Worcester Lunatic Hospital

The Worcester Lunatic Hospital, later known as Worcester State Hospital, located in Worcester, Mass., opened in 1833 as the first large-scale state hospital created for the care and treatment of the mentally ill in the United States. The original facility served the mentally ill until 1877 when overcrowding and disrepair forced the institution to move to a new location; the original structure was maintained as a facility for long-term insane patients until the 1950s.

From the description of Records, 1833-1913. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 80525267