Winnebago Mental Health Institute (Wis.)

The Legislature established the Northern Hospital for the Insane (Chapter 175, Laws of 1872) as an institution for the mentally ill from the northern part of the state. Located in Winnebago, near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the name was changed in 1935 to Winnebago State Hospital and in 1973 to Winnebago Mental Health Institute. The institution reported to the State Board of Supervision of Wisconsin Charitable, Reformatory, and Penal Institutions (WIHV87-A1267), 1881-1891; the State Board of Control (WIHV85-A2106), 1891-1939; the State Dept. of Public Welfare's (WIHV85-A488) Division of Mental Hygiene (WIHV88-A586), 1939-1967; and various divisions within the Dept. of Health and Social Services (WIHV85-A674), 1967-present. In Wisconsin State Archives' database entries this form of the agency name is used for all records dated 1872-present.