New York State Office of Mental Health Photographic Material

Numerical.

This series contains photographic material from three Long Island state mental hospitals. The series is made up of both black-and-white photographs and negatives. There is no date range associated with the photographic material, which documents Pilgrim State Hospital, Central Islip State Hospital, and Kings Park State Hospital. The photographs and negatives depict facilities, buildings, staff, patients, and other subjects.

B1973Series B1973, New York State Office of Mental Health Subject Files, and

B1975Series B1975, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene Plans, contain additional records on Central Islip, Kings Park, and Pilgrim State Hospitals acquired by author Leo Polaski.

Container list is available at the repository.

This series was part of a transfer of records from Hofstra University on Long Island to the New York State Archives. Hofstra University received the collection from Leo Polaski, who donated the material in sections starting in 2003. It is uncertain from what sources Mr. Polaski acquired or salvaged these records, which he ultimately used to publish a book entitled The Farm Colonies: Caring for New York City's Mentally Ill in Long Island's State Hospitals. The arrangement of the collection was maintained by Hofstra University as it was received from Mr. Polaski.

Photographs and negatives depicting patients are 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.