Archives & Special Collections

The following is a annotated list of folder and items with materials related to the Willowbrook State School that are located within the Assemblywoman Elizabeth A. Connelly Papers.

Staten Island Development Center (SIDC) (Elizabeth A. Connelly Resource Center), 1981-1990. Series: Subject Files, Box 47, Folder 12.

This folder includes:

• Information on the debate surrounding the proposed future uses for Willowbrook once its client population was reduced to 250 clients as stipulated by the Willowbrook Consent Decree. The folder includes proposals to relocate regional offices of state agencies to the site, particularly as Governor Carey felt that the state should sell the World Trade Center. There is also information on proposals to use the site as a unified campus for the College of Staten Island and on proposals to place group homes on a portion of the site.
• Information related to the closing of Willowbrook and the completion of the Richmond Complex - Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office (SIDDSO), the Institute for Basic Research (IBR) and the Elizabeth A. Connelly Resource Center.
• An article from the New England Journal of Human Services (1981) that contains an interview with Dr. Ella Louise Adams Curry, who had recently become director of the Willowbrook.

Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office (SIDDSO), 1989-1998. Series: Subject Files, Box 47, Folder 13.

Most materials in the folder deal with union problems involving the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and state contract issues with G.A. Contractor, Inc., the construction employer at Willowbrook.

"Willowbrook Settlement - NYSARC (New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc) et al. and Parisi vs. Cuomo et al. 1987 Settlement Agreement". Series: Subject Files, Box 54.

This folder contains the stipulation and order relating to the case.

Willowbrook Closing, August - December 1987. Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 1.

This folder includes:

• Newsclippings and a program, invitation and event schedule related to the closing of Willowbrook.
• Issues of the Journal for the Office of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) for August/September 1987 and November/December 1987.
• "Connelly's Comments for Dedication Journal", 1987. This is probably related to the dedication of the Elizabeth A. Connelly Resource Center.

Willowbrook - Connelly Resource Center / Therapy Pool, 1987-1993, 2000. Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 1.1.

This folder contains information on the establishment of the Connelly Resource Center and the Therapy Pool. There is also a newsclipping (2000) on the community's use of the therapy pool.

Willowbrook Mental Health, 1978-2000. Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 1.2.

This folder contains information on various issues related to Willowbrook, mental health and remembering Willowbrook. There is also a statement on Judge Bartels' decision to appointment a master to oversee Willowbrook.

Willowbrook Negotiations, 1980-1981. Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 2.

This folder includes:

• Information related to the Willowbrook Review Panel and drafts (1980) of proposed moderations to the 1975 Consent Order.
• Decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in NYSARC and Parisi vs. Hugh L. Carey, June 4, 1980.
• The Staten Island Developmental Center (SIDC) "Reflections" newsletter, February 1980.
• Newsclippings and correspondence on such issues as state legal fees, staff issues, the Institute for Basic Research (IBR), patient guardianship, patient relocation, housing for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled and state compliance with the 1975 Consent Order.

Willowbrook 25th Anniversary, 2000. Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 3.

This folder contains materials related to a conference marking the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the legislation that closed Willowbrook. There is also a short newsclipping on the 30th anniversary of the lawsuit.

Willowbrook State School (SIDDSO File), 1975-1993. Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 4.

This folder includes:

• Information on the funding of the Willowbrook Review Panel and proposals to appoint a special master to oversee future compliance with the Willowbrook Consent Judgement.
• Information on patient abuse issues and the 1987 stipulation and order.
• The Willowbrook Consent Decree, 1975. NYSARC and Parisi vs. Hugh L. Carey. Reprinted from Mental Disability Law Reporter 58 (July-August 1976).
• Decision of the United States District Court Eastern District of New York in NYSARC and Parisi vs. Hugh L. Carey, April 10, 1980.

Willowbrook State School - Consent Judgement, 1975 (SIDDSO File). Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 5.

This folder contains the United States District Court Eastern District of New York Notice of Joint Motion for Approval and Entry of Final Judgment on Consent, 1975, for NYSARC and Parisi vs. Hugh L. Carey et al.

Willowbrook State School - Consent Order Compliance Reports, 1975-1976 (SIDDSO File). Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 6.

This folder contains "New York State Department of Mental Hygiene Efforts to Comply with the Willowbrook Consent Judgment April 30, 1975-May 31, 1976". Audit Report NY-St-12-77. Office of the State Comptroller.

Willowbrook State School - Incidents of Patient Abuse, 1976 (SIDDSO File). Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 7.

Note: This entire folder is closed to researchers due to privacy concerns for the individuals and patients named in the records.

This folder contains correspondence and a legal summons and complaint related to alleged incidents of patient abuse. The folder also contains minutes of the Special Review Committee of the 147DMH Incident Reports, September 24, 1976.

Willowbrook State School - Newsclippings 1976-1987, n.d. (SIDDSO File). Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 8.

This folder contains newsclippings on issues such as funding, patient housing, staff issues, conditions, the Willowbrook Review Panel and the closing of the facility (1987.

Willowbrook State School - S.568 & S.1177 96th Congress, 1979-1980 (SIDDSO File). Series: Subject Files, Box 54, Folder 9.

This folder contains S.1177 (United States Senate), a bill meant to improve mental health services, and a report accompanying S.568 (United States Senate), relating to women in science.

Legislative Resolutions, 2000. Series: Legislative Files, Subseries: Bills, Box 71, Folder 5.

This folder includes a resolution celebrating the life of Dr. Henry M. Wisniewski (Director of the Institute for Basic Research (IBR) and a resolution commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Judgment. The other legislative resolutions in the folder are not related to Willowbrook.

Press Releases, 1983. Series: Media Files, Subseries: Press Releases and Statements, Box 73, Folder 2.

This folder contains one press release from September 1983 on the proposed use of Willowbrook as a site for a homeless shelter.

Statements, 1979, 1988-2000. Series: Media Files, Subseries: Press Releases and Statements, Box 73, Folder 20.

This contains several statements, one of which relates to Willowbrook. This is the statement given by Assemblywoman Connelly at the CUNY Board of Trustees Borough Hearing at the College of Staten Island on October 19, 2000. The statement contains a retrospective summary of Willowbrook issues and concern for the future of care for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. Assemblywoman Connelly gave this statement just prior to her retirement and it is the last item in the folder.

"Final Injunction of the Willowbrook Consent Decree", March 11, 1993. Series: Media Files, Subseries: Videotapes, Box 77.

This is a video recording of the hearing held at the U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York on March 11, 1993, concerning the final injunction of the Willowbrook litigation. There is one VHS Tape of unknown length and quality.