Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of records of visits to the State Lunatic Asylum (later Utica State Hospital) by the members of the State Commission in Lunacy (1889-1912). Each entry gives date of visit, names and signatures of commissioner, and areas of the hospital visited. Also documented are recommendations adopted during meetings of the commissioners at Albany.

Information for each visit typically includes recommendations for improvement of safety, orderliness, and cleanliness in specific areas. Among the subjects mentioned by the commissioners are the personal appearance of attendants; sanitary conditions; furniture; grounds; building exteriors; machinery and shops; dining facilities; wards; fire prevention equipment; record keeping; patient appearance, behavior, treatment, and care; and heating.

B1490-97: This accretion consists of bound typescript and carbon copies of notes of visitations by Commissioners in Lunacy. Notes of seven visits are recorded. The notes of at least one visit is a duplicate of notes accessioned previously, but most appear to be unique. Some notes include a statement of secretary of the State Commission in Lunacy that the copy is a correct transcript of the original on file in the commission's office.