Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Related Material
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Custodial History
• Access Terms

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Admission, discharge, and parole registers

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology.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

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

B1481-96: Chronological.

Scope and Content Note

These registers were maintained by staff of the State Lunatic Asylum (later the Utica State Hospital) for the purpose of recording patient admissions, discharges, and paroles.

Earlier registers include records for both admissions and discharges for either men or women patients. Later registers record either admissions or discharges for either men or women. One register includes admissions for both men and women. Some dates (and events) are covered by more than one register.

Information in the registers is recorded in columns and varies from register to register. The most complete information for patients is recorded in an earlier volume (admissions for men and women, 1873-1887) and includes name; date; total number (consecutive admission number); number for year; how sent (pauper, poor, or indigent); gender; age; civil condition; number of children; occupation; education; religion; habits; place of birth; residence; insane relations; alleged causes; form of disorder; accompanying bodily disorder; date of attack; duration before admission; number of previous admissions; age at first attack; time of leaving the asylum; time in asylum; result; and observations.

Information recorded in other admission and discharge registers always includes patient name, date of admission or discharge, and county of residence. In addition, information usually includes to whom the patient was discharged; remarks; type of commitment or discharge order; and general condition when discharged.

Information given may also include total number (consecutive admission number); number for year; ward number; first admission or readmission; type of financial maintenance; patient case book volume and page number; age; period of treatment; duration of symptoms previous to admission; form of insanity; and cause of death.

One volume recording patient paroles (1914-1936) includes date; name; address at time of admission; length of parole; name and relationship of person paroled to; address; and result of parole (usually returned or discharged and date).

B1481-97: This accretion contains the earliest admission register for the State Lunatic Asylum (1843-1849) as well as later admission, discharge, and parole records (1920-1985).

For the earliest register, information recorded for each admission includes consecutive number; date of admission; name; place of residence; age; marital condition; gender; occupation; supposed cause of mental condition; duration of condition; pulse (1843-1846); size of head (1843-1846); weight (1843-1846); pay amount (?); discharge date; and remarks. After 1846, information on insane relations, presence of suicidal tendencies, and place of nativity are sometimes noted.

Admissions registers for women (1920-1931) record date, name, municipality and county of residence. Information for some years includes legal type of commitment, nationality, and type of financial maintenance.

Types of information included in admissions registers for 1931-1965 vary over time and, depending on year, may include date of admission; name; gender; age; first admission, readmission, or transfer; municipality and county of residence; legal status of admission; number of admission for year; identification number; diagnosis; consecutive number of admission; tentative diagnosis; and disposition (unit assignment).

Admission books (1970-1985) include type of admission; name; date; age; identification number; number for year (county); and impression (tentative diagnosis).

Admission book for 1985 (part) includes a brief narrative describing patient history and condition. Admission book for 1988-1993 contains only abbreviated information, including psychologist and primary care nurse.

Discharge registers (1931-1961) record date; volume and page number; name; condition upon discharge; age; and county. Earlier records also include the duration previous to admission; period under treatment; form of insanity; cause of death; and remarks.

Information recorded in the parole records (1931-1946) include date; name; address at time of admission; length of parole; relationship and address of person to whom the patient was paroled; and result of parole.

Related Material

Series 20279, Patient admission, discharge, and parole registers, contain similar records.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Volume list for both accretions.

Custodial History

B1481-96: These records were transferred to the State Archives on September 16, 1996 from Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center under RDA 19266.

B1481-97: These records were transferred to the State Archives during May 1997 under RDA 19266.

Access Restrictions

Restricted in accordance with Section 33.13, Mental Hygiene Law, relating to confidentiality of clinical records. Access permitted under certain conditions upon application to and approval by the Office of Mental Health.

B1481-97: Box 1 contains a male and female register of patients, 1842-1849, which is closed to use due to severe water damage.

Access Terms