Coping with quantity and quality: computer-based research on case records from the 'Wittenauer Heilstatten' in Berlin (1919-1960)

Computer-aided research on hospital records has been used increasingly by h istorians in recent decades. We reviewed a representative sample of four th ousand patient records from the 'Wittenauer Heilstatten' (known as 'Karl-Bo nhoeffer-Nervenklinik' since 1965) over the period 1919-1960. Special focus was placed on the daily lives of patients, and we attempted to trace conti nuity and discontinuity through three different political systems. This pap er outlines our research methodology by describing the structure of data en tries, the use of special computer software and problems encountered with h istorical sources. It outlines the medical and social information which was obtainable and concludes by discussing the use of additional historical so urces, necessitated by the limitations of case records.