Research

Scope and Content Note

This series contains original correspondence to various officials of Willard State Hospital and copies of their replies.

Letters received by the Hospital Attorney (1916-1918) (#1201-1600) are original correspondence received from the State Attorney General's Office. Most correspondence concerns the disposal of the estates of patients who died at Willard State Hospital and/or inheritances bequeathed to patients.

A volume of letters (1919-1927) received from the Department of Architecture contains copies of letters sent to the State Hospital Commission concerning requests for building materials for building or improvement projects; letters approving requested repairs and listing materials and prices; blue prints of apparatus (few); and copies of certificates to construction companies for materials and work performed.

One letterpress copybook (June-August 1893) contains copies of letters sent by Willard State Hospital Superintendent Theodore H. Kellogg. These are mostly replies to inquiries into patients' conditions; notifications to next of kin of patients' deaths or discharges; notifications of changes in patients' legal statuses; and replies to inquiries concerning availability of employment.

A slightly later copybook (August 1893-October 1894) contains copies of similar outgoing correspondence but also includes a wider range of material, such as letters to the State Commission in Lunacy concerning patients' conditions, legal statuses, or discharges; a cover letter to New York State senators for an annual report; letters to the State Civil Service Commission announcing vacant positions; offers of employment to job applicants; and letters to local Superintendents of the Poor concerning payments of support for patients.

B1468-01: This accretion consists of a variety of correspondence primarily directed to or sent from the Office of the Superintendent. Types of correspondence includes Superintendent's letters (1932-1937); State Hospital Commission letters answered (1924-1934); correspondence with the Dept. of Mental Hygiene (1934-1936); Dept. of Mental Hygiene circular letters (1942-1950); State Architect letters (1927-1935); copies of replies to the U.S. Veteran's Bureau (1929-1934); and Western Union Telegrams (1960-1964).