A Guide to the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts - Eastern State Hospital Records, 1800-1876
Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts - Eastern State Hospital records, 1800-1876
APA 128
A Collection in the Library of Virginia
Accession Number APA 128
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 USA Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference) Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference) Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives) URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
Virginia. Auditor of Public Accounts (1776-1928). Eastern State Hospital records, 1800-1876. Accession APA 128. State government
records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Transferred from the Auditor of Public Accounts in 1913.
During its session begun in November 1769, the House of Burgesses passed an act establishing a hospital in Williamsburg for
the mentally ill. The Eastern Lunatic Asylum (now Eastern State Hospital) was the first institution in America constructed
as a mental hospital. The first patients were admitted in October 1773. By the mid 1960s the hospital had outgrown its location
and moved west of Williamsburg. Today the hospital operates as a museum about the treatment of mental illness.
Records, 1800-1876, including accounts and receipts, lists of patients, pay patient fund accounts, reports, vouchers, and
warrants of the Eastern State Hospital located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The bulk of the records relate to the expenses for
running and maintaining the hospital and inmates. The accounts and receipts and vouchers, 1803-1876, detail purchases of materials
(timber, rail, nails), food (beef, veal, sugar, molasses, butter), salaries of the keepers and doctors, hire of slaves, transportation
costs to jailers for bringing patients to the hospital, clothing, repairs to the building, purchase of furniture, and other
sundry items. Of note are the oversize pay rolls, 1871 June-November, for officers and employees, including name, job title,
and salary. There is much overlap between the accounts and receipts and vouchers so researchers should check all folders for
pertinent information.
Of note are the lists of patients, 1800-1838, which include the patients name, residence, dates of commitment, and some include
an inventory and estate value of patients. The Pay Patient Fund, 1858-1862, are accounts for those patients who paid for their
own care at the hospital. Also of note are the Reports of the Board of Directors, 1823-1838, to the General Assembly. The
reports include financial information as well as names of patients. Also included are warrants, 1858-1862, transferring money
from the Auditor of Public Accounts to the hospital.
For additional information and records please see the Eastern State Hospital Records, 1770-2009 (LVA Accession 23459).