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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!
12 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. 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!
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.
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. 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!
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.
Hi Hannah,
Robin
2/22/2020 01:21:59 am
Hi Alexandra,
Hi Robin,
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.
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.
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. Leave a Reply. |
  
Alexandrais an author, blogger, and homeschooling mom of four, giving her excellent credentials to run her own circus one day! 
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