Massachusetts. State Board of Lunacy and Charity

In 1886 the Massachusetts State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity was renamed the State Board of Lunacy and Charity, while a separate State Board of Health was established. The State Board of Lunacy and Charity inherited all powers and duties of its predecessor except those vested in the newly established State Board of Health, i.e., general supervision and investigative powers over charitable, reformatory, and mental health institutions and some authority over the transfer and removal of patients.

In 1886 the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity was renamed the State Board of Lunacy and Charity, while a separate State Board of Health was established (St 1886, c 101). The State Board of Lunacy and Charity inherited all powers and duties of its predecessor except those vested in the newly established State Board of Health, i.e., general supervision and investigative powers over charitable, correctional, and mental health institutions and some authority over the transfer and removal of patients.

The board's work was carried out by the following two standing committees and three officers: Committee on Lunacy, Committee on Charities, Inspector of Charities, Superintendent of Indoor Poor (Dept. of Indoor Poor), and Superintendent of Outdoor Poor (Dept. of Outdoor Poor)

The board's responsibilities were broadened by St 1887 c 346, which established service districts for the state lunatic hospitals, making the board responsible for enforcing its provisions; by St 1887, c 401, which allowed the board to place children from almshouses in families when cities and towns neglected this duty; and St 1892, c 318, which empowered the board to grant and revoke licenses for boarding houses for infants. (The governor and council still held responsibility for licensing private facilities for the mentally ill.)

In 1898 the State Board of Lunacy and Charity was abolished and its functions divided between the State Board of Charity and the State Board of Insanity (St 1898, c 433). The State Board of Insanity assumed all the board's responsibilities relative to the supervision of public and private hospitals, asylums, and other receptacles for the insane or feeble-minded. The remaining functions were assumed by the State Board of Charity.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1886-1898--Massachusetts. State Board of Lunacy and Charity.