Research


New York State Commission in Lunacy Annual Reports


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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 consists of published copies of selected annual reports prepared by the commission to summarize its work and make recommendations. Typically the reports include general information on the state system, and certain early reports address the licensed private institution systems and the general hospital system. Reports also give a summary of recommendations, general statistics, and the annual reports submitted to the commission by the boards of managers of the various state hospitals.
Creator:
Title:
Commission in Lunacy annual reports
Quantity:

2.25 cubic feet

13 volumes

Inclusive Dates:
1892-1908, 1912
Series Number:
B1432

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of published copies of selected annual reports prepared by the commission to summarize its work and make recommendations. Chapter 545 of the Laws of 1896 (the "Insanity Law") required the commission to annually report its acts and proceedings for the preceding year to the legislature.

Typically the reports include general information on the state system, and early reports may include the licensed private institution systems, and the general hospital system. Reports also give a summary of recommendations, general statistics, and the annual reports made by the board of managers of each of the state hospitals to the commission. Information is both narrative and statistical.

Summaries on the state system may include remarks on general operations (numbers of committed insane, receipts/expenditures for the support of state hospitals, average number of patients held and discharged, and percentages of recoveries and deaths); appropriations; maintenance costs (for patient care and treatment as well as supply purchases); salary and wages of officials and employees; patient diet; costs for alien and non-resident patients; results of treatment of the insane; and recommended legislation.

Of special note is information on the Pathological Institute of New York State, which was created to acquire knowledge on the nature of insanity. At least one annual report of the institute is appended to a commission annual report.

B1432-07: This accretion contains an appraisal of State Hospitals for the Insane completed by the State Commission in Lunacy on January 1, 1912.

Related Material

A0283 Monthly Reports and Minutes of Board of Managers of State Institutions, contains copies of reports submitted to the governor by boards of managers as required by the Insanity and State Charities laws of 1896.

Custodial History

These volumes originated from the library of the Willard Psychiatric Center. They were transferred to the State Archives when the center closed in 1995.

B1432-07: This accretion resulted from a project by Archives staff in 2007 to accession or integrate estrayed or unidentified records.

Access Restrictions

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

Access Terms

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Detailed Description

Dates Contents Box

Accretion: B1432-07
1912 January 1 Appraisal of State Hospitals for the Insane 1

Accretion: B1432-95
1892 October 1-1893 September 30 Report #5 1
1895 October 1-1896 September 30 Report #8 (with a reprint of the Second annual report) 1
1896 October 1-1897 September 30 Report #9 1
1897 October 1-1898 September 30 Report #10 (vol. 1) 1
1898 October 1-1899 September 30 Report #11 (vol. 1) 1
1900 October 1-1901 September 30 Report #13 1
1901 October 1-1902 September 30 Report #14 1
1902 October 1-1903 September 30 Report #15 2
1903 October 1-1904 September 30 Report #16 2
1904 October 1-1905 September 30 Report #17 2
1905 October 1-1906 September 30 Report #18 2
1906 October 1-1907 September 30 Report #19 2
1907 October 1-1908 September 30 Report #20 2