Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Historical Files
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Overview of the Records
Repository:
New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
Summary:
This series contains a wide assortment of records, compiled at Utica and Marcy State Hospitals, that were determined to possess
historical value. The records document treatments and facility conditions, patient life, staff life and training, and facility
expansion. Records cover a wide array of subjects related to the development, functions, and operations of the institution
from its earliest days as the State Lunatic Asylum to its current identity as Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.
Creator:
Title:
Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center historical files
Quantity:
Inclusive Dates:
1849-1996
Series Number:
B1582
Arrangement
Arranged by type of record.
Administrative History
Marcy Division of the Utica State Hospital opened December 4, 1922. Effective July 1, 1931, Marcy Division was established
by the legislature (Laws of 1931, Chapter 106) as a separate institution within the Department of Mental Hygiene, known as
Marcy State Hospital. On July 1, 1931, 2,086 patients (1,230 men and 856 women) were transferred to Marcy State Hospital from
Utica. Patients remaining at Utica numbered 1,764 (856 men, 908 women).
Marcy State Hospital became Marcy Psychiatric Center according to the Laws of 1974, Chapter 558. In 1985, the legislature
(Laws of 1985, Chapter 913) amended the Mental Hygiene Law to consolidate the Utica Psychiatric Center and the Marcy Psychiatric
Center into one facility, named the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.
Scope and Content Note
B1582-97: This series contains a wide assortment of record types considered to be historical or archival in nature, which
were collected by volunteer archivists of Utica State Hospital (later Utica Psychiatric Center). A small amount of records
relate to Marcy State Hospital (later Marcy Psychiatric Center). The records were collected and preserved for their historical
interest, to provide information to the public, or for research value in the areas of treatments and conditions, patient life,
staff life and training, and facility expansion. The records cover a wide array of subjects related to the development, functions,
and operations of the institution from its earliest days as the State Lunatic Asylum to its most current identity as Mohawk
Valley Psychiatric Center.
Types of documents include reports of committees to the superintendent; receipts for unclaimed bodies; letters of application;
construction specifications; bids, proposals, and contracts; coal estimates; deeds and leases; legal documents; patients'
accounts of their experiences; teaching material (lectures); newspaper clippings; photographs; maps; inspection reports; notes
on Utica Psychiatric Center history; building descriptions; record disposition schedules; notes on history of psychiatry;
brochures; programs; correspondence; audio tapes; and manuals.
Subjects include finance; construction; patient recreation and therapy; staff training; personnel events; history of psychiatry
and treatment of the mentally ill; merger of Utica Psychiatric Center and Marcy Psychiatric Center; and past directors.
B1582-98: These historical records contain a variety of record types. A large portion of the records consists of Executive
Committee meeting minutes (1977-1985) and files relating to the accreditation of the facility by the Joint Commission of Hospital
Accreditation (1961-1986). Other files include photocopies of newspaper clippings of articles related to mental health issues
(1987); Marcy State Hospital audit reports (1940-1963); plans and proposal for a new building (1984); minutes of various committees;
and minutes of the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Auxiliary (1982-1996).
B1582-01: This accretion contains twenty scrapbooks created at Utica State Hospital (later Utica Psychiatric Center). One
volume pertains specifically to Marcy State Hospital (later Marcy Psychiatric Center). The scrapbooks primarily contain newspaper
clippings relating to the facility, its staff, and patients. Notable events such as groundbreakings and the arrival of distinguished
visitors are among the topics of the clippings. The scrapbooks also contain numerous programs dealing with many special events
at the facility including graduation exercises; visitors' days; medical conferences; Christmas celebrations; May Day festivals;
field days; and the laying of corner stones. A small amount of correspondence between staff and newspaper editors is also
included (1899-1902). Several volumes contain black and white photographs depicting retirement parties, graduations, field
days, and miscellaneous entertainment.
Acquisition Information
The records were transferred to the State Archives during May-September 1997 from Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center under RDA
19266.
Custodial History
B1582-97: Most of these records were collected by Lyle and Barbara Engell as unofficial archivists for Mohawk Valley Psychiatric
Center. The exact provenance of individual items is not known, but cursory review indicates segments of material have been
maintained as separate collections for considerable time. Some of the records may have been part of the subject files of the
superintendent.
Access Restrictions
Portions of these records are restricted in accordance with Mental Hygiene Law, Section 33.13, relating to confidentiality
of clinical records. Access is permitted under certain conditions upon approval by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
Access Terms
Corporate Name(s):
Geographic Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):
Function(s):
Detailed Description
Dates |
Contents |
Box |
Folder |
Accretion: B1582-97 |
1888 |
Committee Reports |
1 |
1 |
1888 |
Reports: quarterly and monthly meetings |
1 |
2 |
|
Superintendent's monthly reports to Board of Managers; |
1 |
3 |
1889 |
Memoranda of meetings of Board of Managers |
1 |
4 |
1890 |
Memoranda of meetings of Board of Managers |
1 |
5 |
1891-1898 |
Receipts for unclaimed bodies from Albany Medical College |
2 |
1 |
1890 |
Letters of Application for position of Woman Assistant Physician |
2 |
2 |
1886 |
Reconstruction on Rear Cross Wing - approval of comptroller and abstract of specifications |
2 |
3 |
|
Specifications for bakery and warehouse |
2 |
4 |
|
Specifications for hose house |
2 |
5 |
|
Specifications for bath house |
2 |
6 |
1889 |
Specifications for new hay barn |
2 |
7 |
1886 |
Specifications for amusement hall and approval of contracts |
2 |
8 |
1886-1887 |
Proposal for electric lighting and contract with Edison Co. |
2 |
9 |
|
Specifications for repairs to laundry |
2 |
10 |
|
Contract for Electric clock; |
2 |
11 |
1889 |
Resolutions and proposals submitted at meeting of Building Committee |
2 |
13 |
|
Specifications for repairs in wards nos. 1, 6, and 10 of the Male Department |
2 |
14 |
|
Mason's specifications for building sun-rooms and corridor, connecting with westerly end of west front wing |
2 |
15 |
|
Specifications for the erecting and finishing of a two-story brick building between the amusement hall and women's ward |
2 |
16 |
|
Specifications for the proposed changes in the dining-room |
2 |
17 |
1879 |
Coal estimates, heating plans, 1879 |
2 |
18 |
1831-1901 |
Deeds and leases |
2 |
19 |
ca. 1930s |
Private legal documents of cases regarding hospital patients |
2 |
20 |
1849 |
"The Asylum Souvenir" Amariah Brigham [typed copy] |
3 |
1 |
1887-1890 |
"Chronicle of Entertainments" |
3 |
2 |
1908 |
Patient's account of experiences leading to his present condition |
3 |
3 |
1913-1924 |
Memoranda, directives, agency correspondence, |
3 |
4 |
1917-1922 |
Minutes of the State Hospital Development Commission Insofar as They Apply to the State Hospital Commission |
3 |
5 |
1927 |
Psychopathology lectures |
3 |
6 |
1906, 1911 |
Lectures - typed Meyer & Hoch |
3 |
7 |
|
Typescript "Meyers Mental Status" instructions/procedures |
3 |
8 |
1892 |
Papers on appeal from Orders of the Supreme Court. Oneida Co. Supreme Court |
3 |
9 |
1890 |
Letters of a Paranoiac |
3 |
10 |
1884 |
Asylum Investigation Scrapbook |
3 |
11 |
1939-1947 |
Log book of personnel events, visits, resignations and other events |
3 |
12 |
|
Food supply photographs |
3 |
13 |
1955 |
Clothing transfer book |
3 |
14 |
|
Blueprint maps of Utica State Hospital (1957) and Marcy State Hospital (1940) |
3 |
15 |
|
Photographs of hospital food supplies in storage |
3 |
16 |
1958 |
Report of the Utica State Hospital by Central Inspection Board of American Psychiatric Association |
3 |
17 |
1968 |
Daily absentee record |
3 |
18 |
|
Notes on Utica State Hospital history |
3 |
19 |
1983 |
Utica State Hospital buildings list, descriptions, and chronological essay |
3 |
20 |
1959-1976 |
Occupational Therapy Dept: art exhibit photos and newspaper clippings |
3 |
21 |
1966, 1989 |
Disposition schedule for Patient Case Records Destroyed |
3 |
22 |
1978 |
Nursing School philosophy, objetives, and history |
3 |
23 |
1993 |
"Not Above A Whisper" [Dorthea Dix] script |
3 |
24 |
ca. 1984 |
Notes on history of psychiatry/Utica State Hospital |
3 |
25 |
1988, 1993 |
Brochures |
3 |
26 |
ca. 1890 |
Approximately 1500 work request slips |
4 |
1 |
1879-1890 |
Approximately 1300 receipts for coal delivered |
4 |
2 |
1944-1960 |
Approximately 200 thank you letters from former patients and relatives of patients to director and staff of Marcy State Hospital |
4 |
3 |
|
7" Audio tape, unidentified |
4 |
4 |
|
7" Audio tape, "Comment" 15 minute TV appearance 1/11/72 and "Concern" - 30 minute TV special - Open House - Main Building
1/19/72
|
4 |
5 |
|
5" Audio tape, patient care cert. training |
4 |
6 |
|
5 mini-cassette audio tapes, "Barb Engell," |
4 |
7 |
|
Historical background |
5 |
1 |
|
Newspaper clippings (history) |
5 |
2 |
|
Pamphlets on history of psychiatry |
5 |
3 |
|
Study for rehabilitation of building 31 |
5 |
4 |
|
Building structure inventory |
5 |
5 |
|
Landmark Society tour |
5 |
6 |
|
Historical record inventory |
5 |
7 |
|
"Umbrella" Spotlight on Main Building |
5 |
8 |
1938-1940, 1973-1975 |
"The Pillars" |
5 |
10 |
|
Patient work programs |
5 |
11 |
1936-1939 |
Family care for patients |
5 |
12 |
|
Marcy School of Nursing newspaper clippings |
6 |
1 |
1972-1984 |
Marcy Psychiatric Center newspaper clippings |
6 |
2 |
|
Marcy State Hospital history |
6 |
3 |
|
Dept. of Mental Hygiene orientation |
6 |
4 |
1972 |
Task Force on Greater Community Involvement |
6 |
5 |
1972-1990 |
Hospital Archivist correspondence |
6 |
6 |
1870 |
"Two Years in the Lunatic Asylum at Utica," [copy] |
6 |
7 |
1976 |
Utica Psychiatric Center/Marcy Psychiatric Center Merger Task Force |
6 |
8 |
1975 |
Ad Hoc Committee to Save Utica Psychiatric Center |
6 |
9 |
|
Correspondence, reference inquiries regarding former patients |
7 |
1 |
1973-1985 |
Local news items |
7 |
4 |
1976 |
Dept. of Mental Hygiene investigation |
7 |
5 |
1987 |
"Mental Health, United States, 1987," National Institute of Mental Health |
7 |
6 |
|
Rome Development Center |
7 |
7 |
|
Utilization Review Committee |
7 |
9 |
1970-1973 |
Volunteers |
7 |
10 |
ca. 1974 |
Professional Standards Review Organizations (PRSO) |
7 |
11 |
1978-1980 |
Central New York Psychiatric Center newspaper clipping file |
8 |
1 |
1984-1991 |
Local prison newspaper clipping file |
8 |
2 |
1972 |
Photographs and newspaper clippings from open house |
8 |
3 |
1976 |
WBIX editorial and response |
8 |
4 |
1971-1973 |
Utica State Hospital newspaper clippings |
8 |
5 |
1969-1993 |
Current events (press releases, programs, brochures, etc.) |
8 |
6 |
|
Prints and photographs of past directors |
8 |
7 |
1980-1993 |
Obituaries of Utica State Hospital employees |
8 |
8 |
1954-1985 |
Retirements |
8 |
9 |
1947 |
Richard H. Hutchings |
8 |
10 |
|
Mental hygiene physicians |
8 |
11 |
1825-1886 |
John P. Gray, 1825-1886. |
8 |
13 |
|
Board of managers pictures |
8 |
14 |
1971-1986 |
Utica State Hospital newspaper clipping file |
8 |
15 |
1973 November 10 |
Variety show |
8 |
16 |
|
Utica State Hospital television program |
8 |
17 |
1983 July 13 |
Main Building 140 Years: Schedule for picnic |
8 |
18 |
1977-1979 |
Health Fair |
8 |
19 |
1976 |
Bicentennial meetings |
8 |
20 |
1976 May 30, June 5 |
Concern Show, aired 5/30, 6/5/76. |
8 |
21 |
1962, 1968 |
Strike at state hospitals |
8 |
22 |
1974 |
Diet Manual, Dept. of Mental Hygiene |
9 |
1 |
1974 |
Admission Procedure Manual, Fulmont Unit, Utica State Hospital |
9 |
2 |
1964 |
Interpersonal Behavior In Nursing, School of Nursing, Utica State Hospital |
9 |
3 |
1971 |
Utica State Hospital Nursing Procedure Manual |
9 |
4 |
1964-1965 |
Sick Leave Survey |
9 |
5 |
1958 |
Dept. of Mental Hygiene, Institution Personnel Administration Manual |
9 |
6 |
1956 |
Ward Manual, Pilgrim State Hospital |
9 |
7 |
1984 |
Chaplain Procedures Manual, Marcy Psychiatric Center |
9 |
8 |
1972-1974 |
Marcy/Utica Planning Committee Meeting Minutes |
9 |
9 |
|
Subject/article files relating to history of Utica State Hospital |
9 |
10 |
1911 |
Audit Report by the Audit Company of New York on the State Commission in Lunacy |
10 |
1 |
1948-1966 |
Scrapbook - Marcy State Hospital newspaper clippings |
10 |
2 |
Accretion: B1582-98 |
|
New building plans and maps |
1 |
1 |
1960-1986 |
Accreditation |
1 |
3 |
1940-1963 |
Marcy State Hospital Audit Reports |
1 |
4 |
|
Consolidation subject files |
1 |
5 |
1984 |
New buildings proposal |
1 |
6 |
|
Senator Donovan Select Committee |
1 |
7 |
1842 September 7 |
Board of Managers Minutes (photocopy) |
1 |
8 |
1961-1986 |
Executive Committee meeting minutes |
2 |
1 |
1978-1983 |
Utica Psychiatric Center - Patient Council minutes |
2 |
3 |
1978 |
Medical Records Committee |
2 |
4 |
1974-1977 |
Schenectady County Fair files |
3 |
2 |
1982-1996 |
Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Auxiliary meeting minutes |
3 |
3 |