My name is Mary. I had an uncle who was upstate in a drug and alcohol hospital from 1920 and in 1930 he was still there. I wrote to the people, and they told me the same thing. I had to be a close relative or had to have the Doctor request it. My son has a mental illness, but is on good meds and I wanted to know because of his illness. This man was my Fathers cousin (1st). I'm still looking for info. All I know it was in Seneca NY, and they also closed the facility. There is always red tape to find what you are looking for. Good luck bdfarrell@aol.com -----Original Message----- From: nyqueens-request <nyqueens-request@rootsweb.com> To: nyqueens <nyqueens@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sat, Jun 23, 2012 12:30 am Subject: NYQUEENS Digest, Vol 7, Issue 120 Today's Topics: 1. Re: Creedmoor State Hospital (gc-gateway@rootsweb.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2012 01:14:40 -0000 From: "gc-gateway@rootsweb.com" <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [NYQUEENS] Creedmoor State Hospital To: <NYQUEENS-L@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <1340413748.138371@rootsweb.com> Content-Type: text/plain; This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: crumbcake13 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.queens/4143.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Caroline, I just received my great grandmother's death certificate yday and found out she died in Creedmore. I am going to do more research in finding out more information. IN the meanwhile read below: And after a year of looking for my great great grandfather I finally found him in Central Islip State Hospital. He was in there for just about 19 years. He left behind a wife and 5 children. So I have two relatives from different parts of the family who died in a State Hospital. I can tell you what I've learned so far, based on my research with Central Islip State Hospital. There is a book about the four state hospitals: Kings Park, Central Islip, Pilgrim and Edgewood It's called The Farm Colonies: Caring for New York City's Mentally Ill in Long Island's State Hospitals by Leo Polaski it has over 250 pictures and gives a much different insight in to what went on inside these hospitals compared to the stigma that is attached to them. The book isn't in publication anymore, but I found I was able to purchase it from the Kings Park Historical Museum (they have brand new copies) and they sell for like $12.00. On Ebay there was one that was up for auction for like $80.00! Their website isn't up anymore but here is their phone number: 631-269-3305 It's worth it just for the pictures alone. As for trying to obtain their medical records that's a whole other story. Each state is different in their laws, but I have read on several forums that people have received their deceased relatives medical files and there were pictures and letters etc in the file, of course that was in another state and not New York. Pilgrim Psychiatric Hospital apparently has all the files of Central Islip, King Park and I believe Edgewood. My great great grandfather died there in 1919. I called Pilgrim and left a message for someone in the records department and that I was interested in obtaining my great great grandfather's records. First thing the next morning I received a call and was told to send a letter and proof of relationship to the person who was in charge. So of course I was so excited. I kept thinking that I was going to get this big file in the mail. After about a month I received a letter from the Office of Mental Health (OMH)explaining about the privacy laws and HIPPA laws and they are still in place even though the person is deceased etc. If that was the case I don't understand why the woman who called me had me do all of this to be shut down. So I did more research. On the Office of Mental Health website it states if you are the executor of the deceased patient's estate the records can be released to that person. Or if it medically pertains to your own health you can also have your doctor file a request and they will send your Dr. what they feel is relevant to your health. I can actually go that route since I do suffer from depression/bipolar but I want the whole file. This is my plan of action and I beleive it can be done. Because I read a few people did it in other states. First I just sent for a certified copy of his death certificate, which I'm not sure they will send me because you have to be a child or spouse, I don't think great great grandchildren count, but who knows. I received my great grandmother's death certificate yday and hers was certified. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In the meantime, since I live out of state, I have a girlfriend of mine who is going to get copies of his will which should be filed in the same town where he died. Once I get that will (I assume there is one) I will be able to see who the executor was, obviously that person is dead now. With a copy of the Will and his certified death certificate I can file to become "Voluntary Executor or Administrator" which is supposed to only take a matter of minutes to get done. Boom now I am the executor of his estate. With that paper work I can now go file with OMH and request the records again and they should send me the file. Keep in mind that he died in 1919 and even my aunts and uncles didn't know this man or even knew that he died in a state hospital. This is all news to them. Apparently it's a very easy process once you can get everything you need. So keep your fingers crossed and I will keep you posted. I hope this has helped you! Thank you Kimberly Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. ------------------------------ To contact the NYQUEENS list administrator, send an email to NYQUEENS-admin@rootsweb.com. To post a message to the NYQUEENS mailing list, send an email to NYQUEENS@rootsweb.com. __________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NYQUEENS-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" without the quotes in the subject and the body of the email with no additional text. End of NYQUEENS Digest, Vol 7, Issue 120 ****************************************