This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bari_burke Surnames: CREEDMOOR STATE:Admissions & history Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.queens/4143.4/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Creedmoor opened for clients shortly before 1910. Everyone who searches INSTITUTIONS: orphanages, psychiatric hospitals,TB hospitals,prisons, etc. should be aware of a few things. Many of these began as small, local, evenly privately owned places (some run by doctors in their own homes),eventually NYS ursurped them. Caroline's story of two commitments to Creedmoor is a sad one, AND it was once easier to have a person committed based on say-so. Over time, laws changed and medical evaluations became necessary, or police reports of irregular behavior & arrests were used to commit a person to any instituton. As one psych hospital advised me about an ancestor in the 1930s: (1) a psychiatric diagnosis of the past may not mean what it means today, and (2) many of yesterday's patients would be treated with prescriptions today, and they would not be institutionalized, but living free. I have to check my books to fully respond to the writer, about books available. 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.