Dear List Members, Many of the records of Central State Hospital that existed before 1970 were transferred to teh Tennessee State LIbrary and Archives. These records were filmed and preserved by the TSLA. In about 1990/91, when the Hospital finally closed, the records were requested for return to the Middle Tennesee Mental Health Institute--the former Central State. I returned them in 1991/92 or so. The standard response is "they have been destroyed" due to the fact that most folks simply do not know that the older records do exist. Also, medical records of patients in mental hopsitals are specifically closed to general research by state and federal law. You might try contacting the TSLA at (615) 741-2764. But remember, they can't give you access to those records without some sort of court action on your part. You can see other records such as statistical information, types of treatments, etc.. any non-identifyable record. If the Metro Archives can help, please let us know. Ken Fieth Metro Archives