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Archiver > COOK-CO-IL > 2002-10 > 1033584994


From: "Beverly Zanon" <>
Subject: RE: Elgin State Hospital Records
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 13:56:34 -0500


I have 1st hand experience obtaining records from Elgin's State
Hospital. My maternal grandmother was interred there in 1937 and died
there in 1959 [cancer]. I began my genealogical quest gathering medical
background for future use for the chidren in our family in 1997. My
sister & I made a personal visit to the hospital and they would not
release any records of any kind to us w/o a court order. My sister
being a Court stenographer and her husband a lawyer made getting the
order w/o cost other than court expenses but let me tell you it took
quite a bit of time and we had to get written signatutes from ALL living
relatives to release the records over and above the court order. And
once all this was accomplished, the hospital was selective in what they
would release -- all we received were topical records. No details or
copies of her entire case history while interred there. I cannot say
what you would need to do today.

Beverly Mack Zanon
Researching - MACK BUSAM ZANON GIRARDI ZUSSA DESARDI WISSER BITTINGER
FIERKE
COOK & KANE COUNTY

-----Original Message-----
From: Judith A. Mason [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 10:58 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Elgin State Hospital Records


I too had family who died at Elgin State Hospital. During conversations
with Elgin (Kane County) and Forest Home Infirmary (Cook County) a
number of years ago, I was advised that mental health records were only
available with a court order.....until recently that is.

In correspondence from one of the rootsweb mailing lists (possibly this
one), I learned that hospitals will provide a medical request form if
the request is for the purpose of determining one's health history. I
was told the request form was mailed to the appropriate court, signed by
the judge and returned ready for presentation to the hospital. With no
problem, the patients history was provided.

This sounds so easy and uncomplicated........too easy maybe?? I don't
know, I haven't tried to obtain records yet. Maybe someone out there
has first hand experience they'd like to share.

Judie


----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 9:03 PM
Subject: Elgin State Hospital


> Where would I get information on an ancestor who died in Elgin State
> Hospital?
>
> Thank you.
> R. Smith
> SMITH/HALSEY families
>
>
> ==== COOK-CO-IL Mailing List ====
> Please Visit the Cook County ILGenWeb Genealogy Website sponsored by
> RootsWeb:
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcook/
>
>

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