Research


New York State Office of Mental Health Public Affairs Office Photographs of Facilities, Staff, and Patients at Mental Health Institutions


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
The series consists of photographic prints, negatives, and a small number of slides depicting staff and facilities of the Office of Mental Health and the people it serves. Included are images of various state hospitals (interiors and exteriors); staff at work (budget preparation, admission procedure); individual and group portraits of officials, staff, and clients in various work (remedial reading, group psychotherapy) and recreational (state fair, Special Olympics) settings; and representations of exhibits and other special projects or events (centennial observances, employee recognition day, laying of cornerstones, patient discharge).
Creator:
Title:
Photographs of facilities, staff, and patients at mental health institutions
Quantity:

39 cubic feet

approximately 3000 photographs; approximately 1,500 negatives

Inclusive Dates:
1874, 1925-1998
Series Number:
19131

Arrangement

19131-95: Numerical.

19131-11, 19131-11A: Arranged by facility.

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of photographic prints, negatives, and a small number of slides depicting staff and facilities of the Office of Mental Health and the people it serves. They document a wide range of activities of the office and were apparently used by its Public Affairs Office to illustrate buildings and operations, and the shared projects and work environments of staff and patients.

The photographic prints are black and white and most measure 8 x 10 inches. A very few photographs and slides are color. Included are images of various state hospitals (interiors and exteriors); staff at work (budget preparation, admission procedure); individual and group portraits of officials, staff, and clients in various work (remedial reading, group psychotherapy) and recreational (state fair, Special Olympics) settings; and representations of exhibits and other special projects or events (centennial observances, employee recognition day, laying of cornerstones, patient discharge).

Two distinct indexes to the prints follow the main photographic sequence. Negatives forming one of the indexes typically measure 4.5 x 5.5 inches. The bulk are single negatives, each in an envelope on which the picture number, date, location, and subject is provided. Often, but not always, the name of the photographer is also given.

Also present is a one-volume register of negatives. Negatives are listed in manuscript by consecutive number, along with date, location, and description of the image.

19131-11: This accretion consists of photographs documenting Office of Mental Health facility buildings that were to be demolished or extensively renovated. Buildings were located at the following facilities: Rochester Psychiatric Center, Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Binghamton Psychiatric Center, Willard Psychiatric Center, and the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research.

19131-11A: Many photographs in this accretion depict activities, equipment, and group shots of fire and safety staff of Brooklyn State Hospital, Central Islip Psychiatric Center, Kings Park State Hospital, Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center, Pilgrim State Hospital (later Pilgrim Psychiatric Center), Rockland Psychiatric Center, and St. Lawrence State Hospital. Other photographs depict facilities, some construction, and some patient activities of Hudson River State Hospital, State Homeopathic Asylum for the Insane, and Kings Park State Hospital.

Alternate Formats Available

Scanned images of selected photographs are available at the New York State Archives.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

19131-95: Both a numerical index of negatives, and a subject index of photographs are available.

19131-95: A one-volume register of negatives is available.

Container lists (folder list for 19131-11A).

Access Restrictions

Patient identification photographs are restricted in accordance with Section 33.13, Mental Hygiene Law, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access permitted under certain conditions upon approval by the Office of Mental Health.

Access Terms

Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):

Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box

Accretion: 19131-11
1991-1998 Rochester Psychiatric Center: Buildings 17 and 19, 1991; Rochester Psychiatric Center: Buildings 17 and 19 (negatives); Rochester Psychiatric Center: Building 15, 1991; Rochester Psychiatric Center: Building 15 (negatives); Rochester Psychiatric Center: Building 31, 1997; Rochester Psychiatric Center: Building 32, 1997-1998; Rochester Psychiatric Center: Site work for Building 60, 1998 1
1987 Buffalo Psychiatric Center: Building 43, 1987 [2 binders]; Buffalo Psychiatric Center: Building 11, 1987 2
1988-1992 Binghamton Psychiatric Center:[Woodlawn] Building 15, 1989 [Plumbing shop and bus garage] Building 16, 1989 [Old fire house] Building 32, 1989 [Ferris Hall] Building 44, 1989; Binghamton Psychiatric Center: Building 52, 1988; Binghamton Psychiatric Center: Buildings 32, 29, 30, 44, 35, (Prior to demolition, 1992); Binghamton Psychiatric Center: Buildings 32, 29, 30, 44, 35, (negatives) 3
1987-1988 Willard Psychiatric Center: Building 41, 1987-1988; Willard Psychiatric Center: Drawings, plans; Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, Building 37 [no date] 4

Accretion: 19131-11A
1874 Harper's Weekly print and article - Hudson River State Hospital (HRSH) for the Insane (Poughkeepsie), State Homeopathic Asylum for the Insane (Middletown) 1
undated Brooklyn State Hospital (BSH) - Security Officers 1
1961-1974 St. Lawrence State Hospital (SLSH) - Security Officers / Safety Dept. 1
1965, 1973 Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center - Security Staff 1
1925 June 2 [Institution unidentified] Laundry room with memo to Superintendent 1
undated Kings Park - Road conditions 1
1925 [Institution unidentified] approximately 150 construction progress photos 1
1965, 1976 Pilgrim State Hospital - Safety/fire training, mock disaster 1
1925 Kings Park State Hospital - Fire Dept. group picture 1
1945-1988 Pilgrim Psychiatric Center - Fire and Safety 1
undated Central Islip Psychiatric Center - Safety officers 1
circa 1960 Rockland Psychiatric Center - safety officer 1
1924, 1942, 1948 [Unidentified] 1
circa 1910-1931 Hudson River State Hospital - approximately 23 prints - facilities, construction, and patient activities 2

Accretion: 19131-18
Kline Institute; Rochester Psychiatric Center 1

Accretion: 19131-95
Photograph set 1 - 49 1
Photograph set 50 - 69 2
Photograph set 70 - 89 3
Photograph set 90 - 109 4
Photograph set 110 - 139 5
Photograph set 140 - 169 6
Photograph set 170 - 199 7
Photograph set 200 - 229 8
Photograph set 230 - 259 9
Photograph set 260 - 289 10
Photograph set 290 - 311 11
Photograph set 320 - 339 12
Photograph set 340 - 369 13
Photograph set 370 - 389 14
Photograph set 390 - 314 15
Photograph set 420 - 449 16
Photograph set 450 - 479 17
Photograph set 480 - 509 18
Photograph set 510 - 549 19
Photograph set 550 - 579 20
Photograph set 580 - 609 21
Photograph set 610 - 659 22
Photograph set 660 - 709 23
Photograph set 710 - 749 24
Photograph set 750 - 799 25
Photograph set 800 - 859 26
Photograph set 860 - 919 27
Photograph set 920 - 999 28
Photograph set 1001 - 1039 29
Photograph set 1040 - 1079 30
Photograph set 1080 - 1139 31
Photograph set 1140 - 1199 32
Photograph set 1200 - 1239 33
Photograph set 1240 - 1289 34
Photograph set 1290 - 1329 35
Photograph set 1330 - 1369 36
Photograph set 1370 - 1419 37
Photograph set 1420 - 1449 38
Photograph set 1460 - 1489 39
Photograph set 1490 - 1499 40
Photograph set 1500 - 1540 41
Photograph set 1550 - 1609 42
Photograph set 1610 - 1669 43
Photograph set 1670 - 1699; 1600s (various) 44
Photograph set 1700 - 1759; 1700s (various) 45
Various loose photos; slides 46
Various loose photos; slides 47
Various loose photos; slides 48
Miscellaneous; loose / oversize photos 49
Aerial photos Child Guidance Main Office, Binghamton Psychiatric Hospital, Brooklyn State Hospital, Buffalo State Hospital, Central Islip 50
1950-1953 Pilgrim State Hospital, Hudson River State Hospital Psychiatric Institute, State Fair 51
Miscellaneous Clock Exhibit, Haunted House Clock Exhibit, Hudson River State Hospital 52
1947-1958 Negatives 1-230, labeled "old file numbers", with index cards and classification system; Negative set 1-75; Negative set 76-183; Negative set 184-295 53
1958-1966 Negative set 296-430; Negative set 431-555; Negative set 556-660; Negative set 661-760 54
1966-1975 Negative set 761-890; Negative set 891-1060; Negative set 1061-1215; Negative set 1216-1490 55
Assorted label numbers to be interfiled in prints 56
1954-1975 Book giving date, negative number, location and description, dated 1954-1979, of photographs of Facilities, Staff and Patients at Mental Health Institutions 57