New York State Department of Mental Hygiene Buffalo State Hospital Patient Case Files

Numerical by case book or volume, and therein by sequential patient case number, which corresponds to year of admission.

This accretion consists of official forms and administrative data documenting the admission, legal status, assessments, treatment planning, treatment and discharge of patients to the Buffalo State Hospital (later Buffalo Psychiatric Center).

Casebooks (boxes 1-22) contain bound records pertaining to the admission and treatment of patients at the Buffalo State Hospital from 1881 to 1898. They range from case file #151 to #6449. Included are the official copies of medical certificates which were the evidence of lunacy that allowed commitment of patients to Buffalo. Admission records include patient and family histories and medical histories, and sumaries of medical and psychiatric examiniations given at admission.

Records documenting patient life and care at Buffalo include correspondence between patient and family members, physician and nurse medical reports, summaries of physical and psychiatric examinations, laboratory test results, and information relating to patient discharge. The focus and amount of detail in the records vary over time.

Records which cover the period 1899-1920 (boxes 23-99) consist solely of medical records pertaining to patient care at Buffalo. They range from volume number 51-405 (patient case #6456 to #16389). Black and white photographs of patients are included in later case files.

14231_99 Buffalo Psychiatric Center Patient Case Files contains post-1920 files.

Each volume has a contents page listing patients alphabetically by last name, with case number.

Records 1881-1898 (boxes 1-22): Container list showing inclusive volumes, case numbers, dates, and patient gender.

Records 1898-1920 (boxes 23-99): Container list showing inclusive volume numbers and case numbers.

The records were part of a bulk transfer on October 20,1993. They were more fully processed in1995. Reboxing and a revised container list were done in 1998.

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 of Mental Health.