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Inventory of the Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital Records
F3886
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Table of contents
Title: Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital Records
Inventory: F3886
Creator:
Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital
Extent: 191 file folders
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Language:
English.
While the majority of records are open for research, any access restrictions will be noted in the records series description.
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.
[Identification of item], Department of Mental Hygiene - Modesto State Hospital Records, F3886:[Folder Number], California
State Archives.
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.
Scope and Content Note
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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Mental health
California. Dept. of Mental Hygiene
Mental illness--Treatment