Scope and Content: The Middlesex County Truant School (renamed Middlesex County Training School in 1908) was authorized in 1892 and opened in 1894 for the commitment of boys in that county and from Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop between the ages of seven and sixteen adjudged habitual truants, absentees, or school offenders.  The school was closed in 1973.  Ledger shows expenditures of the school.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by month
Notes: Transferred to Archives from Middlesex County Commissioners, January 22, 1998
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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: In two subseries: (1) Record books, 1831-1929  (2) Item books: Dockets/Orders, 1851-1997; Contracts, 1922-1997; arranged within each subseries chronologically
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Scope and Content: The Massachusetts Agricultural College was established in Amherst through a board of trustees mandated by St 1863, c 220, to promote branches of learning relating to agriculture and the mechanic arts, for the benefit of the industrial classes so-called.  The college admitted its first students in 1867.  Reflecting its increasingly inclusive liberal arts curriculum over the next seven decades, the institution was reorganized and renamed the Massachusetts State College in 1931 (eventually becoming the University of Massachusetts in 1947).
Notes: Transferred to Archives, Feb. 1996, from State Library of Massachusetts, Special Collections
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Scope and Content: The Board of State Charities, which had oversight of charitable and correctional institutions in Massachusetts, 1863-1879, was succeeded in this function by the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Series (M-Ar)1658X refers to a similar earlier letterbook
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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.
Arrangement: In two subseries; Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: The Reformatory Prison for Women was opened in Sherborn in 1877.  It was renamed Reformatory for Women by St 1911, c 181 and because of a redrawn boundary line its fuller designation was changed from Reformatory for Women at Sherborn to Reformatory for Women at Framingham by St 1932, c 180, s 24.  Under St 1955, c 770 it received its current name, Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Framingham.
Notes: Current accessions Volume/card index (Sherborn) to: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Maps and plans ((M-Ar)50) cites 141 plans, 1873 [sic] as no. 2408
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Scope and Content: Resolves 1854, c 52 authorized the establishment of a State Reform School for Girls through a commission of three gubernatorial appointees to prepare plans and estimates of buildings for the institution.   The facility, established formally by St 1855, c 442 and renamed State Industrial School for Girls per St 1856, c 60, was completed and opened at Lancaster in 1856.  Series consists of facility plans by architect Jonathan Preston.
Notes: Current accessions Volume to: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Maps and plans ((M-Ar)50) cites 6 plans and specifications, 1854 as no. 2310
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Scope and Content: The State Prison was opened in 1805 at Charlestown, Boston as a successor to the prison on Castle Island.  During 1878-1884 the prison was closed and inmates kept at Concord.  With that exception, Charlestown remained the state prison until replaced by Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Walpole, 1955-1956.
Notes: Current accessions Volume/card index (Concord) to: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Maps and plans ((M-Ar)50) cites 18 plans, 1873 [sic] as no. 2409
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Scope and Content: Programs and institutions for the mentally ill and retarded of Massachusetts were among the responsibilities successively of the Board of State Charities (St 1863, c 240), the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity (St 1879, c 291), and the State Board of Lunacy and Charity (St 1886, c 101).  They were then the sole responsibility successively of the State Board of Insanity (St 1898, c 433), the Massachusetts Commission on Mental Diseases (St 1916, c 285), the Dept. of Mental Diseases (St 1919, c 350, ss 79-81), and the Dept. of Mental Health (St 1938, c 486)
Arrangement: In two subseries: (1) Facility survey books; arranged by facility; (2) Survey books; arranged by survey, thereunder by facility
Notes: Files at one time maintained by the department’s Division of Quality Assurance. Also known as: Housing survey files
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Scope and Content: Programs and institutions for the mentally ill and retarded of Massachusetts were among the responsibilities successively of the Board of State Charities (St 1863, c 240), State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity (St 1879, c 291), and State Board of Lunacy and Charity (St 1886, c 101).  They were then the sole responsibility successively of the State Board of Insanity (St 1898, c 433), Massachusetts Commission on Mental Diseases (St 1916, c 285), Dept. of Mental Diseases (St 1919, c 350, ss 79-81), and Dept. of Mental Health (St 1938, c 486)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically or by action taken
Restrictions: Mental health client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 123, s 36. For conditions of access consult repository
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