Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.

On March 30, 1836, "An Act to authorize the establishment of the New York State Lunatic Asylum," (Laws of 1836, Chapter 82) was passed. This act empowered the governor, with the consent of the senate, to appoint three commissioners to select a suitable site and authorized the treasurer, on the warrant of the comptroller, to pay a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars for it. The law also provided that three commissioners be appointed to contract for the erection of the asylum. The treasurer was also directed to pay money required for the building of the asylum, not to exceed fifty thousand dollars.

On April 7, 1842, "An act to organize the State Lunatic Asylum and more effectually to provide for the cure, maintenance and recovery of the insane," (Laws of 1842, Chapter 135) was passed by the legislature to create the New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. "The Utica Act," as it was popularly known, became a model for organization of later asylums and hospitals for the insane in New York State. It comprehensively included all state laws previously enacted concerning the care and custody of the insane. This act contained the first provisions in New York State law for commitment, confinement, and discharge of insane persons and authorized the state to take into custody and become responsible for the care of indigent and pauper insane.

The law contemplated the care of the curable insane for only a short period; if they were not cured at the expiration of such time, or if they were deemed incurable in the opinion of asylum physicians, they were returned to county authorities. The Utica Act consisted of fifty-one sections and was published in the Revised Statutes of 1846. It provided for creation of a nine-member board of managers appointed by the senate on recommendation of the governor. This board, the majority of whom were to reside within five miles of the asylum, appointed the superintendent (who was to be a well-trained physician) and other resident officers, and were authorized to establish such bylaws as deemed necessary and expedient to manage the asylum.

The New York State Lunatic Asylum opened January 16, 1843, as the first state institution designed solely for the confinement and care of the insane. Two hundred seventy-six patients were admitted during the first year of operation. In 1844 and 1846 additional funds were approved by the legislature for enlargement of the grounds, erection of additional buildings, and provision of a suitable water supply (Laws of 1844, Chapter 337; Laws of 1846, Chapter 98). The managers were also given power, on the nomination of the superintendent, to appoint a second assistant physician, and to use surplus water from the Chenango Canal.

Subsequent legislation appropriated funds to "supply deficiencies and extinguish outstanding liabilities" (Laws of 1869, Chapter 822), and to provide appropriate salaries for officiers and maintenance of an "insane Indian and female convicts" (Laws of 1872, Chapter 541).

Operation, oversight, care and treatment, and reporting requirements were governed by Chapter 446 of the Laws of 1874, which revised and consolidated statutes regarding the care and custody of the insane, management of asylums for their treatment and safekeeping, and the duties of the State Commissioner on Lunacy. Later the sweeping "Insanity Law" of 1896 (Chapter 545) pertained.

Chapter 132 of the Laws of 1890 designated the State Lunatic Asylum as "The Utica State Hospital." Under Chapter 126 of the Laws of 1890, known as the "State Care Act," the state was divided into hospital districts. The district served by the Utica State Hospital included Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, and portions of Oneida and Herkimer counties.

In 1931, the Marcy Division of the Utica State Hospital was established by the legislature (Laws of 1931, Chapter 106) as a separate institution within the Department of Mental Hygiene, to be known as Marcy State Hospital.

The facility became Utica Psychiatric Center according to the Laws of 1974. Chapter 558 established, within the Department of Mental Hygiene, hospitals constituting psychiatric in-patient facilities for the care and treatment of the mentally disabled, and for research and teaching in the science and skills required for their care and treatment.

In 1985, an act (Chapter 913) amended the Mental Hygiene Law to consolidate the Utica Psychiatric Center and the Marcy Psychiatric Center into one facility, to be known as the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV1462093-a