The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency exists to protect the public health of Santa Cruz County and to help assure residents access to medical care and treatment. The Health Services Agency (HSA) exists to protect and improve the health of the people in Santa Cruz County. The Agency provides programs in Environmental Health, Public Health, Medical Care, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, and Mental Health. The ultimate goal of the Health Services Agency is healthy people living in healthy communities. HSA is responsible for promoting community health in the public and private sectors.
ARRANGEMENT
SERIES I.: MEDICAL LICENSE REGISTER (1876 – 1939)
SERIES II.: REGISTER FOR COUNTY HOSPITAL (1873 – 1928)
SERIES III.: PRESCRIPTION SCRAPBOOKS FOR PALMER DRUG COMPANY/PALMER PRESCRIPTION DRUGGIST (1897 – 1910)
SERIES IV. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COMMITMENTS TO STATE MENTAL HOSPITALS (circa 1862 – 1913)
CONTENTS
SERIES I.: MEDICAL LICENSE REGISTER (1876 – 1939)
One (1) Ledger
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains copies of licenses to practice medicine in California. These licenses are recorded by the Santa Cruz County Clerk and issued by the California State Boards. Medical practices identified include medicine, homeopathy, osteopathy, optometry, and chiropractic. The Medical Board of California dates back to 1878 revision of the Medical Practice Act of 1876.
Box ID#: Folder ID#
X:X
SERIES II.: REGISTER FOR COUNTY HOSPITAL (1873 – 1928)
Two (2) Ledgers
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains two (2) register ledgers for the county hospital. One register is for 1873 to 1910. The other register is for 1911 to 1928, interesting note while most patients up to 1917 and 1919 and after had a diagnosis listed for 1918 during the time of the Spanish Flu Epidemic none of the patients had a diagnosis listed. The registers list patient’s name, occupation, nativity, age, marital status, diagnosis, and days present at the hospital. Note: The AMI Community Hospital was a privately funded hospital that first started accepting patients 1 October 1959.
Box ID#: Folder ID#
X:X
SERIES III.: PRESCRIPTION SCRAPBOOKS FOR PALMER DRUG COMPANY/PALMER PRESCRIPTION DRUGGIST (1897 – 1910)
Two (2) Scrapbooks
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains two (2) scrapbooks for the Palmer Drug Company/Palmer Prescription Druggist with the original prescriptions filled out by doctors. The Palmer Drug Company was owned by Sylvester A. Palmer and was located at 40 Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz. His advertisements first appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel in 1888 and he continued in business for many years, until he passed away 31 December 1919 (Santa Cruz Sentinel 1888:Palmer Drug Advertisement; Santa Cruz Sentinel 1920: S.A. Palmer Obituary). – 1888 “S.A. Palmer Druggist and Apothecary Advertisement.” 14 October, Santa Cruz, California., 1920 “S.A. Palmer Obituary.” 1 January:1, Santa Cruz, California. The scrapbook for 1897 to 1898 (Accession # 1991.26.1) includes prescriptions from Dr.s Congdon, Knight, Nicholls, Anderson, Cain, Clark and others. The scrapbook for 1909 to 1910 (Accession # 1995.12.1) includes prescriptions from Dr.s McGuire, Bush, Price, Cothran, Congdon, Keck, Anderson and others.
Box ID#: Folder ID#
X:X
SERIES IV. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COMMITMENTS TO STATE MENTAL HOSPITALS (circa 1862 – 1913)
One (1) Box
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains the Santa Cruz County Court Commitment paperwork for 118 individuals from the 1860s to about 1900. A civil commitment is a legal process whereby an individual with symptoms of severe mental illness is court-ordered into treatment in a hospital. This paperwork is fragile and worn and has possibly been exposed to moisture and mold. These are four page documents that are approximately 11” x 17”. These documents record the individuals name, age, residence, and other personal information. There is also a physician’s examination and statement. Finally, there is a note on how the care and maintenance at the asylum will be paid for, either the state or through a guardian appointed by the judge.
Link to Spreadsheet of Information on State Hospital Commitments (.xlsx)
Box ID#: Folder ID#
1:X
