Hi List I noticed on the online NSW BDM quite a few persons in whom I am interested, who had died while in Kenmore Mental Hospital at Goulburn. Does any kind soul happen to know the availability of patient records for this (and other mental institutions) during the early part of the 20th century? I find it very sad that many old folks seemed to have died in institutions - apparently without any family to care about them. Patrick Dominick -- genieaus@yahoo.com.au Canberra, ACT, Australia Tracing descendants of DOMINICK, MCGREGOR, DELANEY, PARSONS, QUIRK, in NSW 1840- FLYNN, HARPER, CASSIDY, HOLMES in Sydney 1920-

Dear Patrick and list-ers, Patrick, you were asking about the records available from Kenmore Mental Hospital: Col and I got an enormous amount of information from Kenmore Mental Hospital, concerning a relative who died there in 1932. Information is certainly available. They have a policy of not releasing info within a certain time frame...not sure now if it was 30 years back or 50.... However, we paid $30 for all of the medical records of our Elizabeth Cummins who died in 1932 and got a STACK of papers, including photocopies of letters sent to her from her daughter [priceless!] and so many snippets like her weight, height, hair colouring, the list of clothes she took with her. Letters from other institutions, which gave a good background of her last ten or so years....family names.....who owned the house, etc... a wealth of information. Kenmore staff were so helpful and the info was sent promptly. Here's their website: http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/asa/directory/data/89.htm best wishes, Juliette Hendry Forbes NSW