Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of several hundred black and white photographs illustrating conditions at custodial institutions for the mentally deficient in New York and other states. The photographs were gathered by the Commission to illustrate its final report, although many of the photographs in the records were not used in the report. Many of the photographs appear to have been gathered from the State Board of Charities.

The photographs show a wide range of views including building exteriors, interior facilities and rooms, and patients working, eating, in classroom activities, and at play or rest. The majority of the photographs are from six New York institutions: Rome State Custodial Asylum; New York City Children's Hospital and Schools at Randall's Island; State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women at Newark; Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children; Craig Colony for Epileptics at Sonyea; and Letchworth Village at Thiells. A large portion of the photographs from other states were gathered from the Massachusetts Training School at Waverly and the Menantico Colony and Training School at Vineland, New Jersey.

For the photographs contained in the final report, there is also a printer's proof showing the photograph as it appeared in the report.