The State Board of Supervision of Wisconsin Charitable, Reformatory, and Penal Institutions was established by Chapter 298, Laws of 1881. The board superseded several local boards of trustees by which the following institutions had been governed: State Hospital for the Insane (WIHV87-A955), Northern Hospital for the Insane (WIHV87-A958), State Public School (WIHV88-A53), School for the Deaf (WIHV88-A62), School for the Blind (WIHV88-A9), Industrial School for Boys (WIHV88-A318), and the State Prison (WIHV86-A364). The board was abolished in 1891 (Chapter 221) when its duties were merged with the State Board of Charities and Reform (WIHV88-A416) and assumed by the State Board of Control (WIHV85-A2106).
The State Board of Supervision consisted of five members, appointed by the governor and subject to the approval of the Senate, who served five-year terms. The board had the authority to investigate the reasons for commitment and to discharge persons from state institutions. Additionally, the board investigated complaints against the institutions and supervised their management, administration, and staffing. The board was also responsible for establishing rules and regulations for administering state institutions.
From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145778803
