Friday, December 04, 2009

More Items from the Connecticut Historical Society Library

They've been cataloging cataloging cataloging at the Connecticut Historical Society Library lately, if their blog is any indication. Another recent addition relevant to disability history:

The Retreat for the Insane account book (Account Books/Ms 56441). "Opened in 1824, the Retreat is now Hartford Hospital’s Institute for Living. The account book lists patients from 1824 to 1853. Each patient’s entry contains their name, date of admission, date of discharge, residence, principal on bond, surety on bond, weekly rate for board and medical attendance and by whom payable (bondsman, state, or town), total board, total of other expenses, number of weeks and days spent at the Retreat, and remarks. Remarks included “discharged recovered”, “restored”, “much improved”, and “no improvement”. Additionally, some patients died while still admitted."

Remember, this is a newly cataloged item--so if you're looking for a 19c research project and you're in New England, maybe a visit to Hartford is in order.

1 comment:

Knitting Clio said...

Thanks for posting this. The Connecticut State Library has more records from the Hartford Retreat as well as from Connecticut Valley Hospital.