The Brainerd State Hospital opened in June 1958 with 88 residents who were transferred from Cambridge and Faribault State Hospitals. In 1967 it became one of three state facilities for the mentally disabled and epileptic. In July 1970, the Minnesota Learning Center was established as a part of Brainerd State Hospital because of the closing of Owatonna State School. The Minnesota Learning Center currently serves the educable mentally disabled with behavior problems from the entire state. In 1985 the name of the institution was changed to Brainerd Regional Human Services Center.
Brainerd became a multiservice facility in 1971 with the establishment of programs for mentally ill and chemically dependent. Also in 1971, a number of mentally disabled residents were transferred to Fergus Falls and Moose Lake state hospitals in a move toward regionalization and smaller receiving areas which would place residents nearer their home counties. The institution’s goal is to increase self-dependence of residents/patients. Residents are grouped according to common program needs, and assessed on a regular basis. Residents are treated and trained so that as many as possible may return to their communities.
Some patient records for the Brainerd State Hospital can be viewed in person at the library, however any which fall under restrictions will need to be reviewed by library staff prior to access. Please visit our State Hospital Records Research Request page for more information on ordering state hospital records through our distance research service.
To order a state hospital patient index and records search for an individual visit our State Hospital Records Request.
Admission and Discharge Records, 1958-2007
Records of patient admission and discharge at the hospital; information provided may include patient’s name, case file number, previous number, admission date, residence, sex, age, nativity, parents’ nativity, occupation, education, habits, previous hospital residence, form of insanity, discharge date, condition on discharge, and remarks. Included are records of the chemical dependency and disability programs, Minnesota Learning Center, Woodhaven Senior Community, and Lakeside Center.
MNHS call number: Digital Finding Aid
Death Records, 1958-2006
Record of patients who died at Brainerd State Hospital/Regional Human Services Center; may include patient names and file numbers, death dates, and funeral home or ambulance service that removed bodies from the hospital/center campus. Also includes death reviews, 1984-1991.
MNHS call number: Digital Finding Aid
Aggregated Patient Cards, 1920s-1990s
Part of the Department of Human Services Administrative Records
Aggregated patient index cards from various state hospitals; information includes name, Department of Public Welfare number, birth date, birth place, county of commitment, county of residence, occupation, hospital, hospital case number, social security number, admittance history. Patients may have multiple cards.
MNHS call number: Digital Finding Aid
Note: These records include private information about individuals. Records with private information are closed for 75 years from date of last entry in the record and occasionally 100 years due to sensitive and/or third-party data. Researchers must apply for permission to use these records. Click here for more information on accessing restricted records.
Minnesota Learning Center Records, 1970-1987
Management group minutes, annual reports including program descriptions, other program analyses and reports, Learning Center manuals, and a roster.
MNHS call number: Digital Finding Aid
Note: These records include private information about individuals. Records with private information are closed for 75 years from date of last entry in the record and occasionally 100 years due to sensitive and/or third-party data. Researchers must apply for permission to use these records. Click here for more information on accessing restricted records
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