Scope and Content: The Massachusetts Dept. of Public Welfare has the responsibility to provide and administer a comprehensive public welfare financial assistance program (MGLA c 18 s 2).  Memorandums issued by the federal Social Security Administration’s Bureau of Public Assistance through 1958 and after that by the administration proper notified the department of changes in policy and procedures affecting the administration of federally-funded public assistance plans.  Files of such notifications for 1950-1952 were maintained by the department’s Division of Aid and Relief and from 1953 by its successor,  the Division of Public Assistance.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: Cushing Hospital in Framingham, Mass., intended for the care and custody of elderly persons, was purchased by the Commonwealth from the federal government in 1955, opened in 1957 under the Dept. of Mental Health, transferred to the Dept. of Public Health in 1984, and closed in 1991.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Transferred to Archives by Tewksbury Hospital, Tewksbury, Mass., Mar. 1999
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Scope and Content: Setting of rates to be paid by Massachusetts state agencies to health care institutions (and, from 1975, the approval of all hospital rate increases) was the responsibility successively of the Division of Hospital Costs and Finances (1954-1962, within the Commission on Administration and Finance), the Bureau of Hospital Costs and Finances (1963-1968, within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance), and the Rate Setting Commission (1968-1996, within the Executive Office of Human Services (Executive Office of Health and Human Services from 1992)–also known as the Massachusetts Rate Setting Commission). The commission was succeeded in 1996 by the executive office’s Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP). From 2003 rates for hospitals were set by  EOHSS itself, as were rates for other health care institutions from 2012, when the division was succeeded by the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA). The center, tasked with collecting and providing  analysis of data to assist in the formulation of health care policy, continues to maintain rate setting records.  Public hearings convened by the current rate setting agency are required in order to adopt or amend rates or related regulations. After issuing notice, holding hearings, and observing a public comment period, the agency files rules and regulations with the state secretary for codification in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR).
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Scope and Content: Westfield State Sanatorium, renamed Western Massachusetts Hospital in 1962, provided care and treatment of cancer patients from 1937 to 1974.  Case files were kept by sanatorium medical staff to provide a medical history and treatment record for each patient.
Arrangement: Arranged by case no./chronologically
Restrictions: Public health hospital/clinic client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 111, s 70. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Transferred to Archives, Aug.-Sept. 1982
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Scope and Content: The Psychopathic Dept. of Boston State Hospital was established in 1912.  It became Boston Psychopathic Hospital in 1920; that was renamed Massachusetts Mental Health Center in 1956.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year of closure, thereunder alphabetically by client
Restrictions: Mental health client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 123, s 36. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Box 1: 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 (A-B) Box 2: 1970 (C-Me) Box 3: 1970 (Mi-R)
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Scope and Content: The Massachusetts Reformatory was opened in 1884 and renamed Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Concord, in 1955.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Restrictions: Criminal offender record information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 6, ss 167-178. For conditions of access consult repository 
Notes: Transferred to Archives from MCI Concord, July 1982
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Scope and Content: The State Almshouse at Monson provided residence for paupers without settlement in the Commonwealth from 1854 to 1872. St 1872, c 45 abolished the state almshouses at Monson and Bridgewater, although the State Primary School, opened at the Monson almshouse in 1866, continued until 1895. The legislation transferred all state paupers, except those needed to serve the primary school, to the almshouse at Tewksbury, although state paupers could continue to be sent to Monson. Overcrowding at Tewksbury led to continuing commitment of adult paupers to Monson, with such inmates from 1872 admitted for so-called support and temporary custody. St 1872, c 45, s 3 also admitted for such support  (pending full admission to the school) dependent and neglected children (through 1890; some given immediate full admission earlier, including those per St 1882, c 181, ss 2-3), and juvenile offenders committed from the courts by the Board of State Charities per St 1870, c 359 (through 1882; then given immediate full admission). Series was created to record background and status of persons admitted to the institution.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by admission date
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Scope and Content: The State Primary School, opened at the State Almshouse at Monson in 1866 and continuing after the almshouse’s closing in 1872 until 1895, provided lodging, instruction, and employment for dependent and neglected children under age sixteen without settlement in the Commonwealth and some juvenile offenders.   Series was created to record background and status of persons admitted to the institution.
Arrangement: In five subseries
Notes: Reel GSU 452: Subseries (1); Subseries (2) volumes 1-3, 1864-1885. Reel GSU 453: Subseries (2) volumes 3-6, 1885-1895; Subseries (3) volumes 1, 1866-1872. Reel GSU 454: Subseries (3) volumes 1-2, 1872-1879; Subseries (4); Subseries (5)
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Scope and Content: Transfer of immigration authority from the states to the federal government occurred with the federal Acts of 1891, c 551. In Massachusetts, continuing state medical care of alien passengers was administered first by the State Board of Lunacy and Charity (1886-1898), and then by its successor, the State Board of Charity (from1898). A federal alien immigration act of Feb. 20, 1907 led to a July 1908 contract between the immigration office in the U.S. Treasury Dept. and the State Board of Charity, renewed July 1909, replacing a similar contract of Mar. 1894. It provided federal reimbursement for care at state hospitals or other suitable institutions until deportation, or until one year after entry into the United States–three years for those ordered deported whose need for public support predated their arrival. A contract of Aug. 1910 repealed previous terms, and indicated that the federal government would not pay alien hospital charges, except in cases where the government was paying for deportation with the consent of the alien concerned. Formal contracts with Massachusetts were discontinued as of Jan. 1, 1911. Hereafter Massachusetts, like other states, was to receive any payments at approved rates under federal immigration regulations.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by registration date
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Scope and Content: The Industrial School for Boys at Shirley provided instruction and reformatory treatment for delinquent boys in Massachusetts aged fifteen or older, from 1909 to 1972.  Case histories document background, commitment, stay, and discharge of each inmate.
Arrangement: Arranged by case no./chronologically
Restrictions: Youth services client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 120, s 21. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Accessioned 1983. Series incomplete. Volumes for 1914-1923 have typed list of admittees in front; entries in vols. from 1950 consist chiefly of printed forms
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