The Basel State Archives hold tens of thousands of files from the Basel Psychiatric Clinic. The medical records document the diverse tasks of psychiatry. The course of the illness and therapy are meticulously documented. In addition to doctors and nurses, relatives, neighbours and authorities also have their say. In the files, the patients' words are rarely or only indirectly audible. Nevertheless, the medical records convey a polyphonic picture of the fate of individual patients and provide insights into everyday life at the clinic.