THANK YOU!

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This is from my friend, Ryan Thibodeau, who with a few others, are trying to change the New York State law on Mental Health concerning people who were institutionalized in the 19th and 20th centuries. I know, it’s ridiculous that we even have to do this but that’s New York State and the Office of Mental Health. This HIPAA Law should not even apply to people dead for fifty years and that is according to Federal Law that was passed in 2013. Keep your fingers crossed and pray. I don’t know who else would ever pick up this task after this giant effort. Thank you to all of you who sent your story in! I’m closing the application.

Sincerely, Lin Stuhler

“Good evening, all,

“My name is Ryan Thibodeau, and I’m part of the group that is trying to change the state’s mental hygiene laws to make old records of institutionalized people more accessible to families like yours. Many thanks for completing the Google form and for your willingness to share your ancestor’s story. We really appreciate it!

I forwarded the information you entered into the Google form to the journalist several weeks ago and she has indicated that she is pursuing an article on this important topic. I don’t know anything about the timing of the article’s publication, its content, who she’ll be contacting, and when she’ll reach out. That’s out of my hands and up to her discretion.

The group is looking forward to continuing pursuit of our bill in the New York State legislature when the new session opens on January 7. As we ramp up our effort, it’s likely that I’ll write again and ask especially the New York State residents among you to write letters in support of our bill and contact your State legislators to urge their support. Stay tuned!

Once again, thank you so very much for your assistance! I’ll be in touch again soon.

All the best, Ryan”
Ryan Thibodeau, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Licensed (Clinical) Psychologist, New York State
Board Member, NAMI Rochester

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! THIS IS NOW CLOSED. 12.7.2025
*****

Increasing Access to Records of Institutionalized People in New York State
WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Beginning in the 19th century, New York State has operated a large number of institutions designed to serve individuals with psychiatric disorders (for example, “insane asylums,” “state hospitals,” “psychiatric centers”), developmental disabilities (for example, “state schools,” “developmental centers”) and other disabilities (for example, an “epileptic colony,” “an inebriate asylum”). 

Are you a descendant of a person who was institutionalized in one of these places in New York State?

Is your knowledge of your ancestor or the circumstances surrounding their institutionalization limited? Would you like to learn more about them?

Have you tried but failed to get New York State – the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), or facilities they operated – to release records of your ancestor’s institutionalization?

A group in New York State is trying to change the state’s mental hygiene laws to make old records of institutionalized people more accessible to families. As part of this effort, the group has connected with a journalist who may be interested in writing an article about this topic. If you would be willing to share your story with the journalist to be featured in a possible article, please complete the brief form below. Your information will then be forwarded to the journalist. Your help is greatly appreciated!

19 thoughts on “THANK YOU!”

    • The article is not certain to be written but things are definitely moving forward! She will contact you directly if she chooses your story. That’s all I know at this point. Thank you! -Lin

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  3. My maternal grandmother spent most of her adult life (29 years on) until her death in the mid-50s in Creedmore. Have a really interesting backstory about her husband and children, but know very little about her life. That said, she was in Creedmore not Willard. If that is of interest, let me know.
    ac

    Amy Connell
    amy.connell@marketingcounsel.net
    +1 (970) 282-8081 office
    +1 (970) 217-3147 mobile

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  4. I completed the form. I also passed it along to one our our reporters here. I believe that we have corresponded in the past about my Great Aunt Sarah Ann McMullen – a former patient of the Buffalo State Hospital. I am on volunteer historian on the Richardson Olmsted Campus and have done a number of interviews here in Buffalo about my efforts to access her records . Thank you for this opportunity!

    Mark

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  5. I tried to find out information about my grandmothers sister who was originally in Central Islip and then transferred. It would be helpful to know exactly what she suffered from. I also want to know where she is buried. I was told by the state I had to wait 75 years after her death for them to release anything about her. I included documentation of my relationship to her, to no avail. It should be so hard to find out information about someone who died in 1996 with no siblings living and no spouse or children.

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  6. I’m very glad that a group of people has taken this on! I got worn out after many attempts to get any information at all. My guess is that there were so many horrific things done to our ancestors that the state fears a cascade of lawsuits. But we still need to know. Thank you to all who are undertaking this endeavor.

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  7. PLUS…in 2015 I spent several dollars getting documents to prove my relationship to Caroline Raffke and sent it to State Advocacy Specialist Anthony Ciccarino in Albany and to This Date … NOTHING…I have never heard back from him.

    I have pictures of his card and my letter to him July of 2015 … don’t know how to attach themhttp://Gallery

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  8. Thanks for posting this, Lin! We now have two journalists interested in our project to change New York State laws. One journalist is focusing on the difficulties of accessing patient records and the other focusing on identifying those buried in psychiatric hospital cemeteries. We would love comments and experiences from your readers!

    Tom

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