Western State Hospital, Pierce County, Washington

Here are some resources to help find former patients at the hospital which was established in 1871 and developed into an insane asylum and is now a mental health hospital.

Western State Hospital Historical Society: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Historic-Western-State-Hospital/332975883480219

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_State_Hospital_(Washington) - gives history of institution which started in 1871 on the grounds of Ft. Steilacoom.

Find patients buried in the hospital's cemetery at the digital archives for Washington State: http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/1236

Grave Concerns Association for Western State Hospital Cemetery: http://www.wshgraveconcerns.org/home.html

To get medical records for patient you must submit a release signed by the deceased patient's next of kin. It can be submitted by email. To contact medical records call: Medical Records Department at Western State Hospital, known as Health Information Management Services (HIMS} to request research by historic technician. The hospital switchboard number is 253-582-8900. You will need to have a form completed by the closest living relative to have the information released. They will either mail or email the records to you. There may be certain years for available records.