New York State Department of Health Bureau of Tuberculosis Control Tuberculosis Hospital Policy and Administration Files

Alphabetical by hospital name in Part 1, State Government Administration Files; by county name in Part 2, County and Local Tuberculosis Hospital Files; and by subject in Part 3, State Tuberculosis Hospitals Files.

The history of tuberculosis hospitals in New York is partially detailed in this series containing correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, bulletins, legal documents, press releases, and newspaper clippings from 1905 through 1975. The series reflects the Department's function of protecting public health through its supervision and funding of State hospitals in general, and the Bureau's superintendence of tuberculosis hospitals in particular.

The first topical file, State Government Administration Files, 1909-1967, documents State policy on, and aid for, tuberculosis control. The State also oversaw private hospitals and boarding homes which cared for tuberculosis victims. Included are annual inventories of tuberculosis hospitals listing bed capacity, annual number of patient admissions and discharges, average length of stay, average daily census, and other services provided.

The second topical file, County and Local Tuberculosis Hospitals Files, 1905-1972, illustrates the State's supervisory relationship with local tuberculosis hospitals including assisting with the location, construction, and administration of the hospitals, in addition to facilitating equipment sharing and conducting inspections.

The third topical file, State Tuberculosis Hospitals Files, 1909-1975, documents the construction, maintenance and closing of Mt. Morris, Homer Folks, Ray Brook, and Onondaga Hospitals, including equipment and plant needs, budget and personnel concerns, superintendents' reports, and monthly patient counts. The first three hospitals were State established; Onondaga was a county hospital of which the State assumed control. Of note within this section is an incomplete case file concerning racial discrimination charges made in 1937 by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at Mt. Morris Hospital. The NAACP attorney was Thurgood Marshall, who later became an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court.

Microform is available at the New York State Archives through interlibrary loan. Microfilm reels 5-12 are restricted and not available for interlibrary loan.

Records in boxes 3-6 contain some personal information that is restricted.