Research

State Commissioners in Lunacy visiting book


Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources


Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series records visits to the State Lunatic Asylum (later Utica State Hospital) by the members of the State Commission in Lunacy. Information includes date of visit, names and signatures of commissioner, and areas of the hospital visited. Recommendations, including those for safety, orderliness, and cleanliness adopted during meetings are documented. Visitation notes address personal appearance of attendants; sanitary conditions; furniture; maintenance of buildings and grounds; dining and wards; fire prevention; and patient appearance, behavior, treatment, and care.
Creator:
Title:
State Commissioners in Lunacy visiting book
Quantity:

0.35 cubic feet

2 volumes

Inclusive Dates:
1889-1913
Series Number:
B1490

Arrangement

Chronological.

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.

Custodial History

These records were transferred to the State Archives on September 16, 1996 from Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center under RDA 19266.

B1490-97: These records were transferred to the State Archives on May 7, 1997 from Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center under RDA 19266

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms

Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):