This is the former "insane asylum" at Weston, WV: William R Sharpe Jr Hospital Weston, WV 26452 (304) 269-1210 I hear from someone on another list that there was supposedly another asylum at Fairmont, WV. If so, I suspect that one may have later been changed to Fairmont Emergency Hospital and then Fairmont General Hospital. There may have been other possible hospital locations. Strict laws governing the release of psychiatric records make it impossible for anyone to simply view lists of patients, regardless of how old the records are. In fact, even if you know the name of the patient, they are not allowed to even confirm the fact he was ever there unless you can present an overwhelming reason of necessity to a Judge of the Circuit Court and get a Court Order. If these records are important to you (for family medical history), you'll have to narrow down the name of the patient first and then file a Petition with the Court. I've already been through this (successfully) and will be glad to help out (privately) if you wish. Having no idea of the source of the quote you offered about the patient you seek, I'd like to offer two thoughts for everyone when you hear reports of an ancestor that was institutionalized in an "insane" asylum: 1. Keep in mind how little was known in the field of psychiatry back then, and that many people were "put away" for a wide variety of reasons which may or may not have been linked to actual mental illness...many which (for better or worse) would not be institutionalized today. (Obviously, your ggg-uncle, a physician, didn't become "insane" just from the use of tobacco...yet the quote would indicate he may have had a serious problem.) 2. In light of today's knowledge in the field of psychiatry, a history of mental illness in a family a century ago may explain the various family members since then who may never have been declared mentally ill but have had "significant difficulties" living their lives successfully. It's unfortunate that the same laws that are meant to protect individuals and relations from the stigmas and repurcussions associated with mental illness (still present, though not as bad today) make it so difficult for descendants to have a vital part of their family medical history...especially with the knowledge that many mental illnesses can be hereditary, and many can also be successfully treated. Good Luck. Diane John Ballard wrote: > Does anyone know where the 19th-Century records of Weston Asylum are > kept? I've found a reference in the 1890s to a brother of my > gggfather claiming that he, "a successful physician, by the use of > tobacco, became insane, and is now a hopeless wreck in an insane > asylum in West Virginia." I can't identify this unnamed brother and > would like to be able to check lists of patients. > > > Historic Asylums > > The Vanishing State Hospitals and Insane Asylums of America > >I found another link to the site: Below > > > >http://members.dencity.com/asylums/ > > > >Kim > > ============================== > Visit ROOTS-L, the Internet's oldest and largest genealogical > mailing list: > http://www.rootsweb.com/roots-l/