Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Jessie R. Graham
As of September 11, 2019, medical records will be open 125 years after the date of creation or after date closed, whichever is later. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that individually identifiable health information of a decedent be protected for 50 years following the date of death of the individual (45 CFR 164.502(f)).
Protected health information (PHI) as defined under the Privacy Regulations issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) includes, but is not limited to, personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, and social security numbers. Restricted material may include, but is not limited to: patient lists, patient admission registers, treatment registers and medical record files. Please contact Archives Research Services for further information.
Confidential or personally identifiable health information (PHI) less than 125 years of age that may be encountered during research will not be recorded, published, publicized, or re-disclosed to any other party for any purpose. Improper use and/or re-disclosure of privacy protected information is a breach of confidentiality which could result in the loss of access to the archival collections housed and maintained by The Library of Virginia, and could result in legal penalties (Code of Virginia, 18.2-186.3). Please see the "Use Restrictions" section of the finding aid for additional restriction information.
Records of Eastern State Hospital, 1770-2009. [Cite specific accession number], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Accession 23459 transferred by Mrs. Henry E. Davis, 17 October 1949.
Accession 31783 transferred by Wyolene S. Pointer, Medical Records Administrator, Eastern State Hospital, Drawer A, Williamsburg, Virginia, 27 May 1983.
Accession 44812 transferred by Michelle L. Porter, Health Information Management Department, Eastern State Hospital, 4601 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, Virginia, 17 February 2010.
Accession 45017 transferred by Michelle L. Porter, Health Information Management Department, Eastern State Hospital, 4601 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, Virginia, 3 June 2010.
Accession 53882 donated by Judi Barnett, 24 April 2023.
Accessions 36551; 36642; 36643; 36644; 36645; 36646; 36647; 36648; 36649; 36650; 36651; and 36652 (Series II., Subseries B. Architectural and Engineering Plans and Drawings), were accessioned individually as part of the Library of Virginia's General Architectural Files Collection.
Most of the records comprising Series IV., Subseries D. Correspondence, Subject Files and Ledgers (Superintendent) can also be found on microfilm (Miscellaneous reels 4083-4085). Please note that the original records have been reboxed since microfilming and the folder numbers no longer correspond to those on the film.
Series II., Subseries B. Architectural and Engineering Plans and Drawings is an artificially-created series made up of individually accessioned drawings that are part of the General Architectural Files Collection. The origin of these items is unknown, though they may have at one time been part of an early accession of Eastern State Hospital records. The inclusion of these drawings in this finding aid is for ease of research use.
Researchers should also note that records belonging to Western State Hospital were found during the transfer of accession 44812 to the Library of Virginia. The records include correspondence, contracts, agreements, buildings and grounds records and other miscellaneous documents pertaining to operation of the hospital. According to records at Eastern State and Western State, these items were removed from the Western State archives in 1983 and used by researchers to accurately reconstruct the Public Hospital at Colonial Williamsburg. The records were never returned to Western State and were eventually found in a basement at Eastern State in 1987. The records were taken to the Eastern State archives where they were housed until the hospital transferred its historical records to the Library of Virginia. The records will remain part of Eastern State Hospital accession 44812, but will not be featured in the contents list below. A full description of these records can be found in the finding aid titled "Records of Western State Hospital," under Series VI. Records Found at Eastern State Hospital, 1825-1918. The Western State finding aid is available on the Virginia Heritage Project website.
"The Publick Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds" at Williamsburg was first proposed by Royal Governor Francis Fauquier in 1766. A committee was authorized to prepare a bill to provide for the founding of the hospital, which it did in 1769. In April 1770, architect Robert Smith was chosen to design the new hospital and an act formally establishing the hospital was passed by the General Assembly in June 1770. Construction of the hospital building in the center of Williamsburg took several years. The first patients were admitted in October 1773. The first hospital employee appointed was the keeper, who was directed to call the visiting physician as needed because there was no resident doctor on staff. The first visiting physician at the hospital was Dr. John De Sequeyra.
The Galt family of Williamsburg worked closely with the hospital for much of the first 100 years of its existence. The first keeper of the hospital was James Galt who was succeeded by William T. Galt in 1800. Dickie Galt also served as keeper during the 1830s. In 1841 Dr. John Minson Galt, II, was appointed the first hospital superintendent by an act of the General Assembly. Additionally, Dr. Galt's grandfather, Dr. John Minson Galt, and also his father, Dr. Alexander D. Galt both served as visiting physicians prior to the establishment of the superintendent position. Dr. Galt served as superintendent from 1841 until 1862 when the hospital was overtaken by Union forces during the Civil War. Dr. Galt died shortly after being forced to leave the hospital grounds.
Dr. John M. Galt, II introduced the concept of "moral management" to the Eastern Lunatic Asylum. Moral management (or "moral therapy") suggested that the roots of insanity might be emotional. Providing kindness, an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable atmosphere, exercise, and organized social activity was believed to work better for treating mental diseases than other methods such as restraints and bleedings. Dr. Galt also went against conventional beliefs when he applied for and received legislative consent to accept mentally ill slaves as patients to the hospital in 1846. However, by 1869, racial segregation was reestablished with the creation of Central Lunatic Asylum (later Central State Hospital) now located near Petersburg, Virginia.
By the 1930s the population of the hospital had outgrown its cramped quarters in downtown Williamsburg. With no room to expand, the hospital began construction on what would be called the Dunbar Extension. The land was formally known as the Dunbar Plantation and was located about three miles west of the city. Four buildings were erected in 1936, but construction plans were halted when the United States became involved in World War Two. Construction resumed in 1947 and continued for the better part of the next two decades. For many years patients were split between the two sites, but by the late 1970s all patients were housed at Dunbar. Many of the original downtown hospital buildings were demolished in the 1960s, though a recreation of the first Public Hospital building, completed in 1985, can be found on the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg.
Eastern State Hospital experienced various name changes over the years. Originally known as the Public Hospital, it also became known as Eastern Lunatic State Hospital and Eastern Lunatic Asylum. Through an act of the General Asssemby in 1894, the current name of Eastern State Hospital was established.
Contains volumes and paper records dating from 1770 to 2009. The earliest material in the collection is a Court of Directors minute book, 1770-1801, though the bulk of the collection dates from the mid-nineteenth century through the twentieth century. A few sporadic records from 2000-2009 exist as well. Included in the Eastern State records are admission registers, correspondence and subject files, architectural drawings and construction files, photographs, personnel records, newsletters, news clippings, scrapbooks, publications and reports, meeting minutes, patient treatment, and financial records. Also found in this collection are many files created and maintained by Dr. John Minson Galt, II that include his essays on mental health and other topics. The records as a whole document the complex administrative and operational aspects of the hospital, and to a lesser extent, patient life at Eastern State.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I. Admission and Statistical Registers, 1808-1996 Series II. Buildings and Grounds Records, 1829-1996 Series III. Commitment Registers, 1911-1946 Series IV. Correspondence and Subject Files, 1791-1997 Series V. Financial Registers, 1882-1974 Series VI. History Files, 1942-1999 Series VII. Inventory and Supply Registers, 1876-1976 Series VIII. Minutes, 1770-1989 Series IX. News Clippings and Summaries, 1964-2008 Series X. Newsletters, 1948-2008 Series XI. Papers, Speeches and Lectures, 1949-1985 Series XII. Patient and Medical Treatment Records, 1841-2009 Series XIII. Personnel Records, 1907-1988 Series XIV. Photographs, 1931-2007 Series XV. Publications, 1844-2006 Series XVI. Reports, 1842-1994 Series XVII. Rules, Regulations and Procedures, 1841-1979 Series XVIII. Scrapbooks, 1946-1991 Series XIX. Theses, Dissertations and Projects, 1949-2003Restricted: admission and statistical registers that are less than 125 years old. Due to the presence of restricted patient information, these records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. If redaction is not possible, the register (or certain parts of it) may be closed. Death records are restricted for 50 years.
Contains a variety of registers used for patient recordkeeping purposes. Early admission records may not actually be admission records, but more accurately described as patient censuses that were conducted periodically. Patients were added to the register alphabetically, with each alphabetical list ordered according to the admission date of the patient beginning with the earliest. These registers were added to over several years when new patients were admitted or when older patients died or were discharged. In some cases the entries are numbered, but it's unclear whether this is a true admission number. The date ranges for these volumes reflect both the range of admission dates and the years for which the particular register was used for entries. Researchers should note that considerable overlap exists between the early admission registers and that long-term patients may have entries in more than one register. Later admission registers are organized chronologically by patient admission number, which loosely correlates to admission date. The later registers do not have indices. One volume of admission histories is also included in this series and contains additional personal information about each patient upon his or her arrival at the hospital.
Also included here are several registers of patients which are divided into three sections: a statistical tally of the number of males and females housed in the hospital for the respective years, lists of individual patient names, addresses, dates admitted and the results of the hospitalizations. These registers also contain a complete diagnostic diary on individual patients which provide the name of the patient, treatment received and the patient's response. The volume dated 1859-1861 also contains a Board report for the year 1887 that includes a narrative discussion of the operation of the hospital,patient care, a statistical breakdown of the number of patients by sex and age, and a list of patients who received clothing.
This series also includes a list of furloughed patients, separate registers of hospital births, deaths, and discharges, cemetery burials, and several consolidated reports of changes in population. Each population report contains detailed information about patient movements in the hospital such as the number of patients admitted, died, discharged, furloughed, escaped, total number of patients, total number of ward attendants, and application statistics. Also included in these reports are handwritten notes pertaining to certain escapees, deaths, and discharges.
Arranged alphabetically by type of register and then chronologically.
Contains loose drawings and plans as well as project files pertaining to buildings and structures at both the downtown and Dunbar locations of Eastern State Hospital.
Contains architectural and engineering plans and drawings for various buildings and structures on both the downtown and Dunbar locations of Eastern State Hospital. Also included are maps and site plans. Most of the drawings and plans pertain to the Dunbar site. These drawings were found loose and without accompanying paperwork. Researchers should note that additional drawings and plans can be found in Subseries B. Architectural and Engineering Plans and Drawings (General Architecture Files Collection) and additional information about buildings and structures may be found in Subseries C. Building Files.
Arranged alphabetically by plan or drawing title.
These oversize drawings and plans were separated from the other Eastern State material at some point in the past and were accessioned and arranged as part of the General Architectural Files Collection ; particular folder numbers are indicated below as are the individual accession numbers.
Many of the plans are composed of multiple sheets each. This series contains architectural and engineering plans and drawings for several structures on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital, such as the Montague Building, the superintendent's residence, the laundry and bakery. Researchers should note that additional drawings and plans can be found in Subseries A. Architectural and Engineering Plans and Drawings and additional information about buildings and structures may be found in Subseries C. Building Files.
The Public Hospital at Williamsburg was constructed from 1771-1773. A third story was added in 1841. In 1885 the building (then known as the Eastern Lunatic Asylum) was destroyed by fire. In 1972, archaeologists from Colonial Williamsburg excavated the foundations. In 1979, reconstruction of the building was begun, using a detail of the 1829 drawing as a primary source of information about the structure. The rebuilt Public Hospital was opened in 1985.
This series also includes a very early elevations and plans for the entire hospital. Hospital Keeper Dickie Gault (possibly Alexander Dickie Galt) created the drawing at the request of the Governor's office in 1829. Gault was paid out of the hospital treasury for his work. See the Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Report of the Directors of the Lunatic Hospital at Williamsburg, Document No. 12, (Richmond, 1830). A copy of this document is enclosed with the drawing.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Contains administrative files pertaining to various building and construction projects undertaken at both the downtown and Dunbar locations of Eastern State Hospital. The files contain drawings, plans, contract and financial information, correspondence, maintenance manuals, operating instructions and other project-related documents. Most of the files pertain to projects undertaken at the Dunbar location during its initial building phase. Researchers should refer to Subseries A. Architectural and Engineering Plans and Drawings and Subseries B. Architectural and Engineering Plans and Drawings (General Architecture Files Collection) for additional information on building projects.
Arranged alphabetically by subject or title.
Restricted: commitment registers that are less than 125 years old. Due to the presence of restricted patient information, these records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. Commitment registers include the date upon which patient applications were received, the name of each patient, the name of the sheriff or police officer reporting the commitment, the place of residence of the patient, and the date of admission, if the patient was admitted. The volumes may also include reasons for rejection, notations concerning escapes, deaths, and whether the patient was picked up from the local jail. Researchers should also note that sporadic early commitment papers can be found in Series IV., Subseries D. Correspondence, Subject Files and Ledgers (Superintendent).
Arranged chronologically.
Contains correspondence and subject files maintained by Eastern State Hospital administrators, directors, and superintendents. The files document the administrative and operational aspects of the hospital, as well as legislation, public health issues, and special programs. The earliest files also contain patient-related correspondence, essays on medical topics, and reports.
This series contains four subseries that are divided according to the office or person responsible for creating and/or maintaining the records. The division between records of the director and records of the superintendent is fluid and dates may overlap.
Correspondence and miscellaneous subject files created and/or maintained by the Assistant Director, Administrative, Martin S. Kline. Files include those related to the history of the institution, loan agreements, and medical records automation.
Arranged alphabetically according to folder title.
Restricted: records containing patient names or information that are less than 125 years old. Some records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. These items have been flagged.
Correspondence and miscellaneous subject files from various/unknown offices, most likely the Office of the Director. Topics of interest include the Eastern State Hospital Bicentennial Anniversary Commission, patient population statistical reports and surveys, the hospital's compliance with the Civil Rights Act, and the Child and Adolescent program. The files cover the administrations of several hospital directors, including Dr. Granville L. Jones, Dr. Joseph E. Barrett, Dr. Kurt T. Schmidt, and David Pribble.
Arranged alphabetically according to folder title.
Files and miscellaneous items found together during processing that belonged to hospital director, Kurt T. Schmidt, M.D. The material was given its own subseries because it had been separated from the other correspondence and subject files associated with the Office of the Director. Most of the items are personal in nature, except for a small amount of correspondence, an essay, and a speech on the state of the hospital.
Arranged alphabetically according to folder title.
Restricted: records containing patient names or information that are less than 125 years old. Some records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. These items have been flagged.
Contains correspondence, miscellaneous files and ledgers created and maintained during the earliest years of the hospital's existence. Material from two accessions (31783 and 44812) were interfiled in this subseries for ease of research. Most of the records can be traced to the era of superintendents Dr. John M. Galt, both father and son. The correspondence is sporadic and mostly patient-related. Many of the letters are from local jailors and sheriffs wishing to place insane inmates. Other letters are from family members inquiring about the status of a particular patient. A few personal letters and letters pertaining to hospital business matters also exist. The files contain draft reports, accounts, bonds, contracts, and essays on mental health topics. Much of this material is in draft form, may be missing pages, or is difficult to read. Final publications of many of the draft essays written by Dr. John M. Galt can be found in Series XV. Publications.
Correspondence is arranged chronologically and the subject files and ledgers are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Restricted: financial registers containing patient names or information that are less than 125 years old. Some records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served.
Contains a variety of registers that document the financial history of the hospital. Included are ledgers devoted to particular accounts, such as the building fund, contingent fund and support fund. Also included are check stub books related to the Additions and Improvements Fund and the Auditor of Public Accounts. Other ledgers contain information on contracts awarded, patient personal funds and charges, steward's sales, transportation and amusement. The largest subset of financial registers are the general ledgers and general journals. The general ledgers served as the final accounting of funds received and disbursed. The ledgers provide information on money spent for capital outlay projects, legal expenses, medical supplies, food, amusement, equipment, postage, telephone and telegrams. Ledgers for more recent years include information on grant monies, accounts such as the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Donation Fund and the Chapel Buildings Fund, and appropriations for the Behavior Modification Program. In most cases, each general ledger is accompanied by a journal that features more descriptive information about accounts paid and received. Researchers should not that the dates on the ledgers and journal often overlap for unknown reasons. Several of the later general journals are restricted due to the presence of patient names and Medicaid information.
Arranged alphabetically by the title of the register.
Contains files related to histories written about Eastern State Hospital, the Galt family and other mental health topics. Included is a card catalog of books once held in the Galt book collection, articles about the hospital, written histories and supporting documentation.
Arranged alphabetically according to folder title.
Contains a variety of registers related to the inventorying and issuing of food and other items at the hospital, such as day books, registers of stores issued and received, requisition and invoice registers, and a farm production register.
The day books describe supplies maintained by and issued to particular staff members or units such as the matron, supervisor, chief cook, steward, and drug room or for particular purposes such as housekeeping. Examples of items inventoried include whiskey and wine, various foodstuffs, clothing, toiletries, and tobacco. Handwritten notations made by the matron or supervisor can be found in some of the earlier daybooks.
The registers of stores issued contain lists of particular supplies, food and other items that were issued to various staff or hospital units. These supplies include wagons, utensils, clothing, bedding, personal care items, and food. The registers of stores received account for the receipt of the above items before they were used or distributed to patients and staff.
A register of farm production, as well as registers of requisitions and invoices can also be found in this series. The farm production register contains an inventory of fruits, vegetables and meat raised and harvested by the hospital. The requisition and invoice registers contain additional information about supplies bought by the hospital.
Arranged alphabetically by the title of the register.
Contains the minutes of the Court/Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, as well as minutes of the Board of Physicians and Building Committee. The majority of the volumes contain minutes of the Court/Board of Directors. The history of the Board begins with the Court of Directors which was the original advisory committee that closely supervised the operation of the asylum. The Court of Directors was later renamed the Board of Directors, and its nine appointed members were required to meet on a quarterly basis. In 1903, the Board of Directors was replaced by a three-person group called the Special Board of Directors. There may be some overlapping use of older and newer names, but they describe the same basic administrative body. The first volume of minutes contains a deed for the land on which the original hospital sat, the articles of agreement, and description of the area and original buildings. In some cases, the minute books have overlapping dates, due to the presence of "rough minutes" in addition to the official minutes of Board meetings.
Also related to the Board minutes are the minutes of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee was composed of a small number of members of the Court of Directors/Board of Directors. The Executive Committee was responsible for reviewing the superintendent's reports, auditing the steward's monthly expense accounts, and overseeing other matters that arose between Board meetings. An index to the Executive Committee minutes exists for the years 1901-1913.
Additionally, this series contains the minutes of the Board of Physicians, which include patient and treatment information, as well as discussion of hospital business and operations. Also included are the minutes of the Building Committee (or Committee on Construction), which include records of money spent on construction projects, buildings, grounds and the general maintenance of the hospital structures. Also included here are several folders of minutes from the Local Building Committee, which was responsible for managing construction projects at Eastern State.
Arranged alphabetically by board or committee and then chronologically within.
Contains two categories of press material: newspaper clippings and news summaries. Some overlap exists between the two groups. The news clippings were collected and maintained by Eastern State Hospital staff and are mainly photocopies from local newspapers of articles about Eastern State Hospital and mental health topics generally. Several folders of prominent articles are labeled by title and arranged at the end of the clippings section. The news summaries are booklets of photocopied articles compiled by the Legislation and Public Relations Office of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services for submission to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. The articles included in the summaries range from general health topics to specific stories about the state hospitals.
Arranged by type of record and then chronologically within.
Contains the newsletter The Eastern Statesman , which was produced by and largely for Eastern State Hospital employees, and to a lesser extent, patients and interested family and community members. The newsletters contain information about hospital policies, activities, and governmental legislation. They also contain photographs of employee activities and events, notations about births, weddings, illnesses, new-hires, retirements, employee service recognitions and other pertinent information. Also included for the years 1956-1957 are copies of the The Literary Statesman which feature stories and poetry, some written by patients. Both The Eastern Statesman and The Literary Statesman were widely distributed outside of the hospital.
Arranged chronologically by date of publication.
Contains papers, transcribed speeches and lectures on a variety of topics such as drug addiction, medical conditions, types of therapy employed at Eastern State Hospital, and the use of certain medications. Many of the papers, speeches and lectures were written and/or given by Eastern State Hospital leaders and employees. Material not attributed to a specific author can be found at the end of the list arranged according to the type of document. These items were not included in Series XV. Publications because they are more informal in nature. Early essays and papers written by Dr. John M. Galt can be found in Series IV., Subseries D. Correspondence, Subject Files and Ledgers (Superintendent).
Arranged alphabetically by the author or speaker's last name.
Restricted: patient records containing patient names or information that are less than 125 years old. Some records may require review by an archivist and/or redaction (if it is possible) before they are served. Transorbital lobotomy case book records (A-Z) are closed in their entirety for 125 years from the date of creation.
This series contains a variety of registers related to patients and medical treatment at the hospital. Included are record books kept by the night watchman and night watch nurse. These volumes document the activities of the nighttime staff and describe the number of visits to each ward, the time and temperature of the ward at the time of the visit, as well as the names of patients and their level of "excitement." Also included are case books that provide medical treatment information, a record of surgical cultures, transorbital lobotomy records and a register of articles belonging to patients which includes a listing of clothing, money, jewelry and other personal effects. This series also contains the art therapy drawings of a patient named Michael Condrey. Researchers interested in admission, statistical and/or patient census information should see Series I. Admission and Statistical Registers.
Arranged alphabetically by the title of the volume or record.
This series is composed of two ledgers of employee records. The earliest ledger includes names, beginning date of employment, rate of wages or salary, and occasionally notations regarding discharge or reassignment. The later ledger contains only names and dates. Also included in this series are records of student nurses and attendants who graduated from the Eastern State Hospital program, including names, dates of graduation, and ceremony programs. For information on early hospital job descriptions, please see Series XVII. Rules, Regulations and Procedures.
Restricted: Photographs that identify patients or depict medical treatments are restricted for 125 years.
Contains both black and white and color photographs that document activities, buildings, events, employees, and patients at Eastern State hospital. The photographs depict various activities such as holiday parties, picnics, and special events such as the circus and horse shows. The photos also show the buildings and grounds at both the downtown and Dunbar locations. The employee photographs are mostly head shots, but some also document the receipt of service awards, as well as groups of food service employees, attendants, Grey Ladies (volunteers), and physicians. The Safety Department photos show the demolition of structures, disaster drills, and other safety-related activities.
Arranged alphabetically by category and then alphabetically by title or description within.
Contains a variety of publications ranging from articles to journals and books. Most of the publications are mental health or hospital-related. Some of the articles were written by Eastern State Hospital employees and several of the periodicals were published by the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and the State Hospital Board. The office that created and maintained these publications is unknown, though they may have been held by the Office of the Director or by the staff or patient libraries.
Contains a variety of published articles and pamphlets. The articles cover topics ranging from general mental health and awareness to very specific psychological studies. Many of the articles were written by Eastern State Hospital employees. Included here are published copies of many of Dr. John M. Galt's essays on mental health and other issues. The rough drafts of many of Dr. Galt's essays can be found in Series IV., Subseries D. Correspondence, Subject Files and Ledgers (Superintendent).
Arranged alphabetically by author's last name.
Contains journals, periodicals and books related to mental illness generally, as well as specifically in Virginia. Advance and Mental Health in Virginia were published by the Virginia Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals respectively. Mental Hygiene Survey was published by the State Hospital Board and Virginia Medical Monthly was published by the Medical Society of Virginia. Also included are a book on Galt family genealogy, a book about the Willard Asylum in New York, and other periodicals unrelated to mental health that were found in the collection.
Arranged alphabetically by name of journal and then chronologically within for those with multiple editions.
Contains two subseries of reports: annual and miscellaneous. The annual reports were produced by the Auditor of Public Accounts, the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals, Eastern State Hospital, the State Hospital Board, and Western Lunatic Asylum. The annual reports contain administrative, financial and operational information for each entity. The miscellaneous reports come from a variety of sources and document particular aspects of the mental health system in Virginia. Topics include progress reports, civil commitment, community services, and general surveys.
Contains annual reports for Eastern State Hospital, Western State Hospital, the State Hospital Board and the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals. Also included is one volume containing the annual report of the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts.
Contains annual report of the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts. Reports contain finanicial information for each state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. All annual reports submitted to the Auditor were compiled into one volume.
Contains annual reports the Virginia Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals. These reports document the year in review for the entire state agency under which the state hospitals operate. The reports often contain statistical and financial information for each institution under its governance, as well.
Arranged chronologically.
Contains annual reports for Eastern State Hospital. The annual reports were submitted to the General Assembly by the Court or Board of Directors every year. The reports were usually compiled by the superintendent and contain financial information as well as patient-related statistics, discussions of medical techniques, equipment or employment needs, patient life, and overall management of the hospital. Also included are annual reports of two units of the hospital, the Medical Records Department and the Occupational Therapy Department. Since this is not a comprehensive collection of annual reports, it may be necessary to look elsewhere for those that are missing. In the earliest years, annual reports for state institutions were part of the rough journals of the House of Delegates (1826-1846). Later, they became part of the Governor's message and annual reports of the public officers of the state (1847-1860s). Annual reports for all of Virginia's state agencies (1860s and beyond) were bound together as "Annual Reports of Officers, Boards and Institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia," (call no. JK3930.A21).
Arranged chronologically.
Contains annual reports and some statistical supplements created by the State Hospital Board. The annual reports contain financial and operational information for the institutions under the oversight of the Board and information about the Board's activities as well. The statistical supplements were meant to accompany the annual reports of the Board. The supplements contain the tables and charts to which the reports refer.
Arranged chronologically.
Contains annual reports for Western State Hospital. The annual reports were submitted to the General Assembly by the Court or Board of Directors every year. The reports were usually compiled by the superintendent and contain financial information as well as patient-related statistics, discussions of medical techniques, equipment or employment needs, patient life, and overall management of the hospital. These reports were most likely maintained by Eastern State Hospital for reference purposes.
Arranged chronologically.
Contains a variety of reports published by several sources. The reports include comprehensive studies of the mental health system in Virginia, progress reports and correction plans, and general surveys. This series also includes reports devoted to community services, civil commitment, and serving the developmentally disabled.
Arranged alphabetically by title of the report.
Contains by-laws, rules and regulations for various aspects of Eastern State Hospital's operation including ward conduct and certain accounting procedures. The by-laws pamphlet contains detailed job descriptions for the hospital's main employees, as does the 1841 pamphlet devoted to rules and regulations. For additional information on employees, please see Series XIII. Personnel Records.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Restricted: in their entirety, photographs featuring patients that are less than 125 years old (no redaction).
Contains scrapbooks created and maintained by an unknown person or office at Eastern State Hospital. Most of the scrapbooks contain only newspaper clippings of articles pertaining to the hospital and pertinent mental health topics. In some cases photographs, event programs and other memorabilia are included in the scrapbooks as well. The scrapbooks are generally in fair condition, though the newspaper is yellowed and brittle. Several scrapbooks were dismantled and put into boxes to prevent further damage. In addition to the general hospital scrapbooks, one scrapbook pertaining to the library and one to the Children's Unit are also available.
Arranged chronologically by date of scrapbook.
Contains a variety of thesis papers, dissertations and projects pertaining to Eastern State Hospital and mental health topics generally. Many of the papers were written using Eastern State and its patients as part of a case study, while others highlight the contribution of Galt family members to the hospital. Other topics include psychopharmacology, schizophrenia, and the admission of children. If the name of the writer's school was available, it was included in the description. Many of the papers were written by students at local universities such as Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.
Arranged alphabetically by the author's last name.