Commissioners for Lunacy in Scotland
Biography
The National Archives of Scotland hold the Mental Welfare Commission records series ref (MC); including Admission books 1858-1962 ref (MC2) and General Register of Lunatics in Asylum, 1805-1978 ref (MC7).
The Admission Books ref (MC2) are a series of monthly volumes dating from 1858 which contain bound copies of the Notices of Admissions by the Superintendent of the Mental Institutions addressed to the Secretary of the Board. The Notices of Admission contain a report by the admitting physician, details of the petition to the Sheriff, personal details of the patient, two medical certificates, and an emergency order granted by the Sheriff. The forms are bound in numerical order, the running serial number agreeing with the General Register of Lunatics in Asylums (MC7). The type of personal information contained in these volumes is enclosed in the statement of particulars which includes name, age, marital status, religion, place of residence, age of first attack, duration of first attack with other medical information. The Notice of Admittance gives the name of the asylum each patient is sent to.
The General Register of Lunatics in Asylum ref (MC7) is a chronological list of names of patients giving details of date of admission, the asylum, date of discharge or death, in whose care and observations. Both these series of records contain the name of the asylum each patient was admitted to both public and private, and from looking at a few volumes Stirling is included. Due to the extent of personal information contained in these records the Data Protection Act 1998 restricts access records which are less than 75 years old. The online catalogue OPAC indicates what records are closed and which are open. In most cases records are closed from 1930.
Mental Welfare Commission records are stored off site and as such the NAS requires at least one working day's notice to have these records brought into the West Search Room, West Register House. This can be done by either phoning or emailing in advance of a visit on 0131 535 1413 or at wsr@nas.gov.uk. Please note that each reader can order a maximum of 12 items to be brought in from off-site storage at any one time. (http://www.nas.gov.uk).
The Admission Books ref (MC2) are a series of monthly volumes dating from 1858 which contain bound copies of the Notices of Admissions by the Superintendent of the Mental Institutions addressed to the Secretary of the Board. The Notices of Admission contain a report by the admitting physician, details of the petition to the Sheriff, personal details of the patient, two medical certificates, and an emergency order granted by the Sheriff. The forms are bound in numerical order, the running serial number agreeing with the General Register of Lunatics in Asylums (MC7). The type of personal information contained in these volumes is enclosed in the statement of particulars which includes name, age, marital status, religion, place of residence, age of first attack, duration of first attack with other medical information. The Notice of Admittance gives the name of the asylum each patient is sent to.
The General Register of Lunatics in Asylum ref (MC7) is a chronological list of names of patients giving details of date of admission, the asylum, date of discharge or death, in whose care and observations. Both these series of records contain the name of the asylum each patient was admitted to both public and private, and from looking at a few volumes Stirling is included. Due to the extent of personal information contained in these records the Data Protection Act 1998 restricts access records which are less than 75 years old. The online catalogue OPAC indicates what records are closed and which are open. In most cases records are closed from 1930.
Mental Welfare Commission records are stored off site and as such the NAS requires at least one working day's notice to have these records brought into the West Search Room, West Register House. This can be done by either phoning or emailing in advance of a visit on 0131 535 1413 or at wsr@nas.gov.uk. Please note that each reader can order a maximum of 12 items to be brought in from off-site storage at any one time. (http://www.nas.gov.uk).