In a partnered event with the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Professor Emeritus Dr. King Davis returned to campus on Monday, Feb. 3, with historic preservation coordinator D. D. Clark to discuss their groundbreaking work preserving state hospital records and to recruit new researchers to their cause.

Clark, who leads historic preservation for Texas’s state hospitals, shared her experiences uncovering artifacts, records, and history. Her methodical approach to locating, preserving, and sharing historical documents has earned recognition, with several recovered artifacts now on display at the Bullock Museum. Her unique role as a historic preservation coordinator evolved alongside the construction of new hospitals on these historic campuses.

Both Clark and Dr. Davis emphasized the rich research potential within these records. The documents contain detailed information about patient intake, staff training, and facility architecture that can reveal broader patterns in societal attitudes toward mental health. Dr. Davis noted that researchers have only scratched the surface of possible insights, as the ongoing restoration and digitization efforts continue to uncover new research opportunities.

“I came to recruit you,” Dr. Davis told the audience, explaining their need for students and faculty to join their preservation efforts across state hospitals in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

Among his many accolades and titles, Dr. Davis served as executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health from 2003-2008 and held the Robert Lee Sutherland Endowed Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work from 2000 to 2008. He currently serves on the National Advisory Committee for the Center for Mental Health Services.

Clark is the Historic Preservation & Grant Coordinator for the HHSC State Hospital System, where she has served since 2021. Her work supports system preservation efforts through sharing the cultural legacy of recovery and the mental health community.

Additional information about the state hospital records project can be found at coloredinsaneasylums.org. Faculty, staff, and students interested in participating in the project can contact Dr. Davis at king.davis@austin.utexas.edu.