Scope and Content: In 1955 the Massachusetts correctional system was reorganized, so that the State Farm at Bridgewater became the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater, commonly called MCI Bridgewater. With this change, Bridgewater’s admittance of misdemeanor convicts (since 1866), state charges (i.e., almshouse paupers, since 1872), and aged or infirm state prisoners (since 1890) was terminated, leaving the prison population (i.e., aside from Bridgewater State Hospital) almost entirely those with alcohol or drug-related convictions. In 1958, a specialized unit serving the whole state corrections system, the Massachusetts Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous, was added.  The population of MCI Bridgewater changed again with St 1971 c 1076, which abolished the crime of public intoxication, limiting drug and alcohol admissions to civil commitments, voluntary or otherwise; also abolished was the then-controversial unit for defective delinquents (since 1922). The Bridgewater State Hospital serving the insane was placed under separate administration in 1987, the Old Colony Correctional Center opened in 1987, and in 1990 the MCI addiction center was placed under the Southeastern Correctional Center, which had opened in 1976. Since by 1990 the Treatment Center of the Sexually Dangerous had also become a separate unit, at that point the existence of MCI Bridgewater as an administrative entity ended. After SECC’s closing in 2002, addiction treatment was provided at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center. A Massachusetts Boot Camp for youthful offenders was located at Bridgewater from 1992 until after 2000.
Notes: Box 1: 1956, 1959-1961. Box 2: 1962-1966, 1968. Box 3: 1969-1972. Box 4: 1973-1975, 1978, 1980-1981. Box 5: 1982-1983, 1986-1988
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Scope and Content: Bridgewater, Mass., was the site successively of a State Almshouse (1854-1872) for so-called willing and needlessly dependent paupers, and the State Workhouse (1866-1887), for paupers convicted of misdemeanors as well as paupers generally (from 1872), and incorrigible juveniles (1869-1948). The State Workhouse was renamed the State Farm (1887-1955), which also included a State Farm Hospital for the medical needs of all inmates, as well as locals and poor admitted solely for medical treatment. The change in name was in deference to the admission of insane male paupers (1886), although it was  followed by the admission of aged and physically or mentally infirm inmates of the State Prison (1890). Insane admissions were then limited for a time to criminals (1894), forming a division called the State Asylum for Insane Criminals (1895), which was renamed Bridgewater State Hospital (1909). Units at Bridgewater were later added for female prisoners (1909-1930), so-called defective delinquents (males from 1922, females 1926-1954)–mentally impaired inmates requiring segregation from standard inmate or institutionalized populations–and for drug and alcohol addicts (from 1922, females to 1930 only), eventually mostly voluntary admissions. All Bridgewater State Farm facilities and divisions (including prison, almshouse, insane, and medical hospital functions) were administered by a common superintendent. The running of the State Farm, including industries and extensive agricultural operations, relied on work performed by all capable inmates.
Restrictions: Criminal offender record information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 6, ss 167-178. For conditions of access consult repository 
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Scope and Content: The Division of Legal Medicine was established in 1956 to provide psychiatric services to courts and correctional institutions and to ensure that persons who came into contact with the criminal justice system received needed mental health care.  An adult after-care clinic was responsible for treating and evaluating, on an outpatient basis, persons who had recently been paroled or discharged from correction facilities whether such treatment was a condition of parole or was voluntarily requested.  Adult after-care clinic case files were created to provide a record of the treatment and psychiatric evaluation of these persons.
Arrangement: In two subseries: (1) Case files; arranged alphabetically; (2) Case files; arranged by case no
Restrictions: Criminal offender record information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 6, ss 167-178. Mental health client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 123, s 36. Mental retardation client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 123B, s 17. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Box 1: A-M. Box 2: O-S. Box 3: S-Z. Box 4: No. 1-101. Box 5: No. 102-268
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Scope and Content: The Massachusetts Bureau of Immigration was established in 1917.  In 1919 it was abolished and its power and duties transferred to a Division of Education of Aliens in the Dept. of Education, with advisory board.  In 1920 the former was renamed the Division of Immigration and Americanization.  In 1939 it was reconstituted with the advisory board being named  the Board of Immigration and Americanization.  In 1965 the board was abolished and the division moved to the Board of Higher Education.  In 1975 the division was absorbed by the Bureau of Adult Services, Dept. of Education.
Notes: Transferred to Archives from Massachusetts State Library, Special Collections, Apr. 26, 1999. Volume 1: 1917-1950. Volume 2: 1950-1964. Volume 3: 1965-1966
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Scope and Content: Middlesex County was incorporated on May 10, 1643 (Mass Recs 2:38), continuing under successive governments of Massachusetts, most recently the Commonwealth (1780), as outlined in MGLA c 34.  Administrative powers and duties previously exercised at various times under the laws of the Commonwealth by the county courts of general sessions of the peace, county courts of common pleas, and circuit courts of common pleas, were assigned to commissioners in Middlesex and other counties, per St 1827, c 77 (1828).  The government of Middlesex County in this and other respects was abolished as of the effective date of St 1997, c 48 (approved July 11, 1997)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: The Advisory Council on Alcoholism was established in 1956 (first meeting in 1957) in connection with the office of the commissioner on alcoholism (until 1959) and the Division of Alcoholism in the Dept. of Public Health.  In 1982 it merged with the Dept. of Public Health’s Division of Drug Rehabilitation, accompanied by its Drug Rehabilitation Advisory Board.  With the merger of the two divisions in 1986 (known since 1991 as the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services), the two advisory bodies began to meet jointly, and since 1990 have been known informally as the Governor’s Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Rehabilitation, and, since 1995, as the Governor’s Advisory Council on Substance Abuse Services.
Notes: Box 1: 1956-1992.  Box 2: 1993-1997
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Scope and Content: In its statutory role as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in privately funded and particularly public programs, evaluating and monitoring programs in departments and agencies within the Executive Office of Human Services and other executive offices (MGLA c 28A, s 4).  Through FY1991 the office’s advocacy unit in its Help for Children Program provided comprehensive information, referral, and advocacy services to assure children appropriate social, health, or financial support, administered on a community basis through ca. 43 area offices grouped under ca. six regional offices.  Series was created by central office to quantify cases handled and their disposition on area and regional bases.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Also known as: Help for Children statistical reports. Statistics for 1978-1979, 1983 lacking
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Scope and Content: In its statutory role as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in privately funded and particularly public programs, evaluating and monitoring programs in departments and agencies within the Executive Office of Human Services and other executive offices (MGLA c 28A, s 4).  Through FY1991 the office’s advocacy unit in its Help for Children Program provided comprehensive information, referral, and advocacy services to assure children appropriate social, health, or financial support, administered on a community basis through ca. 43 area offices.  These offices, grouped under ca. six regional offices, were supported by volunteer area-based councils for children, which were given technical assistance by the central office’s Community Development Program and were mandated (MGLA c 28A, s 7) to evaluate local services for children, identify related needs, and review for the office proposals for state or federal funding of such services.  Series was created to administer and document area council evaluation of local children’s service programs, including child care providers licensed by the central office.
Notes: Scheduled as: Community review reports. Series incomplete:  Region III files only
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Scope and Content: In its statutory role as advocate for services to children in Massachusetts, the Office for Children coordinates such services in privately funded and particularly public programs, evaluating and monitoring programs in departments and agencies within the Executive Office of Human Services and other executive offices (MGLA c 28A, s 4).  Through FY1991 the office’s advocacy unit in its Help for Children Program provided comprehensive information, referral, and advocacy services to assure children appropriate social, health, or financial support, administered on a community basis through ca. 43 area offices.  These offices, grouped under ca. six regional offices, were supported by volunteer area-based councils for children, which were given technical assistance by the central office’s Community Development Program and were mandated (MGLA c 28A, s 7) to evaluate local services for children, identify related needs, and review for the office proposals for state or federal funding of such services.  Series was created to administer and document monthly meetings of area council boards of directors and annual meetings of entire council memberships.
Arrangement: Arranged numerically by region, thereunder alphabetically by area, and then chronologically
Notes: Scheduled as: Council for Children board meetings. Files for Region II lacking
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