

Scope and Content Note

The records in this accretion pertain to patients at the Willard State Hospital (later Willard Psychiatric Center) admitted between 1869 and 1919. Although one of the latest death entries is 1938, the bulk of the records date to 1910. Case files range from #1 to #8439.

The amount of information varies with each case; the format for keeping data changed over time. Typically information on each patient includes name; place/country of residence; date admitted; gender; age; civil condition (marital status); occupation; nativity/birthplace; person with whom to correspond; alleged causes of illness; diagnosis when admitted; and mental/physical condition (a narrative which often includes multiple dated entries).

Later records also provide extensive family/medical histories, and physical charcateristics of patient (marks/deformities, hair and eye color, complexion, etc.) along with medical profiles.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Container list showing inclusive volume numbers, case numbers, and dates is available at the repository.

Custodial History

The records were part of a large group transferred from Willard in several deliveries during April 1995. They were reboxed in 28 boxes (some oversize volumes) when accessioned in May 1995.

Access Restrictions

Restricted in accordance with Mental Hygiene Law, Section 33.13, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access is permitted under certain conditions upon approval by the Office of Mental Health.