Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Historical Files

Arranged by type of record.

Marcy Division of the Utica State Hospital opened December 4, 1922. Effective July 1, 1931, Marcy Division was established by the legislature (Laws of 1931, Chapter 106) as a separate institution within the Department of Mental Hygiene, known as Marcy State Hospital. On July 1, 1931, 2,086 patients (1,230 men and 856 women) were transferred to Marcy State Hospital from Utica. Patients remaining at Utica numbered 1,764 (856 men, 908 women).

Marcy State Hospital became Marcy Psychiatric Center according to the Laws of 1974, Chapter 558. In 1985, the legislature (Laws of 1985, Chapter 913) amended the Mental Hygiene Law to consolidate the Utica Psychiatric Center and the Marcy Psychiatric Center into one facility, named the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.

B1582-97: This series contains a wide assortment of record types considered to be historical or archival in nature, which were collected by volunteer archivists of Utica State Hospital (later Utica Psychiatric Center). A small amount of records relate to Marcy State Hospital (later Marcy Psychiatric Center). The records were collected and preserved for their historical interest, to provide information to the public, or for research value in the areas of treatments and conditions, patient life, staff life and training, and facility expansion. The records cover a wide array of subjects related to the development, functions, and operations of the institution from its earliest days as the State Lunatic Asylum to its most current identity as Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.

Types of documents include reports of committees to the superintendent; receipts for unclaimed bodies; letters of application; construction specifications; bids, proposals, and contracts; coal estimates; deeds and leases; legal documents; patients' accounts of their experiences; teaching material (lectures); newspaper clippings; photographs; maps; inspection reports; notes on Utica Psychiatric Center history; building descriptions; record disposition schedules; notes on history of psychiatry; brochures; programs; correspondence; audio tapes; and manuals.

Subjects include finance; construction; patient recreation and therapy; staff training; personnel events; history of psychiatry and treatment of the mentally ill; merger of Utica Psychiatric Center and Marcy Psychiatric Center; and past directors.

B1582-98: These historical records contain a variety of record types. A large portion of the records consists of Executive Committee meeting minutes (1977-1985) and files relating to the accreditation of the facility by the Joint Commission of Hospital Accreditation (1961-1986). Other files include photocopies of newspaper clippings of articles related to mental health issues (1987); Marcy State Hospital audit reports (1940-1963); plans and proposal for a new building (1984); minutes of various committees; and minutes of the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center Auxiliary (1982-1996).

B1582-01: This accretion contains twenty scrapbooks created at Utica State Hospital (later Utica Psychiatric Center). One volume pertains specifically to Marcy State Hospital (later Marcy Psychiatric Center). The scrapbooks primarily contain newspaper clippings relating to the facility, its staff, and patients. Notable events such as groundbreakings and the arrival of distinguished visitors are among the topics of the clippings. The scrapbooks also contain numerous programs dealing with many special events at the facility including graduation exercises; visitors' days; medical conferences; Christmas celebrations; May Day festivals; field days; and the laying of corner stones. A small amount of correspondence between staff and newspaper editors is also included (1899-1902). Several volumes contain black and white photographs depicting retirement parties, graduations, field days, and miscellaneous entertainment.

The records were transferred to the State Archives during May-September 1997 from Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center under RDA 19266.

B1582-97: Most of these records were collected by Lyle and Barbara Engell as unofficial archivists for Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center. The exact provenance of individual items is not known, but cursory review indicates segments of material have been maintained as separate collections for considerable time. Some of the records may have been part of the subject files of the superintendent.

Portions of these records 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 New York State Office of Mental Health.