Main building of Illinois Asylum for Feeble-minded Children constructed in 1877
As a result, a large influx of people arrived at the school. Some were dangerous. Cook County judges classified juvenile delinquents as "criminal morons," sending them to the school instead of to overcrowded reformatories. In 1937, Smith Cottage was built as a detention building for incorrigible residents. In 1944, two riots broke out in Smith Cottage.
A number of residents were only poor, but if the community in which they lived didn't want to help them, judges could commit them. In 1949 the Mental Deficiency Law gave the power to discharge residents back to superintendents of these facilities. In 1954 the institution's name was changed again to the Lincoln State School and funding was increased for resident care. However, the facility was still severely overcrowded.
In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled residents working in charitable institutions had to be paid like employees. The superintendent of the Lincoln State School ordered an end to the practice of having residents work. By 1975 the institution had undergone another name change and became the Lincoln Development Center. Most of the residents had been moved to smaller institutions, group homes or nursing homes. By 2000 the facility had 383 patients and a staff of 698.
Over the years, the people who were cared for at the school have been called pupils, students, patients, inmates, resident, clients, kids, and boys and girls. Today they are referred to as individuals. However, in 1940, when my cousin Charles Riggin was there, he was referred on the Census form as an inmate.
Charles was born in 1908, never married and lived with his mother until her death. After her husband's death Charles and his mother lived with his sister and her husband. When his mother died, it appears, his sister had Charles institutionalized.
For more information on the history of this institution, check out the "Our Times" Winter 2000 issue.
For more information on the history of this institution, check out the "Our Times" Winter 2000 issue.
I just discovered that a cousin of mine died here. His story seems quite sad. He was committed in mid-May, his father died in June, he died the beginning of September and his mother died at the end of September. He was epileptic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tragic family story! Isn't it amazing how sad things seems to dog a certain family's heels while leaving others alone?
DeleteI too have a relative who died there. How did you find out information? My great uncle was listed as a non inmate. Ive requested info from the state achieves, with no avail.
DeleteI found some information on Wikipedia and through the Illinois Historical Society. I learned my ancestor was an inmate from a census record. If you relative was a non-inmate, perhaps they were staff?
DeleteI have been trying to find information on my grandmother Mary Frazier .All anyone knows is she died on February 02 1933 as an inmate at Lincoln state school How can her files be opened ?
ReplyDeleteIllinois has some pretty strict privacy laws related to medical information. I was not successful getting the files for my Riggin ancestor. The list of files held by the archive from the Lincoln Development Center (final name of institution) may be found here: http://ilsos.libraryhost.com/?p=collections/classifications&id=48
DeletePerhaps communicating with the archives about specific records sets instead of a general questions would be more successful. I haven't yet tried that approach.
That link does not work
DeleteI'm doing research on my paternal grandparents and I believe my grandmother was there. Name and birth year match on 1930 and 1940 census records. I can't find anything about her beyond that.
ReplyDeleteSince you are a direct descendant, the state should release her medical records to you. Google the school name and you should find out what Illinois agency has the records. Then write to them.
DeleteI have been told by my grandmother she was born here. Is there anyway to find out of this is true? She has been told all her life her mom gave birth here and she was left behind.
ReplyDeleteYou could try as immediate family to obtain her records.
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