Boston Lunatic Hospital

Chapter 131 of the Acts of 1839 established the Boston Lunatic Hospital in the City of Boston. The hospital was built on First St. in South Boston in 1839, and placed under the supervision of the Board of Visitors of the Boston Lunatic Hospital. The Board of Visitors remained in control until 1857 when the Department of Public Institutions was established and control for all public institutions passed to the Board of Directors of Public Institutions. In 1892, the City purchased Pierce Farm on Walkhill and Canterbury Street and built two hospital buildings. Two new hospital buildings were also built at Austin Farm. By 1895, all male patients housed in the hospital at South Boston were transferred to Pierce Farm and females were transferred to Austin Farm. In 1897, was renamed Boston Insane Hospital. In 1908, hospital was made a state agency of Massachusetts under the name Boston State Hospital. Boston State Hospital closed in 1981.

From the description of Boston Lunatic Hospital patient lists, Dec. 1839-Feb. 1854. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 541034996