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 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 |