Mecklenburg County (Va.) Health and Medical Records, 1802-1968

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Health and Medical Records, 1802-1968. Local government records collection, Mecklenburg County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1.7 cubic feet (4 boxes); 1 volume.
Creator:
Mecklenburg County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Health and Medical Records, 1802-1968. Local government records collection, Mecklenburg County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Health and Medical Records 1802-1968, consists of four boxes and one volume of Mental Health Records and one folder of Smallpox Epidemic Records.

Mental Health Records contain commitment papers, 1802-1964 (bulk 1936-1964) and a volume titled, "Record of Persons Adjudged Insane," 1936-1968.

Smallpox Epidemic Records includes one letter dated February 9, 1904, from J.A. Gregory and R.H. Moody to Dr. Leigh as president of the local Board of Health regarding dispatching guards for quarantine or of two households reputed to have smallpox outbreaks.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type:

Mental Health Records may consist of a variety of documents that historically were referred to as "lunacy papers" in the courthouses of Virginia localities and municipalities.

During its session begun in November 1769, the House of Burgesses passed an act establishing a hospital in Williamsburg for the mentally ill. The Eastern Lunatic Asylum (now Eastern State Hospital) was the first institution in America constructed as a mental hospital. The first patients were admitted in October 1773.

By 1792, Virginia's General Assembly enacted very strict laws governing the practice of inoculation. The new act required a license from the county court to administer vaccinations. It also included a penalty of $1,500 or six months' imprisonment for anyone willfully spreading smallpox in a manner other than that specified by the act.

On February 13, 1872, the General Assembly passed legislation to create a State Board of Health made up of 7 physicians appointed by the Governor. The Board was responsible for communicating with local boards of health, the hospitals, asylums and public institutions across the state. Local boards of health had been established in some cities as early as 1780 (Petersburg). The local and state boards made sanitary investigations regarding disease outbreaks such as smallpox or scarlet fever, documented sources of mortality, and any other information deemed relevant to public health. The local boards gathered information and reported to the state board. The State Board of Health also acted as an advisory board to the state in all hygienic and medical matters concerning the location, construction, sewerage, and administration of hospitals, prisons, asylums, and other public institutions.

Locality History:

Mecklenburg County was named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Stralitz, consort of King George III. The county was formed from Lunenburg County in 1764.

Acquisition information:
This collection came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Mecklenburg County Circuit Court.
Processing information:

Encoded be T. Harter: 2021; Edited by V. Brooks: August 2026.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I: Health and Medical Records, 1802-1968

Chronological.