New York State Lunatic Asylum "The Opal" Patient Newsletter
Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources
Overview of the Records
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
2 cubic feet
10 volume(s)
21 editions
Arrangement
Chronological.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of bound copies of "The Opal," a monthly literary newsletter edited by the patients at the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. The newsletter contains poems, essays, news articles, correspondence, and editorials on national and local events and subjects. Subjects and themes are mostly social, literary, religious, and political. Some topics are covered in a humorous or satirical manner. Some material includes information on currently held theories and attitudes concerning mental illness.
Volume One contains a few pieces of original art work.
Alternate Formats Available
Samples of artwork from the newsletter have been digitized and are available in State Archives Digital Collections.
New York State Archives Digital Collections
"The Opal" patient newsletter, 1851-1860
Related Material
B1540 Issues of "Marcy News," Marcy Psychiatric Center newsletter, 1968-1976
B1922 Middletown Psychiatric Center Newsletters, 1935-2002
B1585 Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Newsletters, 1957-1994
B1453 Willard State Hospital Newsletter, 1957-1980
Other Finding Aids
Available at Repository
Alphabetical title index at fore of each volume.
Custodial History
These records were transferred to the State Archives on September 16, 1996 from Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center under RDA 19266.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.
Access Terms
Detailed Description
Dates | Contents | Box | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accretion: B1480-96 |
|||||
1851-1855 | The Opal Volumes 1 - 5 (Part) | 1 |
1855-1860 | The Opal Volumes 5 (Part) - 10 | 2 |