Montana State Hospital, Galen Campus records

Collection

Identifier: RS-395

Staff Only

Abstract

This collection is a sub-subgroup (former State Institution) of the Montana Department of Corrections records. Galen State Hospital operated within the Department of Corrections' predecessor agency, the Department of Corrections and Human Services. Galen State Hospital closed in 1993, prior to the split between the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Corrections records. These Galen State Hospital records (1913-1993) include case/patient medical files and examination files for patients at the Galen facility; patient case files (1970s-1990s) from the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program; and a card file (A-Z) of silicotic patients. The records also include admissions, discharges, death registrar log (1976-1993), Custodial Care Unit admissions and discharges and X-patient follow-up examinations (1960-1971) and miscellaneous volumes (1940s-1970s) from the Tuberculosis Treatment Program. Also included is interoffice correspondence (1958-1989); employee records (1956-1973); minutes (1965-1993) of various committees; lab reports (1934-1958); narcotic and barbiturate inventories and registers (1943-1970), and subject files (1948-1993) which are arranged alphabetically.

Dates

Creation: 1913-1993

Biographical / Historical

The Montana State Tuberculosis Sanitarium (renamed Galen State Hospital in 1965) was created by Chapter 125, Laws of 1911 and was located in Deer Lodge, Montana. The bill was introduced by Jim McNally, whose brother died of “miner’s lung” the year before. The facilities were constructed in 1912, and the first patient, a 22-year-old woman from Missoula, was admitted in 1913. Galen was originally created to treat patients with tuberculosis.

In 1953, 100 additional beds were added for Native Americans with tuberculosis, along with an additional 72 beds. The total capacity at that time was 340 patients. By 1960, tuberculosis rates began to decline. Children from the Boulder Training School (later named the Montana Developmental Center) were transferred to Galen as a result of overcrowding at the Training School. Galen began treating patients with other chest diseases, such as silicosis, as well as drug use, mental disabilities, and aging seniors. The hospital was also responsible for operating an alcoholism services center, which was moved from Warm Springs to Galen in 1974. In 1981, legislation passed combining the Montana State Hospital and Galen under one administration.

In both 1991 and 1992, the Stan Stephens administration attempted to close the hospital. In 1993, legislation passed to close Galen. The 80 acre, 28 building campus was sold to Anaconda-Deer Lodge County in 1998. At the time of its closure, Galen State Hospital operated within the Montana Department of Corrections and Human Services.

Extent

1076 linear feet (1076 linear ft)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Department of Corrections and Human Services, Montana State Hospital, Galen Campus. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--June 1993. Accession number--S1993-13 (RS 395).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Department of Corrections and Human Services, Montana State Hospital, Galen Campus. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--November 1994. Accession number--S1994-19.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Department of Corrections and Human Services, Montana State Hospital, Galen Campus. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--May 1995. Accession number--S1995-21.

Scope and content

This collection is a sub-subgroup (former State Institution) of the Montana Department of Corrections records. Galen State Hospital operated within the Department of Corrections' predecessor agency, the Department of Corrections and Human Services. Galen State Hospital closed in 1993, prior to the split between the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Corrections records.

These records consist of patient case/medical files (nos. 1-56, 403, 1-17,999), and examination files (nos. 0-1x to 0-3623x) for patients at the Galen facility; patient case files (1970s-1990s) from the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program; and a card file (A-Z) of silicotic patients. The records also include admissions (1913-1978), applications for admission, discharges (1913-1990), death registrar log (1976-1993), Custodial Care Unit admissions (1967-1972) and discharges (1967-1977), and X-patient follow-up examinations (1960-1971). Patient files include information on diagnosis, treatment, and related personal data for patients suffering from tuberculosis or silicosis, and, starting in the 1970s, from alcohol and drug abuse. Files are arranged numerically by case number. Also included is interoffice correspondence (1958-1989), employee records (1956-1973), minutes (1965-1993) of various committees, lab reports (1934-1958), narcotic and barbiturate inventories and registers (1943-1970), and subject files (1948-1993) which are arranged alphabetically.

Scope and content

RESTRICTION: Records of chemically dependent persons, intoxicated persons, and family members are confidential and priviledged to the patient (42 C.F.R. Part 2 and M.C.A. 53-24-306); however, information from patients' records may be made available for research into the causes and treatment of chemical dependency as long as the information is not published in a way that discloses patients' names or other identifying information. Medical files of tuberculosis patients are restricted under the Health Care Information Act (M.C.A. 50-16-Part 5); however, records may be used for research under certain conditions. Also, a personal representative of a deceased patient may exercise all of the deceased patient's rights. In either case, consult an archivist for details and for a copy of the application to conduct research form.

Processing Information

In 2025, the various collections of the Montana Department of Corrections and its predecessor agencies were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 506, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Corrections' various Divisions, State Institutions, and Boards that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 506. Rather than reprocessing over 1,100 linear feet of Corrections materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.