Members and staff of the Minnesota Board of Control in Faribault, 1936. Fourteenth from the left in the bottom row is Mildred Thomson.

Staff of the State Board of Control

Members and staff of the Minnesota Board of Control in Faribault, 1936.

Eugenics in Minnesota

Eugenics, meaning “good stock,” is a scientific doctrine of race. It aims to produce what are considered good racial traits and eliminate those deemed harmful or defective, with the goal of reaching an ideal of purity. To the people eugenics policies targeted, it said that their physical or mental differences made them deficient or immoral. It further implied that, due to characteristics deemed “undesirable” or low IQ-test scores, their lives were not worth living.

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is shown

Governor Youndahl setting fire to restraints

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is shown personally setting the torch to the devices.

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is sho

Governor Youndahl setting fire to restraints

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is shown personally setting the torch to the devices.

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is sho

Governor Youndahl setting fire to restraints

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is shown personally setting the torch to the devices.

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is sho

Governor Youndahl setting fire to restraints

Governor Luther Youngdahl setting fire to restraints at Anoka County Hospital, October 31, 1949. Photograph by Hi Paul. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on November 1, 1949, with the article, “Halloween Fire Heralds Reform—Anoka State Hospital Burns Straitjackets.” Original caption: “A flaming pile of strait jackets, manacles, and straps marked the end of the use of restraints at the Anoka State Hospital Monday night. Gov. Youngdahl, the moving force behind Minnesota’s mental health program, is shown personally setting the torch to the devices.

Dancing in the auditorium of the Anoka State Hospital, ca. 1960.

Auditorium in Anoka State Hospital

Dancing in the auditorium of the Anoka State Hospital, ca. 1960.

Anoka State Hospital complex, ca. 1910.

Anoka State Hospital complex

Anoka State Hospital complex, ca. 1910.

Interior view of patient's dining room at the Anoka State Hospital, ca. 1910.

Dining room at Anoka State Hospital

Interior view of patien's dining room at the Anoka State Hospital, ca. 1910.

Interior view of a dormitory ward at the Anoka State Hospital, ca. 1910.

Dormitory ward at Anoka State Hospital

Interior view of a dormitory ward at the Anoka State Hospital, ca. 1910.

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