On November 15, 1769, the Virginia House of Burgesses, at the urging of the then Royal Governor, Francis Fauquier, passed an act "to make provisions for the support and maintenance of idiots (sic), lunatics and other persons of unsound minds." This act created a "court of directors, consisting of some of the most prominent Virginians of the time, who were "empowered to purchase a piece or parcel of land ...as convenient as may be to the city of Williamsburg, and to contract for the building thereon a commodious house or houses, fit for the reception and accommodation of such disordered persons." The first building was not completed until almost four years later and the first patient, a Negro resident of Hanover County, was admitted on October 13, 1773.

This legislation and the construction of the first public supported mental hospital in the territory known today as The United States surely establishes the Commonwealth of Virginia as "The First To Care" about the welfare of those unfortunate individuals who are handicapped with mental illness or mental retardation.

In order to give proper recognition to Eastern State Hospital and to recognize the Hospital as the oldest public supported institution of its kind in America, the General Assembly of Virginia, during its 1970 Session, created the Virginia Eastern State Hospital Bicentennial Anniversary Commission by enactment of House Bill No. 163.

Pursuant to this legislation, the following were appointed to the membership of the Commission: Delegate Matthew G. Anderson of Oilville, Dr. Howard H. Ashbury of Williamsburg, Mrs. Thomas F. Brummer of Williamsburg, Delegate Russell M. Carneal of Williamsburg, Senator H. Dunlop Dawbarn of Waynesboro, Delegate Ernst W. Farley, Jr., of Richmond, Senator William E. Fears of Accomac, Delegate Ray L. Garland of Roanoke, Mr. Richard S. Gillis, Jr., of Richmond, Senator Garland Gray of Waverly, Delegate John D. Gray of Hampton,· Mr. Rudolph L. Gurley of Newport News, Senator Omer L. Hirst of Annandale, Dr. William Massey, III, of Williamsburg, Delegate George N. McMath of Onancock, Senator Thomas R. McNamara of Norfolk, and Dr. William Ferguson Reid of Richmond.

As stated in the enabling legislation, Governor A. Linwood Holton served as Honorary Chairman, and the Commission elected an Executive Committee, consisting of Mr. Carneal, Chairman; Dr. Massey, Vice-Chairman; Dr. Ashbury and Messrs. Anderson and Gillis.

Membership of the Commission was altered after Senator H. Dunlop Dawbarn and Delegate Matthew G. Anderson resigned for personal reasons. Senator A. J. Canada, Jr., of Virginia Beach replaced Senator Dawbarn. There was no substitute named to fill the vacancy created by Delegate Anderson's resignation. The untimely death of Dr. Howard H. Ashbury, Director of Eastern State Hospital, necessitated a replacement by his successor Dr. Kurt T. Schmidt.

The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council and the Division of Legislative Services made staff and facilities available to carry out the legislation's mandate; they assigned the necessary employees to assist the members and the study group at all times. Mrs. Mark Neale served as liaison for the Division of Legislative Services while Mr. Robert W. Bendall was appointed Commission counsel.