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Records of the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE

Series Descriptions

Danville State Hospital

Pennsylvania Legislative Act 90 passed on April 13, 1868 authorized acquisition of land and construction of the Danville State Hospital in Danville and Act 54 of March 27, 1873 established a governing board. As of 1998, Danville State Hospital is still in operation.

Accounts Payable Book,
1895-1913.
(1 volume)

{Series #23.13}

Grouped by name of supplier, and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of purchase.

A record of goods and services purchased by the Danville State Hospital from individuals and companies. Information provided about each purchase includes date of purchase, amount charged, amount paid and voucher number.

Admission Paper Copies,
1884-1889.
(5 volumes)

{series #23.14} [RESTRICTED]

Arranged numerically by register numbers, which were assigned chronologically.

The Lunacy Law of 1883 stipulated that two physicians sign the admission papers of a patient and examine the patient within two weeks of admission to the hospital. A magistrate confirmed that the signatures were valid. One part of the form was signed by the doctors and the magistrate or judicial officer who authorized the patient's admission and gives the patient's name, township and county of residence. The second part of the admission form gives the patient's name, age, gender, place of residence, occupation, and the names of parents, spouse, children, brothers or sisters, or any other relations if none of the preceding names were available. Also present is descripyion of when symptoms of insanity first began, the circumstances that supposedly caused the insanity, the name of the medical attendants who took care of the patient in the past year, and information about the person who signed to have the patient admitted.

Agreements,
1887-1890.
(1 volume)

{series #23.15}

Arranged chronologically by date of agreement.

Employment agreements signed by men and women hired as attendants for Danville State Hospital. The agreements were intended to put employees on notice that they were not to neglect or maltreat patients and that they should report such behavior to their supervisors. The agreements also specified that a portion of their salary would be forfeited if they left before their probation time was up, that they would be paid in the middle of the month, and that they would forfeit any money owed them if they left without giving two weeks notice.

Alphabetical Register of Female Patients,
[ca. 1886-1926]
(2 volumes)

{series #23.16} [RESTRICTED]

Grouped by the first letter of last name.

Alphabetical register of female patients giving name of patient, register number in Female Admission Registers, 1884-1923 {series #23.24}; name, address, and county of the person to be notified; the name address and county of the person who was financially responsible for the patient; the date of discharge and any remarks.

Alphabetical Register of Male Patients,
[ca. 1886-1926]
(3 volumes)

{series #23.17} [RESTRICTED]

Grouped by the first letter of last name.

Alphabetical register giveing name of patient, register number in Male Admission Register, 1884-1923 {series #23.35}; name, address, and county of the person to be notified; the name address and county of the person who was financially responsible for the patient; the date of discharge and any remarks.

Construction and Improvement Account Operating Ledger,
1926-1927 and undated.
(1 volume)

{series #23.18}

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Ledger detailing expenses connected with construction and improvements made to the Danville State Hospital. Dated entries provide the amount and a brief description of the nature of the expenditures.

County Registers,
1872-1923.
(2 volumes)

{series #23.19}

Arranged alphabetically by county.

Register containing the names of persons responsible for a patient's support. Information provided includes the name of the responsible person, the type of patient support (private, pauper, Common Pleas, or Quarter Sessions), register number in Female Admission Registers, 1884-1923 {series #23.24} or Male Admission Register, 1884-1923 {series #23.34}, and the name of the patient.

Court Commitment Books,
1884-1924.
(3 volumes)

{series #23.20} [RESTRICTED]

Arranged numerically by register numbers found in the Female Admission Register, 1884-1923 {series #23.24} or Male Admission Register, 1884-1923 {series #23.34}.

Copies of commitment papers from the Court of Common Pleas or Quarter Sessions that committed patients to Danville State Hospital and named persons responsible to pay their keep.

Daily Report Books of Male and Female Wards,
1879-1956.
(11 volumes)

{series #23.21}

Arranged chronologically by date of report.

Reports on morning and afternoon activities in the patient wards. Each category records the number of patients engaged in an activity. Activities listed for persons under the "occupied" category include: out on parole, riding, attending church in town, to the conservatory, out walking, in airing court, sewing room, laundry, kitchen, ward work, reading and writing, sewing, indoor and outdoor games, and other. "Unoccupied" categories include: sickness, unwillingness or unfavorable weather. Other categories are: in bed during the day; wet and dirty during the day; wet and dirty during the night; secluded; restrained; or at chapel. Later volumes starting in the 1920s include restraint and seclusion divided by gender, ball games, dances, chapel, movies, farm and garden, domestic work, and O.T. (occupational therapy) in ward or shop.

Employees' Payroll Books,
1873-1924.
(7 volumes)

{series #23.22}

Arranged chronologically by month.

A record of salaries and wages paid to employees at Danville State Hospital. For later years see also the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 {series #23.43}. Information provided includes name of employee, kind of work, dates worked, pay per month, amount of pay, and signature of payee.

Female Attendants' Payroll Books,
1890-1917.
(2 volumes)

{series #23.23}

Arranged chronologically by month.

Records documenting salaries and wages paid to employees at Danville State Hospital. For later years see also the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 {series #23.43}. Information provided includes name of employee, types of work, dates worked, pay per month, amount, and signature of payee. Types of positions documented include attendant, supervisor, assistant supervisor, night watch, nurse and attendant.

Female Admission Registers,
1884-1923.
(2 volumes)

{series #23.24} [RESTRICTED]

Arranged chronologically by date of admission.

Indexed externally, alphabetically by surname of patient in Alphabetical Register of Female Patients, [ca. 1886-1926] {series #23.16}.

These volumes document the admissions of female patients into Danville State Hospital. Information given about each patient includes name, age, marital status, color (white, black, mulatto) and occupation; county of residence and country or state of birth; number of children and number of siblings; admission number, any previous admission numbers, census of hospital at the time of admission, and admission date. Commitment information includes name of payee, by whom committed (friends, court, or overseer of the poor); whether an insane convict or criminally insane; bodily condition; name of physical disorder, if any; name of mental disorder; supposed cause of insanity; complications (epileptic, suicidal, homicidal, idiot, paralytic, imbecile); duration of attack in years, months and days; and number of attacks and age of first attack. Register also provides information on the date of discharge and reason (death, restored, improved, not improved); cause of death; the number of years, months, days in hospital; the names of relatives also suffering symptoms of insanity; and remarks.

General Indexes to Patient Ledgers,
1882-1921.
(9 volumes)

{series #23.25}

Index was created to monitor the county and poor district's debt and payment to the Hospital. For each county or poor district, the patients for whom they were financially responsible for are shown together with the page number in the ledger and the quarterly or monthly dates. For each quarter the patient was in the hospital a check mark was entered and if their account was paid two slash marks were placed through the check mark. If the patient left the hospital, the account states "pd" if the account was paid in full. Some accounts show the date when the patient left the hospital and some accounts contain entries for both public and private patients. Private patients have numbers listed that could be the amount they owed.

Index to Ledgers for Private Patients,
undated.
(2 volumes)

{series #23.26}

Arranged in alphabetical order by patient surname.

Index to the series Ledgers for Private Patients, 1885-1921 {series #23.30}. Each entry contains the patient's last and first name and the page number of ledger in which his or her name appears. Only patients who paid for their own keep at the hospital are listed.

Index to Patient Ledgers,
undated.
(22 volumes)

{series #23.27}

Arranged in alphabetical order by surname.

An index to the series Patient Ledgers, 1872-1921 {series #23.40}. Each entry contains the first and last name of the patient and the page number of ledger in which his or her name appears.

Journal,
1895-1912.
(1 volume)

{series #23.28}

Grouped randomly by name of the account, and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of transaction.

Accounts include Treasurer of the Commonwealth, maintenance, product sales, nurse's home, cow crib, etc. Information provided for each account includes the date of the transaction, the nature of the transaction, the date of payment, how payment occurred (cash, deduction, etc.) and the amount paid.

Ledger,
1870-1878.
(1 volume)

{series #23.29}

Grouped randomly by account, and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of transaction.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by account name.

This appears to be a ledger for the construction of buildings, since most of the accounts are for flagging, stone, timber and coal tar. Information provided about each transaction includes the date, nature of the transaction, and the amount shown in the debit or credit column. Accounts are totaled at the bottom to reconcile debits and credits

. Ledgers for Private Patients,
1885-1921.
(2 volumes)

{series #23.30}

Grouped randomly by account and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of transaction.

Indexed externally, alphabetically by patients' surname in the Index to Ledgers for Private Patients, undated {series #23.26}.

A record of private patient accounts. Information provided includes name of payee, dates that expenses were incurred and payments were made, and occasional reconciliation of the two categories.

Mail Book,
1963-1969.
(1 volume)

{series #23.31}

Unarranged.

A record of mail delivered to the male ward. Entries list date, room number, name of patient, and the attendant's signature. Many entries note "special delivery" or "insured package." The volume is incorrectly identified as a male roll book printed on the binding.

Male Attendants' Payroll Books,
1890-1921.
(3 volumes)

{series #23.32}

Arranged chronologically by month.

A predecessor to the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 {series #23.43}. Information provided about each employee includes name, kind of work, dates worked, normal pay per month, amount actually paid, and signature of payee. Types of positions documented include supervisor, assistant supervisor, night watch, nurse and attendant.

Male Case Index Book,
undated.
(1 volume)

{series #23.33}

Arranged alphabetically by name of patient.

Information provided includes a list of each male patient's name and a referencing page number of an unspecified book.
**Unprocessed materials in this series include: accession #2189, undated (1 volume)**

Male Nurses' Payroll Book,
1921-1923.
(1 volume)

{series #23.34}

Arranged chronologically by month.

This series was a predecessor to the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 {series #23.43}. Lists name of employee, kind of work, dates worked, pay per month, amount actually paid, and signature of payee. The actual title on volume is: "Men Nurses Pay Roll."

Male Admission Register,
1884-1923.
(1 volume)

{series #23.35}

Arranged by date of admission.

Indexed externally, alphabetically by surname of patient in Alphabetical Register of Male Patients, [ca. 1886-1926] {series #23.17}.

These volumes document the admissions of male patients into Danville State Hospital. Entries list the admission number, any previous admission numbers, census of the hospital at the time of admission, and admission date of the patient. Patient's name, age, marital status, color (white, black, mulatto), county of residence, country or state of birth, number of children, number of brothers and/or sisters, and occupation are also included. Commitment information includes the name of the person responsible for payment; whether committed by friends, court, or overseer of the poor; whether an insane convict or criminally insane; bodily condition; nature of any physical disorder; nature of mental disorder; supposed cause of insanity; stopped cause of insanity; complications (epileptic, suicidal, homicidal, idiot, paralytic, imbecile); duration of attack in years, months and days; number of attacks; and age of first attack. Register also provides information on the date of discharge and reason (death, restored, improved, not improved), cause of death where applicable, number of years, months and days in the hospital, names of relatives that are insane and remarks.

Mechanics' Payroll Book,
1920-1923.
(1 volume)

{series #23.36}

Arranged chronologically by month.

This series was a predecessor to the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 {series #23.43}. Lists name of employee, position, dates worked, pay per month, actual amount paid, and signature of payee. Positions documented include tinner, weaver, printer, laborer, bricklayer and carpenter.

Medical Journals,
1884-1917.
(7 volumes)

{series #23.37} [RESTRICTED]

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Each page of this volume contains a single entry documenting the following patient statistics: population, including indigent and private; number employed; number restrained; number secluded; number under medical treatment; and death, injuries and violence. These appear to have been compiled monthly and are separated by gender. The remainder of the page provides information on the treatment of patients including name, date, reason for restraint, type of restraint and length of time, or reason for seclusion and length of time. Most patients were secluded because they were homicidal and were restrained for medical reasons to prevent self injury or excitement.

Minute Book of the Medical Board of the Hospital for the Insane,
1896-1922.
(1 volume)

{series #23.38} [RESTRICTED]

Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.

The Medical Board consisted of members of the medical staff. Minutes document who was present at each meeting, medical diseases circulating around the hospital, and the admission policy for the training school for attendants. Other items included are a review of papers from the Pennsylvania Medical Society Annual Meeting and a statistical report on prostitutes. Most entries at the end of the volume mention the Board's review of cases for diagnosis, furlough and remission of diagnosis. Occasionally patient names are mentioned.

Officers' Payroll Book,
1920-1923.
(1 volume)

{series #23.39}

Arranged chronologically by month.

This series was a predecessor to the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 {series #23.43}. Entries list name of employee, position, dates worked, the amount of pay per month, the amount actually paid, and the signature of payee.

Patient Ledgers,
1872-1921.
(23 volumes)

{series #23.40}

Grouped randomly by account and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of transaction.

Indexed externally, alphabetically by surname of patient in the Index to Patient Ledgers, undated {series #23.27}.

Accounts are primarily attributed to the poor district or various courts. Information provided includes the name of the account, the name of each patient that the poor district or court was responsible for, date of entry, the expense incurred the bill was paid, and the date of payment.

Patient Population Record Book,
1930-1953.
(1 volume)

{series #23.41}

Arranged chronologically by date of entry.

Record was created to maintain a daily account of the patient population at Danville State Hospital. Information provided for each patient includes name and number; date of entry; county or poor district providing support; and check marks that indicate whether the activity recorded was an admission, furlough, escape or parole, return, transfer, death, discharge from connected furlough or parole, or direct discharge. Statistics of the day include totals for the following categories: admissions or commitments, returns, transfers and direct discharges, deaths, furlough or parole, discharges from furlough and paroles, corrected furloughs and parole and corrected census.

Patient Register and Record of Burial Plots,
1872-1884.
(1 volume)

{series #23.42} [RESTRICTED]

Arranged numerically by patient number.

Although the spine of the volume says "this is a burial plot record," it actually contains similar information to that found in the Male Admission Register, 1884-1923 {series #23.35} and Female Admission Registers, 1884-1923 {series #23.24}. Information provided for each patient includes register number, name, sex, color, age, place of birth, residence, occupation, and marital status. Information on each patient's condition includes who committed (court order, friend) and who paid for keep, cause and form of insanity, names of any insane relatives, any complications, number of attacks and admissions, and the duration of attacks before admission. Information regarding release includes date of discharge, type of discharge, time in hospital, by whom patient was removed, and remarks. At the end of the volume is a diagram of burial plots from approximately 1872 to 1937 showing the grid location where each deceased patient was buried, their name, when they died and when they were buried. Some entries also note whether deceased patients were veterans or if their bodies were removed.

Payroll Record Books,
1924-1938 & undated.
(5 volumes)

{series #23.43}

Arranged chronologically by date of pay.

This series documents the payroll for all employees at Danville State Hospital. Information provided for each employee includes name, total amount earned and deductions, net amount actually paid, time worked, check number and position. Some entries also give the state retirement rate, function codes and the classification title.

Record Book of Female and Male Epileptics,
1887-1891.
(1 volume)

{series #23.44} [RESTRICTED]

Grouped by gender, and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of seizure.

A monthly tally of patients suffering from seizures. Information given includes lists of names of male or female patients and month and year of the attack. Each month has check marks for each seizure suffered during the month. At the end of the month the check marks are totaled. The first 22 pages of this volume are missing.

Special Appropriations Ledger,
1907-1924.
(1 volume)

{series #23.45}

Grouped randomly by account for buildings or programs at the Hospital, and thereunder arranged chronologically by date of transaction.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by name of account.

Ledger for special appropriations at the Danville State Hospital. Information given transaction includes date, purpose, and whether a debit or a credit to accounts was issued. Typical expenditures cover boiler repair, creating a cold storage plant, rewiring buildings, and building a cottage to house patients having infectious diseases. The State Auditor General stamped those pages that were audited. This the second of a two-volume set, the first volume of which is missing.

Statement of Expenditures,
1895-1922.
(3 volumes)

{series #23.46}

Arranged chronologically by month of expenditure.

Letterpress books documenting expenditures at Danville State Hospital. Each entry contains a voucher number, the name of the person or institution paid, a description of the item or service purchased, and the amount owed. Amounts are tallied on every page and at the end of each quarter. These amounts are recorded along with the balance due from the Treasurer, receipts and the excess or surplus of expenditures.

Tickler Account Books,
1885-1923.
(2 volumes)

{series #23.47}

Unarranged.

Indexed internally, alphabetically by name of county.

A record of quarterly amounts due and paid by each county poor district for patients admitted to the Danville State Hospital.

Women Nurses' Payroll Book,
1917-1923.
(1 volume)

{series #23.48}

Arranged chronologically by month of pay.

This series was a predecessor to the Payroll Record Books, 1924-1938 & undated {series #23.43}. Entries list name of employee, position, dates worked, pay per month, actual amount paid, and signature of payee.

PA State Archives

Hours, Directions, & Fees

Research Topics

Finding Aids for Collections

Land Records