My grandfather was dropped off at a police on Christmas Eve of 1922 and never saw his mother again. The story has stuck with me for my entire life. As a kid, I couldn't imagine never seeing my mom again, and as a mom, I cannot imagine parting with my children. The extenuating circumstances must have been extreme, but they're remained a mystery nearly 100 years later. What we do know is that my great grandmother ended up at Central Islip State Hospital, and presumably died there, though no death certificate has been located. I've been trying to dig and uncover a bit more of the mystery- which sent me looking for her hospital records from Central Islip State Hospital. The hospital was originally opened in 1889 under the name New York City Farm for the Insane, and later became Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, which is still in operation today. All of Central Islip State Hospital records are located in the New York State Archives, series 20200. But, they are locked and sealed due to the New York State Mental Hygiene Law. In order to be granted access, one must write to a letter requesting disclosure to the Office of Mental Health (OMH) at: Health Information Management Unit Pilgrim Psychiatric Center NYS Office of Mental Health 998 Crooked Hill Rd West Brentwood, NY 11717-1087 In the letter, I’ll be including the probable admission time, why we believe she was a patient there, and proof that I am indeed her descendant. These types of records are incredibly personal in nature, even 100 years later, so if they are not able to disclose them, I am asking for a copy of a photo (if available) her place of residents, employment information, next of kin, and any visitor information that might be slightly less confidential. What do you think about the confidentiality and mental health laws as they pertain to genealogical research? Should records be freely available after 100 years? Or kept under lock and key? Tell me your thoughts in the comment section! *Update: When I wrote this post, I had no idea how many other people were looking for records of their loved ones from Central Islip. If you'd like to be updated about this topic, please leave your email below. There's power in numbers, so perhaps all of us together can petition for a breakthrough! [don't worry, unless there's big news, you wont hear from me ... I have far too many kids to send out lots of emails!]
31 Comments
Ali
11/21/2019 02:25:15 pm
Many of my ancestors worked at CI Hospital. My great grandparents did and their parents did! My great x2 aunt came to the US from Ireland in 1892 to work at CI as a nurse. She saved up and wrote to her sisters. Two arrived as a nurse and a seamstress in 1911. The sister that was a seamstress became the supervisor of the sewing room. In 1913, they saved up enough for my great x2 grandmother and her daughter to come work there. Her daughter would meet her husband there. Employees lived on the grounds and in the early days were not allowed to leave except for a few days a month.
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12/18/2019 06:10:37 am
Ali, that's fascinating! It sounds like they would have been there at the same time as my g. Grandmother. I've looked on ancestry, but I'm guessing she's not in the census because she was there for a short time and died, or there's a case of unrecognizable spelling. I hope to take a trip to CI, it seems they have a museum these days!
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Kristin Walker
2/20/2020 04:27:11 pm
This is almost exactly the situation I am in and I have been looking for years to find anything I can about my great grandmother because it haunted my grandmother her whole life that her mom was taken away and then died before she was to come home from Central Islip.
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Pie
12/15/2019 04:54:03 pm
There is a big connection between the hospital and the MKUltra Program in the 50s. Records might be locked for privacy of the individuals - as far as I know only the person can request their own files - but there is a historical of bad practices happened inside this institution that should be unveiled to everyone. I think medical records should be private but when we talk about state institutions experimenting during the dark years they definitely should be released for research and critical purposes.
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12/18/2019 06:01:51 am
Hi Pie! I wasn't familiar with the connection to the MKUltra Program. It bothers me that my g.grandmother was placed there, and never heard from again. But, I still haven't gained permission to access any information from the state archives, so I guess that mystery will remained locked up in Albany!
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Hanna Denmark
2/1/2020 06:31:04 pm
did you ever hear back from them? My great-grandmother was there for years, and I'm trying to find out if she died there.
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Hi Hannah,
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10/8/2020 04:04:33 pm
Hi am Mary Ann I have been looking for my mother for years the last time I seen her was at I believe it was a Brentwood Hospital for people with Tuberculosis and she died there I never seen her again I was 3 years old in 1961 I been looking for her in Ancestry find past myheritage and family search nothing that stands out I have spent money on NY State not nothing what happened to her where is she buried or cremated I need the records I have made phone calls about her some of them people are down right nasty over the phone when I need information about my mother they had there mother and the Hell with mine that should not be like that.her name is Alma Gordon believe to have 24 or 25 years old at time of death believe to be born 1936 in Georgia USA what County i don't know i was born in Paterson nj passaic county in 1958 we moved to Center moriches NY on my Birth certificate it states i have 2 siblings they don't know that they have baby sister and that's me i was raised in foster care until i was 16 i haven't had a easy life it was hard even now at times my wish is someone would please,please,help me find my mother Alma Gordon sign Mary Ann Gordon-Branch Thank you!!
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Robin
2/22/2020 01:21:59 am
Hi Alexandra,
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Hi Robin,
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Andrea Pernikoff
3/1/2020 12:12:05 pm
I'm so glad I found this! My great grandfather was housed there as well. He was later transferred to another hospital in upstate NY. Our family didn't know where he ended up until my son, doing some research, discovered he was there. Family theories included committing suicide due to the depression, leaving for another woman, being killed during a strike, etc. It was a big surprise finding out the truth and no one knew anything (or at least didn't want to discuss it). Am planning to request at least his death record from the Town of Dover.
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Yonah Paley
6/25/2020 12:19:36 pm
Can confirm this (am the son of the poster above)!
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Michael S Makaron
5/9/2020 12:49:02 am
Hi, I've been looking for my GGrandmother's information for quite some time...She was institutionalized at Central Islip Hospital in 1924 and apparently died there in 1950..I was thinking about this tonite 12:44 a.m. and just questioning why was she there for 24 years...and my Grandfather(her son) never ever brought up the subject of his Mother....so I was googling to see if patient records were available and came across your site..glad I did. It's unfortunate that anyone that could have answered these questions I have about her are all dead. I've been doing geneaology/family research for about 40 years and my grandfather's family has been my biggest road block. I wish you luck and would like to hear if you get any information from NY State.
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12/4/2020 02:39:09 pm
Hi Michael,
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Graceanne Bowe
5/21/2020 09:53:47 am
My understanding is that they will release records if the request is sent by a doctor. My g-grandfather was in and out of CI, from at least 1918 to 1925, when he committed suicide there.
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Diane
9/23/2020 01:52:12 pm
I wanted to pass along that I too am searching for my grandmother who died in Pilgrim State Hospital in 1965. I found her through the census records which are available FREE from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
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12/4/2020 02:08:02 pm
Thanks for sharing your finds, Diane! I'm going to go check out the Catholic Burials website to see if they have any info on my GG!
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Samantha
11/25/2020 07:12:59 am
Yes, there was a cemetery on the grounds of the Central Islip state hospital grounds. A small part of it is still preserved by Tuoro Law School.
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kenneth d terry
12/31/2020 06:15:49 am
I worked at both CI and Pilgram. Both had cemetery's on the grounds.
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Brian
11/18/2020 06:49:58 pm
I too belong belong to this group. I have been researching my family history for 40 years the most difficult problem of a grand aunt whose history has been erased by the family. I recently tracked her to the Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital which was noted as the informant on her death certificate. A discussion with a member pointed me to the Health Information Management Unit of Pilgrim Psychiatric Center and the infamous New York Mental Hygiene Law§33.13 I was told most people give up at this point but if there were regular requests they may realize that the law could be amended. This is the letter I wrote. I hope all of you make the effort. Perhaps we can make them see the light. This is the letter I wrote ,,,,
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12/4/2020 02:05:04 pm
Hi Brian,
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Yvonne (Buffman) Cheyney
11/18/2020 07:30:09 pm
Two years ago 2018, through DNA, I discovered that my father's sister named Rebecca (Buffman) Segal, who emigrated to Brookhaven, Long Island, in 1907 age 16 with an aunt and uncle, was at Islip from 1933 until she died 42 years later. I found her surviving son age now 92 now living in Riverhead, Long Island and had a family reunion (we are first cousins). He told me that when he was age 6, 1933, his mother was taken away from the home while he was screaming. He did visit her a few times. Her husband divorced her and remarried. I have visited her grave. She is buried next to one of her daughters. I have been devastated to find out this news of this poor woman. Her aunt and uncle had adopted her as they had no children (her mother died when she was 5). A sad life for a beautiful woman (I have a couple of photographs). I would be very interested to get a medical report and perhaps some pictures. Thanks so much for the lead. Yvonne (Buffman) Cheyney
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12/4/2020 01:59:34 pm
Hi Yvonne,
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REMMY
11/25/2020 12:42:00 am
We have a similar situation with two family members and two different NY asylums. Kings Park and Pilgrims State. I discovered this site—check it out. There are attorneys fighting for these NY records to be made available to us all.
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12/4/2020 01:55:26 pm
I believe Pilgrim State is still operational, have you had any success getting records from them? I hope reclaim the records is successful, there are certainly a lot of us online searching for answers!
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Remmy
11/25/2020 12:53:48 am
These people are fighting to get records released (and NOT stuck behind a paywall). Browse the site. It’s fascinating.
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12/4/2020 01:52:28 pm
Remmy- that's fascinating! Hopefully there's progress soon!
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Nancy
12/5/2020 04:53:46 pm
I am also seeking information. Is there a way to confirm whether someone was a patient at Pilgrim State? My GF passed in 1965 and my mother is now deceased as well. I have no way of confirming if he died there or at another LI hospital. I know where he is buried (not on LI). I am not sure how to obtain his death certificate bc I don’t know the city/town that he died in except that it was Queens, Nassau or Suffolk County. Any thoughts? I heard it is taking over 2 years to order a Cert from Albany. Thanks!
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Chester Green
12/7/2020 07:05:05 am
Hi, Central Islip also operated as a Tuberculosis Center at one time. My 2nd Great Grandfather died there in 1904. Do you know if those records are also sealed and if they are stored with the records of the the Psychiatric Center.
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Alexandrais an author, blogger, and homeschooling mom of four, giving her excellent credentials to run her own circus one day! Archives
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