The records (3 volumes) are a monthly record of all patients in the asylum, including the patient's name and number, date of release (or death), and, for patients entering that month, the name of the person who committed the patient and the date of entry. Beginning in September 1868, some sort of statistical summary is included each month, generally giving the number of patients resident that month and the number of entries, releases and deaths.

Volume 1 (1866-1872) occasionally lists the names of officers and employees; several monthly summaries also include brief narrative statements describing significant events (e.g., a note that Superintendent Jos. G. Logan "shot himself dead" on the morning of April 16, 1869). Inserted in Volume 1 is a document from the City Physician's office certifying that a patient is insane and recommending commitment and an order from the judge of the Second Recorder's Court ordering the patient committed. Monthly summaries in Volume 2 (1872-1878) and 3 (1878-1882) also break down the number of patients by race and sex.