Willard Psychiatric Center Newsletters

B1453-96: Arranged by title of newsletter.

B1453-19: Chronological.

This series consists of newsletters produced by the Willard State Hospital (later Willard Psychiatric Center) to document hospital activities and to provide information of interest to the local community as well as to patients and staff of the hospital. Most of the material in the series was produced by hospital staff.

"The Seneca Echo" (1957-1959) was published by the Willard Chapter of the Civil Service Employee Association and consists of stapled mimeographed 8.5 x 11" sheets. Its various contents include articles on treatment of mental illness; reports of meetings; advertisements for local businesses; and announcements of events such as retirements, births, and marriages.

"The Window" (1963-1977), established February 1963 by the Recreational Unit, was published monthly in mimeographed form, and contains a variety of articles, announcements, and other contributions from various hospital departments, staff members, and patients as well as advertisements for local businesses. Beginning January 1970, "The Window" was printed by offset process as a tabloid with photographs and was included as a regular section of "The Ovid Gazette" newspaper.

"Willard News and Views" (1979-1980) consists of stapled mimeographed sheets and contains submissions of personal interest to staff and patients (recipes, retirement, wedding, and birth announcements; poetry, etc.) from hospital units and individual staff members. It contains no advertisements.

Also contained in the series are instructions to "The Window" reporters, distribution lists, and draft articles.

B1453-19: This accretion contains copies of newsletters sent to the director of Willard Psychiatric Center. These newsletters were published by organizations such as the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled and the New York State Department of Health. Records relate to such subjects as living conditions at state hospitals, quality of care, and fire safety.

B1540Series B1540, Issues of "Marcy News," Marcy Psychiatric Center Newsletter, 1968-1976

B1922Series B1922, Middletown Psychiatric Center Newsletters, 1935-2002

B1585Series B1585, Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Newsletters, 1957-1994, and

B1480Series B1480, "The Opal" Patient Newsletter, 1851-1860, all contain newsletters of mental health institutions.

B1453-96: These records were transferred to the State Archives in April 1995 at the time of the closing of Willard Psychiatric Center.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.