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series consists of a near-complete set of monthly reports of the
Department of Institutions and Agencies for the period 1926-1971,
providing coverage for most of the department's existence (1918-1976).
The reports for the first year (January 1926 - February 1927) were
actually done on a weekly basis; they record the commissioner's
and division directors' day-to-day activities, and also provide
reports from the superintendent of each institution or agency. Beginning
in March 1927, the reports were done monthly and no longer included
separate sections for each institution. The commissioner reported
on his own activities, usually including highlights of meetings
and conferences, accounts of projects or initiatives at specific
institutions, and updates on budget and legislative matters. This
was followed by summaries of each division's activities throughout
the various institutions (as opposed to sections for each facility).
While the number, names and functions of the department's divisions
changed over the years, the subjects they reported on generally
included: finances, personnel policies, farm yields, grounds and
buildings improvements, social services, parole, classification,
education, and mental and physical health care. The early reports
are predominantly narrative, but do provide some tables of financial
data as well as patient/inmate demographics. By the 1940s, the amount
of statistical information included in the reports increased and
tended to dominate the reports by the 1970s. NOTE: The
reports for the period July-December 1955 are missing.
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