Syracuse Developmental Center Director's Subject Files B1652

Syracuse Developmental Center Director's Subject 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:

Subject files of the director of Syracuse Developmental Center include staff meeting minutes, statistical charts on residents, monthly and annual departmental reports, manuals, handbooks, publications, and a small amount of general planning and administrative files. Of special interest is a small number of memorandums and reports on the school's education program.

Creator:

Syracuse Developmental Center

Title:

Syracuse Developmental Center Director's subject files

Quantity:

2 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1962-1965, 1967-1975

Series Number:

B1652

Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject.

Scope and Content Note

B1652-99: The accretion consists of subject files of Dr. Jacob Sneider, who was director of the Syracuse State School from 1962-1965. The files are scanty and were probably weeded significantly from the director's working files.

Records include minutes of staff meetings; charts listing numbers of residents by age group; charts of female and male residents by age (also showing I.Q. and admission date or the number of years in residence); census data on colonies, and especially details of the sale of Westcott Colony (1962); reports on delinquent convalescent care accounts (with amount owed); employment applications for domestic work; monthly statistical reports from the Department of Mental Hygiene on all its institutions; and a small amount of general planning and administrative files.

Of special interest is a small amount of memorandums and reports on the school's education program, including curriculum development. An important pilot project (1962) was opening a half-way house (the "Onondaga Street residence") for the vocational rehabilitation of girls of the Syracuse State School.

B1652-09: This accretion consists of subject files of Syracuse State School (after 1973, Syracuse Developmental Center) Director George J. Buchholtz. The bulk of the accretion is composed of monthly and annual reports documenting various departments of the facility, such as Vocational-Industrial, Recreation, Social Service, Food Service, Dental, and Academic; and manuals, handbooks, and publications, many of which were issued by the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene for use by nurses, attendants, and facility managers. There are also statistical tables, correspondence, memorandums, and a few patient lists found throughout. A number of files in the accretion relate to the new State School facility.

Custodial History

B1652-09: Records in this accretion were created or collected by Director George J. Buchholtz and were transferred to the State Archives by the New York State Museum.

Access Restrictions

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 Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.