Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital Records
- Creators:
- Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital Records, F3886:[Folder Number], California State Archives.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The records of the Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital consist of 191 file folders spanning the period 1900-1972. The records are organized into one series: Patient Case Files.
The Patient Case Files provide medical history and biographical information about patients housed at Modesto State Hospital. Files typically contain various types of reports, notes, death and discharge certificates, and occasionally significant correspondence. Files have been heavily sampled and reflect only a small percentage of total patients. Files ending in zero and fat files have been retained. Fat files are large because either the patient was institutionalized over a long period or was admitted repeatedly for a specific illness, frequently alcoholism.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Modesto State Hospital, formerly Hammond Army Hospital, was purchased from the federal government in November 1946. Under Statutes 1946, Ch. 129, Modesto State Hospital was to function as a temporary state mental institution to relieve overcrowding in established facilities. The hospital began receiving patients in late 1947. By law no commitments could be made to Modesto State Hospital; it was required to receive patients from other state mental institutions through transfers. The hospital was equipped from its beginning to accept both the mentally ill and the mentally deficient. In September 1951, Modesto became a permanent hospital and was eligible to receive direct admissions (Statutes 1951, Ch. 525). By 1963, the hospital was reorganized to receive only the mentally ill. In that same year, Modesto's population exceeded its rated capacity of 2,369. After 1963, population declined until the facility was closed in 1972.
- Physical description:
- 191 file folders
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- © 2000
- Date Encoded:
- Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, Aug. 2000. Supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xuzhi Zhou.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
While the majority of records are open for research, any access restrictions will be noted in the records series description.
- Terms of access:
-
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital Records, F3886:[Folder Number], California State Archives.
- Location of this collection:
-
1020 "O" StreetSacramento, CA 95814, US
- Contact:
- (916) 653-2246