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.