Correspondence, 1825-1942.

Scope and content:

Contains mostly incoming letters addressed to the hospital superintendent. Some draft copies of outgoing letters are also present and are filed according to the last name of the recipient. Several different types of letters are included in the correspondence. For the most part, the material is in the form of letters from concerned friends and family members in regard to the conditions of specific patients. However, many of the letters in this subseries are in the form of patient applications from private citizens and jailors needing to place an insane person. In the earliest years of correspondence, the superintendent wrote "no vacancy" on the original request, if there was no room to house the patient. Researchers may find some physician's reports about patients in the correspondence, since many were sent to the superintendent as letters. The physicians would often answer the same questions found on the interrogatories in the commitment papers. Researchers should note that commitment papers can be found in Series IV. Patient Records, Subseries D. Commitment Papers.

In some cases, the letters are written directly to the patient. Letters sent to inmates from outsiders appear to have been screened by the superintendent. He deemed whether the patient could have the letter or not, whether family members should continue writing, and whether patients could write back. Notable letters include, James K. Dabney's letter to Governor James L. Kemper accusing the hospital of false imprisonment (Box 51, Folder 5), a letter from a man by the last name of Halyburton who wrote to his mother about rotten food served to patients (Box 51, Folder 10), and notes written by Thomas R. Evans to the hospital superintendent complaining of various problems and poor treatment (Box 51, Folder 6). In other cases, former patients wrote to the superintendent, such as a man named John Jones of Hanover County, who accuses the hospital and its doctors, and many other organizations and people of grievious wrongdoing (Box 25, Folder 18), (Box 29, Folder 4) and (Box 30, Folder 18).

There are many topics of particular historical interest featured in the correspondence files. Information on building construction is featured sporadically throughout. The 1825 folder contains several documents related to the construction of Western State, accompanied by a detailed sketch of the building and its dimensions (Box 19, Folder 2). Additionally, the entire 1890 folder of correspondence revolves around the construction of a new building (Box 61, Folder 22).

Also included are many letters are from various Virginia politicians, mostly members of the General Assembly or the Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts, which pertain to money issues and legislation affecting Western State Hospital. Letters from the Auditor's office can be found interpersed throughout the folders from 1836, 1840, and 1841. Letters from legislators and those interested in hospital affairs can be found in (Box 20, Folder 17), (Box 34, Folders 19-20), (Box 35, Folders 7-9), (Box 36, Folders 18-19), (Box 41, Folder 14), (Box 50, Folder 25) and (Box 51, Folders 1-2). Letters from various Virginia governors such as Governor Westmoreland Davis (Box 62, Folder 7), Governor E. Lee Trinkle (Box 62, Folder 8 and Box 62, Folder 12), Governor Harry F. Byrd (Box 62, Folder 10; Box 62, Folder 11; Box 62, Folder 13; and Box 62, Folder 21), Governor George C. Peery (Box 62, Folder 20), as well as Governors James H. Price and Colgate W. Darden, Jr. (Box 62, Folder 21). Many of the letters are thank-you notes or congratulatory in nature. Also included in the post-1900 correspondence is discussion of budgetary matters (Box 62, Folder 8).

Correspondence during the Civil War years is sparse, but the volume greatly increases in the years following the war. The letters from 1865-67 show the economic downturn many Virginians faced, and it appears that there was an increase in the number of letters of application. Notable letters include those written by John R. Edmunds who wrote about the unsettled relations between the black and white populations (Box 43, Folder 4), and by a former slave named Harrison Kyle who wrote to the superintendent to inquire about the condition of his former owner (Box 43, Folder 12). A letter written by Dr. D. Lamatin from Howard's Grove Hospital in Richmond wrote to Dr. Francis Stribling for information that might help him establish a new hospital for blacks (Box 44, Folder 21). That institution would later become known as Central State Hospital. Also of note is a letter from Dr. Martin P. Scott who wrote seeking evidence to prove that emancipation caused an increase in African American insanity (Box 55, Folder 24). For information on John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, please see letters written by James M. Hite (Box 38, Folder 9) and John Q. Marr (Box 38, Folder 17). In the letters Hite discusses the incident in terms of government response, while Marr wrote about the public's response, both white and black.

Another topic of interest is the correspondence between the superintendents of Western Lunatic Asylum and Eastern Lunatic Asylum in Williamsburg. Robert M. Garrett, a former superintendent of Eastern State wrote to Dr. Stribling about his ouster from office and illegal actions taken by the Board of Directors (Box 43, Folder 7). In another letter, Dr. C.S. Mills describes the suicide death of Garrett's successor, Dr. Peticolas (Box 43, Folder 14). In a letter to Dr. Stribling written by Dr. D.R. Brower of Eastern, it is revealed that many of the "books and most of the record of the asylum [Eastern State Hospital] had been scattered to the four winds," (Box 44, Folder 8). Additionally, the folder of 1892 correspondence contains letters between Eastern and Western administrators that touch on unhappy employees, fees, and the presence of inebriates at the hospitals (Box 61, Folder 23).

There are several unexplained gaps within the superintendent's correspondence. In some cases, the gaps are alphabetical, in others the gaps are chronological. Generally, the quantity of letters diminishes after 1879. The correspondence after 1900 focuses less on patients and family members, and more on business practices, policies and budgetary matters. The correspondence is arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically within. However, there is no order within the folder(s) associated with a particular letter of the alphabet. Letters with illegible or missing names are filed in the last folder of the year in which they were written. Researchers should note that additional correspondence files dating from 1907 to 1944 are located separately from the general superintendent's correspondence, but also in this subseries, under the heading of Superintendent's Correspondence Files: Dr. Joseph S. DeJarnette.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically within.

Access and use

Contents