Central State Hospital (Waupun, Wis.)

A Hospital for the Criminal Insane was authorized by Chapter 585, Laws of 1911 under the supervision of the State Board of Control (WIHV85-A2106). The hospital opened in 1914 in Waupun. Its name was changed to the Central State Hospital for the Insane (Chapter 314, Laws of 1917). In 1939, control of the Hospital was assumed by the newly created State Department of Public Welfare (WIHV85-A488) under the Division of Mental Hygiene (WIHV88-A586). The name later was shortened to Central State Hospital (Chapter 48, Laws of 1941). In 1967, under the reorganization of state agencies, the Hospital was transferred to the Department of Health and Social Services (WIHV85-A674) where it was successively in the Division of Mental Hygiene, 1967-1977, Division of Community Services (WIHV85-A282), 1977-1982, and Division of Care and Treatment Facilities (WIHV86-A1275), 1982-1983. The hospital was closed in 1983 and inmates were transferred to the Wisconsin Resource Center (WIHV87-A959) at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute (WIHV87-A958). In Wisconsin State Archives' database entries, this form of the agency name is used for all records dated 1911-1983.

The institution served as a prison for inmates who could not be in a regular prison due to mental health problems.

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