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Archiver > TX-CEMETERIES > 2002-05 > 1020715386


From: "bill" <>
Subject: Re: [TX-Cem] Question
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 15:03:06 -0500
References: <000a01c1ea28$a3717e00$5b727c42@dickremi> <3CC4C94E.A583015F@texoma.net> <3CC4D65D.EFDF7FA0@worldnet.att.net> <3CC5490C.20D7A0B3@texas.net> <003d01c1eef9$df49aee0$a5343b41@monorailpc> <3CCD4042.7106E645@texas.net> <3CD559CD.ADDBFD51@texoma.net> <3CD576A8.A3C72C54@texas.net> <007301c1f51d$87760540$2fbabd42@knnwck.wa.charter.com>


What a wonderful work you are doing! Billie in Tex.
----- Original Message -----
From: "WACemeteries" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: [TX-Cem] Question


> Hi, yes, I've had dealings with Washington state's Western State Hospital
> regarding their patient cemetery. I was the pro-tem secretary of the
Grave
> Concerns Association. Our pro-tem president was the Ombudsman of the
> hospital. The hospital enlisted her (and through her, me) to aid in
> restoring the cemetery. So, in effect, I was the Secretary of the Grave
> Concerns Association that worked to restore the cemetery. We've been
> working on it now for over two years and I just pulled out as Secretary
but
> stay involved by directing the yearly rededication and training others to
> work in the cemetery.
>
> I'm also the President of the Washington State Cemetery Association. If
you
> want more information on the state hospitals and their cemeteries, go to
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~wapsgs and click on newsletters. Go through the
> editions and locate the articles we did on the cemetery and all the work
> going on in our state. Should be in Volume II, Number 2 or 3.
>
> There's a movement across America by the state hospital directors
> association to get Congress to pass a law allowing burial information to
be
> released to the general public. The law that stands now is that no
personal
> or medical information may be released to the public about any patient.
It
> is hoped a new law will allow names and death dates to be released. Until
> Congress allows it, it is a Federal crime and a fine of $1,000 for every
> name released (according to our state's Attorney General).
>
> THIS IS THE EXCITING PART FOR YOU! Until the law is changed, descendants
or
> collateral relatives may request information through the hospital's
records
> office. There should be a form for you to fill out, and it will tell you
> what information you have to provide to get the information you are
seeking.
> If you don't get the answers you are seeking, contact your legislator, who
> usually takes an active interest in this kind of thing.
> --------------
> Andrea D. MacDonald "Andi"
>
>
> Washington State Cemetery Association
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~wapsgs/
> To join our maillist, send email to
> with the single word subscribe in the message subject and body.
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can
change
> the world.
> Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Janelle Holmes" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 11:15 AM
> Subject: Re: [TX-Cem] Question
>
>
> > Susan, I have her death certificate. it says she was buried in Cemetery
> > "O", but records of that cemetery do not show her. It was a black
> > cemetery and she was not black. Search of similarly named cemeteries,
> > also came up empty. One volunteer on this list searched through
> > obituaries for me and also came up empty handed. She was a patient at
> > the State Hospital for over 40 years. Her second son was guardian of her
> > estate, and filed all the appropriate records on her death. Two
> > daughters were also in State hospitals and a son was declared "of
> > unsound mind". One son moved off and seems to have cut himself off from
> > the family. A daughter and her husband lived near the family homestead,
> > but during court guardianship of the "unsound" son, he refused to accept
> > guardianship and an attorney was appointed. I highly suspect she is
> > buried at the State Hospital cemetery, and I think earlier discussion on
> > this list said that particular cemetery was unrecorded and the hospital
> > wanted it that way and was very reluctant to release patients records
> > even for genealogical purposes. Since there seems to be a "familial
> > tendency" toward mental problems (although not in the one son's line or
> > the other that I know of), I might be able to obtain records on her for
> > "medical" background of the family.
> >
> > Has anyone had any dealings with State hospitals in obtaining cemetery
> > records?
> > --
> > Janelle Holmes
> > Wildair Kennels
> > Dripping Springs, Texas
> >
> >
> > ==== TX-CEMETERIES Mailing List ====
> > Locate TX County Records at:
> > http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/local/index.html
> >
>
>
> ==== TX-CEMETERIES Mailing List ====
> Find a Texas County fast:
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~txgenweb/
>
>
>


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