A Guide to the Albemarle County (Va.), Health and Medical Records, 1858-1870
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Collection Number 1168184
Library of Virginia
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Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
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Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Albemarle County (Va.). Health and Medical Records, 1858-1870. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Albemarle County.
Historical Information
Albemarle County was named for William Anne Keppel, second earl of Albemarle and governor of the Virginia colony from 1737-1754. The county was formed from Goochland County in 1744, and part of Louisa County and certain islands in the Fluvanna River, now called the James, were added later.
Mental Health Records may consist of a variety of documents that historically were referred to as lunacy papers in the courthouses of Virginia localities and municipalities.
Scope and Content
Albemarle County (Va.) Health and Medical Records, 1858-1870, consists of two folders: Mental Health Records and Smallpox Epidemic Records.
Mental Health Records, 1858, 1867, 1868, contains three items: 6 Jul 1858 report regarding prisoner thought to be suffering from mental illness; 10 Oct 1867 letter from superintendent of Eastern Lunatic Asylum to committee of a patient regarding mental condition of patient who was released on bond; 5 Mar 1868 court order for committee of former patient to return the latter's estate to him, as he was declared "fit to take care of his financial matters."
Smallpox Epidemic Records, 1863-1864, 1870, contains five items relating to smallpox outbreaks, especially as the disease affected prisoners in the local jail: 2 Jun 1863 small pox committee report--seeking to borrow $1,945.00 to cover the debt incurred by the small pox hospital. Property formerly of George W. Harris, near University of Virginia, sold to John Collier and then had been sold to the county for this purpose. Suggests a $3 levy on "persons as are able to pay and the owners of slaves who are treated in the Hospital" to offset the debt; 6 Jul 1863 account owed jail nurse for attending to patients there; 7 Jul 1863 jail account references "unprecedented number of prisoners, several small pox and typhoid cases"; 4 Jul 1864 committee report references previous 12 months "the disease broke out with considerable violence" seeking $4,000 from county to cover expenses; Apr 1870 order by town council of Charlottesville for establishing a quarantined hospital outside the town limits.
Arrangement
Chronological by entry date.
Related Material
Additional Albemarle County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm" and The Chancery Records Index .
Albemarle County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Albemarle County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Database found at the Library of Virginia's web site.
Index Terms
- Albemarle County (Va.) Circuit Court.
- Insanity--Jurisprudence--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Jails--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Mental illness--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Physicians--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Psychiatric hospitals--Virginia.
- Public records--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Quarantine--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Slaves--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Smallpox--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Albemarle County (Va.)--History.
- Charlottesville (Va.)--History.
- Health and medical records--Virginia--Albemarle County.
- Local government records--Virginia--Albemarle County.
Corporate Names:
Subjects:
Geographical Names:
Genre and Form Terms:
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Albemarle County (Va.)--History.
- Charlottesville (Va.)--History.