Did Your Ancestor Have Tuberculosis?
It’s not easy to imagine that our ancestor’s travelled a distance for health reasons. But tuberculosis was accompanied with the fear of rapid spreading. Isolation from the general public was necessary. To understand your ancestor’s removal from the household, you may need to understand the process of treating tuberculosis in the early 1900’s.
The Road to Better Health
According to the Missouri Rehabilitation Center website “a diagnosis of tuberculosis often meant impending death and the only known treatment for it was fresh air, sunshine, nutrition and bed rest. To keep the disease from spreading, patients were isolated from society.”
The website continues to explain the disappearance of our ancestors from the home. “Diagnosis of tuberculosis took six to eight weeks and because there were no medications to treat the disease, patients confined to the sanatorium spent months or years away from home. Reinfection was common and often necessitated a return to the hospital.
Drugs were developed in the 1950's that effectively controlled tuberculosis. Patients were able to go home sooner and were usually able to be treated in their local communities.”
http://www.muhealth.org/MRCHistory
With the control of tuberculosis, the Missouri State Sanatorium buildings were used for other services:
It’s not easy to imagine that our ancestor’s travelled a distance for health reasons. But tuberculosis was accompanied with the fear of rapid spreading. Isolation from the general public was necessary. To understand your ancestor’s removal from the household, you may need to understand the process of treating tuberculosis in the early 1900’s.
The Road to Better Health
According to the Missouri Rehabilitation Center website “a diagnosis of tuberculosis often meant impending death and the only known treatment for it was fresh air, sunshine, nutrition and bed rest. To keep the disease from spreading, patients were isolated from society.”
The website continues to explain the disappearance of our ancestors from the home. “Diagnosis of tuberculosis took six to eight weeks and because there were no medications to treat the disease, patients confined to the sanatorium spent months or years away from home. Reinfection was common and often necessitated a return to the hospital.
Drugs were developed in the 1950's that effectively controlled tuberculosis. Patients were able to go home sooner and were usually able to be treated in their local communities.”
http://www.muhealth.org/MRCHistory
With the control of tuberculosis, the Missouri State Sanatorium buildings were used for other services:
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| Sanborn Map, 1918 |
Here is a brief timeline of the institution’s name change:
Missouri State Sanatorium, 1907-1971
Missouri State Chest Hospital, 1971-1985
Missouri Rehabilitation Center, 1971-1985
University of Missouri Health Care, 1996-Present
Genealogical Data?
By narrowing a date of hospital admission, you may be able to follow progress your ancestor's progress in the local (home)newspaper, especially if he lived in a small community.
Genetic genealogy was not of importance before 2000 but researchers may find basic genealogical information such as: next of kin (emergency contact"), home address, occupation, age, etc. You may find additional information on his death certificate or in cemetery/funeral records.
By narrowing a date of hospital admission, you may be able to follow progress your ancestor's progress in the local (home)newspaper, especially if he lived in a small community.
Records and Searches
Early Missouri death certificates may note place of death as the Missouri State Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Mt. Vernon. Lawrence County. However this institution originally built for tuberculosis patients no longer exists, even though many of records still survive. Today, associated with the University of Missouri School Medicine, the Sanatorium operates as the "Missouri State Rehabilitation Hospital" housing veterans and providing services.
The State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, Mo has a collection that researchers will not want to miss. The Stark, Lloyd Crow Papers, 1931-1941 has five folders of Sanatorium related documents:
More photos
Visit the Missouri Digital Heritage website to see additional photos of the Sanitorium.
The State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, Mo has a collection that researchers will not want to miss. The Stark, Lloyd Crow Papers, 1931-1941 has five folders of Sanatorium related documents:
f. 761-792 State Hospital Number One, Missouri Sanatorium. Folder 791 has a list of employees and their rating
f. 943-994 Employment applications for positions at the State Sanatorium, Mt. Vernon, together with letters of recommendation. Folder 943 contains a list of employees.
Cemetery
The Old Sanatorium Cemetery interred patients as early as 1924. Here is an index of some of the burials: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/lawrence/cemeteries/sanitarm.txtMore photos
Visit the Missouri Digital Heritage website to see additional photos of the Sanitorium.
My father's father was a patient here and died at this facility. Although I do not have a need for more information about my grandfather, are a patient's genealogical information available?
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteGenetic genealogy was not of importance before 2000 but you may find basic genealogical information such as: next of kin (emergency contact"), home address, occupation, age, etc.You may find additional information on his death certificate or in cemetery/funeral records.
We have also found that once we narrow a date that of hospital admission, we can follow progress of the patient in the local (home)newspaper if he lived in a small community. Good luck on your genealogical search.
Thank you for this information. One of my kin was there for 15 years and then worked there as an employee. This gives me some leads to follow.
ReplyDeleteThanks you. I had 2 Aunt there Aunt Velma Hall, died in 1943, ran away from there and got married, & Aunt Lill (sisters) live for many years, passed away recently from old age. My father-n-law told me his mother was there and they used her for research because she never had TB.
ReplyDeleteTamie
My dad was there in1943 passed away at home tho.
DeleteWas there a Preventetium in Missouri around 1935?
ReplyDeleteI was a patient there in the late 50's and early 60's. I would love to find my records. I did stop by the TB Sanatorium now for veterans and found that there is a historical museum downtown off the square in MT Vernon. I did find with help a school record and a photo of me. I want to go back to see if I can find more. I would love to find my medical records etc. How do I do that? They did not have information on that.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Did you check the resources mentioned in the article? Be sure to check the State Archives. We have found records also within the University of Missouri Health Care. This article may assist you: http://www.muhealth.org/news/2014-news-releases/missouri-rehabilitation-center-in-mt-vernon-to-close-oct-31/
DeleteIn 1962, At the age 12, I was a patient here. In the beginning the residents were segregated. I lived on a ward with women that were old enough to be my Mother. I remember the day my Mother took me to this place. This was far from my home in St Louis. After crying for a few days, I finally adjusted. The adult patients and staff there were so kind to Dr. Johnson was my attending physician and took care of me. The four leaf clover charity organization and they adopted me for Christmas. I stay here for one year and returned to my family. I will be 72 yrs this month. I am completely well and never had any more issues or sickness. I told my children and grandchildren about my experience. I am forever grateful that this experience.
DeleteMy mother, Joreece Leonard, was a patient there for several weeks (months?) between August and November 1959. She was also there for shorter periods in 1960 and 1961. She died there on March 9, 1962, having been a patient for about one week. I have a copy of her death certificate. I would like to find her medical records, not so much for the personal details, but rather to confirm when she was there. In addition to being an inpatient, she received outpatient treatments on many occasions between 1959 and 1962. She had pulmonary fibrosis. She was never diagnosed with TB.
DeleteBe sure to read the blog Poor, Insane and Abandoned for tip son researching Missouri Institution records. Let me know if the a3Genealogy research team can assist you with this project. Good luck.
DeleteMy Biological Grandmother Virgina J Storer (Lenz) went here in the 1940's. But can't find anything about her, No death or even where she is now. Struggling with this..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your note. a3Genealogy is a for-hire research firm. a3Genealogy has this educational blog to help those who wish to do their own research, but the answers are general. If you are looking for assistance, contact me at a3Genealogy@gmail.com. If you are looking to further your research on your own, I would suggest you begin with ferreting out genealogical information and newspaper articles on him and the family. Even with records for an asylum or institution can't be located, we use vital records (death, birth, marriage), court records, and newspaper docs to reconstruct the life our our ancestors. Good luck with this endeavor. Let me know if the a3Genealogy research team can assist you.
DeleteHave you tried the museum downtown? I even found my class records with the help of the ladies there as well as a photo of me. The museum is of and from the sanatorium.
ReplyDeleteMy mother, Elizabeth G. Hastings, was a TB patient here in 1961 and early 1962. I would like to find out more information about her stay, as well as her medical records, if possible.
ReplyDeleteThanks for any help you can give me.
Madeline Hastings Shires
I was there the same time as Elizabeth. I know the name but need to know what building she was in. Francinea Benson
DeleteI believe she was in the minor building in 1961
DeleteI was in the Minor also. She was not on the same veranda with me. I remember she was a very sweet lady
DeleteIs there a place to find the census records from 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 for the wards at the Missouri State TB Sanatorium in Mount Vernon, Missouri. I had found 2 relatives, sisters, listed in a census report, but now can't find the record again.
ReplyDeleteMy Grandfather John Arthur Clarkson was a TB patient there in 1965-1966. He died there 02 April 1966. I too would like to find more information on him. The name on his death certificate is incorrect they have him as Arthur F. Clarkson.
ReplyDelete
DeleteThanks for your note. a3Genealogy is a for-hire research firm. a3Genealogy has this educational blog to help those who wish to do their own research, but the answers are general. If you are looking for assistance, contact me at a3Genealogy@gmail.com. If you are looking to further your research on your own, I would suggest you begin with ferreting out genealogical information and newspaper articles on him and the family. Even with records for an asylum or institution can't be located, we use vital records (death, birth, marriage), court records, and newspaper docs to reconstruct the life our our ancestors. Good luck with this endeavor. Let me know if the a3Genealogy research team can assist you.
My grandpa was the in 1968 I remember going to visit him. But I remember he come home and died in 1970 of a heart condition
DeleteMy grandmother was a patient at Mt. Vernon TB Sanitarium in the mid 1940's. She kept an albums of photos of herself and fellow patients. The photos are mostly unlabeled, but I'd love to upload them for anyone who is looking for photos of family. Most of the photos are fun and show the patients (mostly women) making the best of their time at the facility. Any sugestions as to where I can upload the photos?
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was there in the late 30's and into the mid 40's. I have 1 picture of her with 5 other women that were there at the same time. I also wish there was a way to find out who the others are and share my pic. Grandma died in 1972.
DeleteIs there a way to find out if my Grandmother was a patient?
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother Velma Chitwood was a patient there in the mid to late 1940’s. I would love to see photos if anyone has any of her. She had according the her death certificate tb for nearly 5 years and died in 1949.
ReplyDeleteDowntown Mt Vernon is a museum, with many photo books. I spent a long time going through them. They are according to year. So basically photo yearbooks. You should be able to find her.
DeleteMy mother was there from approximately 1967-1970 just wondering if anyone knew her, just information seeking. Her name was Delores Barnes
ReplyDeleteThanks for your note. a3Genealogy has this educational blog to help those who wish to do their own research. If you are looking for assistance, contact me at a3Genealogy@gmail.com. If you are looking to further your research on your own, I would suggest you begin with ferreting out genealogical information and newspaper articles on him and the family. Even with records for an asylum or institution can't be located, we use vital records (death, birth, marriage), court records, and newspaper docs to reconstruct the life our our ancestors. Good luck with this endeavor. Let me know if the a3Genealogy research team can assist you.
DeleteBe sure to post this note on our FB page or instagram with a pick of your mother!
My grandmother was there in 1948, she gave birth to a daughter while there. Unfortunately. the infant died 9 days later. But my grandmother lived well into her 80's. Her name was Malissa May Spears.
DeleteOkay ... So a relative, Thurman Patterson, was recommended to go to the state sanatorium in the paper in Missouri in March of 1920. We can't find anything else on him. So I'm guessing the recommendation is a mandate by the court? I'm guessing her died there but there is no death certificate that we can find for him and no true death date but we know he did died and was said to have black lung. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find information for him? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMissouri sanatorium records are not centralized, so you will want to start at the one in the county or nearest region. Court records may also have additional information if mandated by the court and not the family. Family probate and wills may name her, or his heirs also. County coroner records may have the death recorded, or he may haven interred in the asylum cemetery.There are also five State Historical Societies strategically located by region and they may be able to assist. If you would like a3Genealogy researchers to assist, just drop us an email: a3genealogy@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy dad was admitted into the hospital in 1972 for 6 months. My dad was the sweetest man ever when he went in, but when he came out he was very mean. Like night and day. I can't help but wonder if he was a victim of clinical trials that altered his mind. Has anybody else experienced this with their loved one? He had TB.
ReplyDeleteClinical trials, overdosing, exposure to lead or other unhealthy substances which could affect personality and behaviors. The newspapers were full of issues and complaints. these sanatorium's should not have been so archaic in their practices, but they often were. If a full autopsy was not done, there's no way of knowing, but a research project on what was going on within that timeframe may be helpful. Also, this is quite recent and there are probably other families who can join assist you with your questions. Let us know if we can assist with locating others who may be able to shed light (often workers). If you are choose to do this on your own, please let us know what you learn. Thanks for writing.
DeleteAny records of my Grandfather Emory Eugene Dixon
ReplyDeleteWe assume your grandfather was institutionalized. I have provided in the blog posts ways to research for your grandfather. You can also hire a3Genealogy to do the research for you and family. Feel free to email us for a quote a3Genealogy@gmail.com. Also reference your 10 Dec message for a package discount. Happy holidays!
DeleteMy sister born in 1936 was 12 yrs old when she went to This TB sanatorium.
ReplyDeleteWas youngest patient at the time. Any record of Eugena Francois WHITT?
My dad was there in the early 1970’s for 6 weeks. He lived in south central Missouri and was in his early 40’s.out of curiosity he went into a white mobile van in his home town to see what it was all about! He came out saying he got a free chest x ray we just laughed. A few weeks later he got a call to report to Mo chest Hospital . He had cloudy lungs! It might be tv. He went and gave the nurses fits for his 6 weeks he sneaked out when mom came to visit. Lit a match under his thermometer,everything he could to be onery. They never did figure out his issue . Just said his lungs were cloudy! Finally they released him!
ReplyDeleteI was institutionalized in Mt Vernon TB Sanatorium in the late 60’s along with my brother, cousin and two Uncles. I was 3, my brother was age 4 and my cousin age 2. Is there a way to obtain proof I was there along with the others in my family?
ReplyDeleteI was there in 1964. I was diagnosed with Histo-plasmosis, a lung fungus. I was 10 years old and had accepted Jesus as my Savior not long before that. A nurse named Roberta taught taught me the song "Jesus is a Wonderful Savior." I got to go home after about 2 mos. and was required to rest 2 hrs. a day for a year and no physical activity (running
ReplyDeleteetc.) I was allowed to go to chapel services on Sunday and when a nurse took me into the chapel she seated me beside an elderly lady named Edna Rutledge. After I went home we wrote letters to each other until I never heard from her any more. Bro. Long was the pastor there. He knew I liked to sing and asked me if I would sing a special during the service next Sunday. When I got there the the next Sunday I got cold feet and didn't want to sing . He asked me if I would sing if he sang with me and I said yes. We sang the first 2 verses together and then he said you sing the next verse by yourself. I didn't have a choice so I sang it and he came back in with me on the 4th verse. He was a wonderful pastor there. I will forever remember him! I would love also to hear from Roberta. She was a jewell of a nurse!