Building plans and drawings for the New York State Idiot Asylum
Series Number
B1643
Summary
An 1851 law provided for the state to undertake the care and teaching of "idiots" (the contemporary term for people with certain developmental disabilities). The New York State Asylum for Idiots, with a capacity for 100 residents, was completed on August 10, 1855. The series consists of 19th century watercolor renderings and pencil and ink drawings of the original building. The asylum was the first public facility in the nation for the care and treatment of persons with mental retardation.
Creator
Syracuse State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children
Access Restrictions
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