Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of accounting journals of the State Lunatic Asylum (later Utica State Hospital). The journals record payments made by the hospital for a variety of expenses. These transactions were later entered into ledgers (many no longer extant) under individual accounts or expense categories.

The steward's journal of the State Lunatic Asylum (1842-1858) contains a chronological listing of expenses recorded by the steward. Types of expenses include supplies; food; services; labor; and routine maintenance. Information given for each expense includes date; individual, company, or entity paid; item or service purchased; and amount due. Total brought forward and monthly totals are also given.

A second journal is vendor specific (1877-1883), listing accounts payable by companies and providers with date; item and quantity; price per unit; and total. Of approximately one hundred thirty vendors cited in this journal, the largest number of entries are for Butler and Hamilton, Heath Brothers, and Hugh Glenn and Company.

A daybook and journal (1883-1891) gives date; name of company or person paid; amount paid; item or service purchased; and broad category of each expense, such as household stores, patients expenses, miscellaneous expenses, provisions, farm, and petty expenses. Amounts are brought forward for each page and totaled for each month.