Elizabeth Stauber, Archives and Records Manager
The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has been awarded a $149,295 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to develop and host nationwide convenings focused on historical public mental health records. This project, in partnership with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the Council of State Archivists, and the UT School of Information, will create a platform for stakeholders to address the challenges of managing sensitive historical records.
Historical public mental health records include administrative and patient records with identifiable health information about individuals from 50 years following their death. These records are crucial for historical research and genealogy but require careful management due to their sensitive nature.
“We are honored to receive this grant from IMLS,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., Executive Director of the Hogg Foundation. “This initiative will provide a critical space for diverse stakeholders to collaborate on best practices and solutions for managing these important records. Through this grant, we aim to enhance our collective understanding and approach to handling historical mental health records.”
The project will gather archivists, historians, researchers, genealogists, individuals with lived experiences in public psychiatric hospitals, and hospital administrators. The convenings will address shared challenges, successes, critiques, and potential solutions in managing these sensitive documents. The outcome will be a community of practice and a comprehensive publication designed to facilitate ongoing dialogue among key stakeholders across the nation.
Elizabeth Stauber, Archivist and Records Manager at the Hogg Foundation and project director, added, “This grant will enable us to address the unique issues related to the preservation and management of historical public mental health records. We are excited to foster a collaborative environment where best practices can be developed and shared.”