Roosevelt Island Historical Society

Oct

Friday, Ocober 3, 2025 – AFTER WORKING ON BLACKWELL’S ISLAND, A CAREER IN NEUROLOGY

By admin

The Neurologist

WILLIAM S. LESZYNSKY, M.D.

BLACKWELL’S ISLAND LUNATIC ASYLUM

1880

Friday, October 3, 2025

Issue # 1546

Dr. William Leszynsky

PRESENTED TO
W.M. LESZYNSKY, M.D.
HOUSE PHYSICIAN L.A.B.I. By the Comm of Pub Charity cor.
TOWNSEND COX JACOB HESS THOMAS S. BRENNAN
Oct. 1st, 1880

About 12 years ago the RIHS received a donation of a surgical kit from a physician who worked at the Blackwell’s Island Lunatic Asylum. Dr.Leszynsky went on to have a career in neurology (1859-1923), practicing at may New York hospitals.

The kit as we received if from Cathey Brinton, MD of Seattle.

A traveling surgical kit with instruments.

The manufacturer was in New York, one of many that supplied surgeons during the Civil War.
Without census records the RIHS and other historic preservation, genealogical and archival organizations would have little biographical information to work with.

One person that I followed thru the census records was William Leszynsky, MD.

Dr. Leszynsky was a House physician at the Blackwells Island Lunatic Asylum .
At one point of his work on the island he was presented with a leather and brass engraved surgical instrument set.

We tracked Dr. Leszynksy from census records.

In 1860 his mother Amelia was married to Henry and living in San Francisco
In the 1870 William, 13 years old was one of 6 children of Henry and Amelia living in New York City
In 1880 William, 25 was a physician living in New York City (His address is listed as the B.I. Lunatic Asylum)
In 1900 William, 40 was married to Adele for 5 years and lived in Manhattan and listed as a physician.
In 1910 William 52 and Adele lived in Manhattan and listed as a physician.
In 1920 William, 62 and Adele were living in Manhattan listed as a Physician Neurology.
In 1930 Adele (listed as Belle) was living in Manhattan, with a housekeeper Mary Cronin

(The ages do not add up by the years indicated)

It his Wikipedia listing Leszynsky graduated from University Medical College in 1878.(now NYU) . He died March 3, 1923.
There are numerous papers listed on-line for him including one on “Coffee as a Beverage: It’s Deleterious Effects on the Nervous System.

Credits