May 2022 Program
Researching the History of Institutionalized People in Pennsylvania
Presented by Tyler Stump, Pennsylvania State Archives
Since the early 19th century, the state of Pennsylvania has operated nearly 50 different state institutions for people with intellectual and mental disabilities. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians lived in these institutions. Today, the Pennsylvania State Archives holds the historical records created by these institutions, which are invaluable resources for researchers and genealogists. Join archivist Tyler Stump to explore this important part of Pennsylvania’s history and to learn more about what kinds of information can be found in the archives’ collections.
This archived presentation may be watched here.
Program review by Becky Anstine:
Tyler started with a brief history of institutions in Pennsylvania. At one time, there were over 50 mental and other facilities for institutionalized people in the state. In a 150 - year period, over 100, 000 people were in those facilities. Prior to 1850, there were no facilities run by the state. Individuals with mental or other problems were sent to local county Almshouses. The York County Prison Almshouse opened around 1830. Dorothea Dix visited the Almshouse in 1844 and stated that it was one of the better run facilities in the state – “the people were kept comfortable.” In 1850, the Harrisburg State Hospital was opened. State hospitals were for people with mental illnesses. State centers were for other disabilities.
The State Archives is the official repository for historical records created by the PA Department of Human Services. The records are available for genealogists, historians, and others interested in not only the institutions themselves but also the lives of the individuals who were in those facilities. There are some limitations, and these are more fully explained on the website. Researchers need to contact the Archives to confirm that they will have access to the records before visiting the Archives.
The PA State Archives has a complete listing of the records in the website’s Online Catalog: www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online.
Records can include administrative reports, newsletters, correspondence, photographs, admission and discharge ledgers, master patient card indexes, case files and grave and burial records.
To determine if a family member was in an institution: census records, newspaper articles, obituaries, death certificates should be used to determine when and where the family member might have been. A patient could have resided in several institutions depending upon their needs and condition.
Tyler had several examples of letters found in files from family members of patients inquiring about the patient. Some of the institutions had their own burial grounds – and there might be maps showing where individuals were buried and when in some of those institutions.
State institutions are often overlooked as a resource when searching for family members – but a wealth of information can be found in the records and files at the PA State Archives. If a family member was institutionalized – this can add to the history of various family members.
Tyler Stump has been an acquisitions archivist at the Pennsylvania State Archives since 2016. He mostly works with historical PA government records. He’s has published several pieces about the history of Pennsylvania’s prisons and state-run institutions, most recently an article in Pennsylvania History about Farview State Hospital, an institution in Wayne County. Tyler grew up in the Baltimore area, but his family has lived in the York Township/Dallastown area since the mid 18th century. He currently lives in Camp Hill, PA with his wife Andra (who is also an archivist at the PA House of Representatives Archives).
This archived presentation may be watched here.
Program review by Becky Anstine:
Tyler started with a brief history of institutions in Pennsylvania. At one time, there were over 50 mental and other facilities for institutionalized people in the state. In a 150 - year period, over 100, 000 people were in those facilities. Prior to 1850, there were no facilities run by the state. Individuals with mental or other problems were sent to local county Almshouses. The York County Prison Almshouse opened around 1830. Dorothea Dix visited the Almshouse in 1844 and stated that it was one of the better run facilities in the state – “the people were kept comfortable.” In 1850, the Harrisburg State Hospital was opened. State hospitals were for people with mental illnesses. State centers were for other disabilities.
The State Archives is the official repository for historical records created by the PA Department of Human Services. The records are available for genealogists, historians, and others interested in not only the institutions themselves but also the lives of the individuals who were in those facilities. There are some limitations, and these are more fully explained on the website. Researchers need to contact the Archives to confirm that they will have access to the records before visiting the Archives.
The PA State Archives has a complete listing of the records in the website’s Online Catalog: www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online.
Records can include administrative reports, newsletters, correspondence, photographs, admission and discharge ledgers, master patient card indexes, case files and grave and burial records.
To determine if a family member was in an institution: census records, newspaper articles, obituaries, death certificates should be used to determine when and where the family member might have been. A patient could have resided in several institutions depending upon their needs and condition.
Tyler had several examples of letters found in files from family members of patients inquiring about the patient. Some of the institutions had their own burial grounds – and there might be maps showing where individuals were buried and when in some of those institutions.
State institutions are often overlooked as a resource when searching for family members – but a wealth of information can be found in the records and files at the PA State Archives. If a family member was institutionalized – this can add to the history of various family members.
Tyler Stump has been an acquisitions archivist at the Pennsylvania State Archives since 2016. He mostly works with historical PA government records. He’s has published several pieces about the history of Pennsylvania’s prisons and state-run institutions, most recently an article in Pennsylvania History about Farview State Hospital, an institution in Wayne County. Tyler grew up in the Baltimore area, but his family has lived in the York Township/Dallastown area since the mid 18th century. He currently lives in Camp Hill, PA with his wife Andra (who is also an archivist at the PA House of Representatives Archives).