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New York Asylum For Idiots, Twelfth Annual Report

Creator: n/a
Date: 1863
Publisher: Comstock & Cassidy, Albany
Source: Steve Taylor Collection


Introduction

The early reports of the New York Asylum for Idiots were profoundly optimistic about the ability to bring cognitively impaired children into the mainstream through the asylum’s regimen. Later reports, after the pendulum had swung far in the opposite direction, viewed the institution’s role as largely one of incarceration and segregation, not education.


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OFFICERS.

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Superintendent,
HARVEY B. WILBUR, D. D. -sic-

3  

Matron,
MRS. ELIZA F. MULFORD.

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Teachers,
MISS S. P. YOUNG, MISS SARAH S. WELD,
MISS ALVIRA WOOD, MISS CHRISTINA ERLUND,
MISS MARY L. PATRICK.

5  

Steward,
R. FRISELLE.

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No. 212.
IN ASSEMBLY,
February 4, 1863

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TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE NEW YORK ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.
To the Legislature of the State of New York:

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In compliance with the act establishing the New York Asylum for Idiots, the subscribers, trustees of the institution, respectfully submit this their TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT:

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The total cash receipts and payments for the fiscal year of the institution, ending Sept. 30th, 1862, as stated in the treasurer's annual report, herewith transmitted, are as follows:

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RECEIPTS:â

From the State Treasurer (annual appropriation) $18,000.00
From friends of pay-pupils for board and clothing2,985.53
From counties for clothing State pupils1,394.17
Balance on hand in treasury October 1st, 18621,037.38
$23,417.08

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EXPENDITURES: â

Provisions and supplies of all kinds$5,187.96
Repairs, improvements and new out-buildings2,396.71
Farm, garden, improvement of grounds, stable and stable stock707.02
Furniture and furnishing articles1,369.68
Salaries of officers and teachers5,333.32
Wages of attendants and servants, and extra labor4,450.70
Clothing for children1,114.86
Fuel and gas1,604.70
School books and stationery, and apparatus for school and gymnasium186.93
Rent and insurance299.69
Freight and express47.27
New wall in front of grounds247.76
Savings bank interest149.69
Postage25.93
Printing35.93
Expenses in sending children home53.67
Traveling expenses of trustees and superintendent136.02
Miscellaneous bills paid by steward149.95
Total of expenditures$23,497.82

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Owing to the fact that all of the bills for the previous fiscal year were not audited by the executive committee till the first Monday in October, 1861, and during the last fiscal year were all audited the last day of September, 1862, the expenditures above reported represent a period of more than a year, and are proportionately larger.

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The actual expenses of the year were $21,835.26. This amount includes the clothing of a large majority of the pupils, and also improvements to the building, and the construction of new out-buildings. During the past two years these last two items have amounted to $1,800, to meet the developing wants of the institution.

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The average number of State pupils during the past year has been more than one hundred and twenty; and the number of paying pupils has been nearly twenty.

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The total liabilities of the Asylum, on the first of October, 1862, amounted to $2,135.92
The cash assets at same date were2,068.37
$67.55

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It will be seen, therefore, at this date, that the excess of indebtedness over cash assets amounted to $67.55. On the first of October, 1861, this excess of indebtedness was given as $756.96.

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From the report of the steward, herewith annexed, it will be seen that the assets in the way of farm and garden products are in excess of last year, amounting in the aggregate to at least $2,000; and to these are to be added household supplies and clothing on hand October first.

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Items of indebtedness October 1st, 1862: â

Savings Bank loan and interest$1,535.00
Sundry bills of provisions and supplies520.18
Over draft80.74
$2,135.92

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Cash assets at same date: â

Due from counties for clothing$200.00
Due from individuals for clothing pupils202.18
Due from friends of paying pupils for board and instruction1,426.19
Due from sale of fruit and produce240.00
$2,068 37

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Other assets: â

Farm and garden products$1,809.40
Household supplies, clothing for children529.00
$2,338.40

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The act for the reorganization of the Asylum, prepared at the instance of the board of trustees, was duly passed by the Legislature at its last session. This conferred some additional powers upon the board of trustees, which will aid them much in the fulfillment of their trust.

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It also makes some new provisions in relation to the reception and dismissal of pupils. In order that a knowledge of these new conditions may be disseminated in the State, a copy of the new law will be found in an appendix to this report. Copies also of the necessary forms to carry out the provisions of the law will be found in the same appendix.

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The trustees, at their last annual meeting, took the necessary action to carry out the requirements of the law as far as they were concerned.

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The report of the Superintendent will furnish the details of the affairs of the institution during the past year, and the memorandum furnished by the Steward of the Asylum, of the industrial operations of the pupils for the same period, adds to the value of the report.

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It was the sad duty of the trustees, in their last report, to notice a greater mortality than in any previous year in the history of the Asylum. There have been five deaths owing not from the prevalence of any epidemic, but from diseases not ordinarily fatal, except in individuals with enfeebled constitutions. It is our happy privilege in this report to state that no death has occurred, and moreover, that there has been a remarkable exemption from sickness -- not a serious case among the pupils during the year. In all of their reports, with the exception of last year's and that of 1855, the trustees have been able gratefully to acknowledge a remarkable exemption from sickness; especially remarkable for so large a family of feeble minds in feeble bodies. This merciful privilege enjoyed for so many years the trustees attribute (under Providence) to the skillfull and zealous devotion of the Superintendent, aided by the affectionate fidelity of his teachers, attendants and servants.

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