Several groups of records relating to the inspection of local institutions caring for resident inmates. This inspection was carried out principally by representatives of the State Board of Control (1891-1939), although some records were created as late as 1947 after the State Department of Public Welfare had succeeded the Board of Control in 1939.
Chronologically arranged inspection reports (Volumes 1-6) contain copies of inspectors' reports on all types of institutions within the State Board of Control's supervisory responsibility. Volume 1 (Box 25) includes the earliest records and covers the government administered institutions as well as the private and semi-private; volumes 2-6 cover the government administered institutions from the time volume 1 ends through 1906; volume 6 covers the private and semi-private intuitions from the time volume 1 ends through 1906. These reports are quite detailed. For poorhouses, county jails, county asylums for the chronically insane, and private and semiprivate institutions, the following information is shown: inspector's name and date of inspection; name of the officer in charge of the institution; number of inmates, attendants, and employees, classified by sex; condition of clothing, food, building, beds, grounds; number of inmates under restraint or in seclusion; general appearance of inmates; remarks pertaining to the capacity, condition, and location of the institution; the inspector's recommendations for improvement; and follow-up notes concerning actions taken on these recommendations. For police stations and lockups, the reports show location, cost, and material of the building; date of construction; capacity; number of cells; material and size of cells; size of the outer room; how heated; how ventilated; fire preventive measures in force; name of inspector and date of inspection; number of male and female inmates; conditon of beds, building, and grounds; and remarks, 1891-1899; county asylums, 1891-1902.
A summary record of inspections (Volumes 7-8 in Box 25) is arranged by county and shows name and location of institution inspected, date of inspection, and by whom inspected. Volume 7 also serves as an index to volumes 2 through 6, 1896-1898, 1900-1906.
Inspectors' reports and correspondence concerning inspection of jails, police stations, and lockups comprise Boxes 1-9. The reports are quite detailed, and relate to administration and management practices; size, facilities, and condition of cells; sanitation; fire protection; food; and other matters; and contain recommendations and criticisms, 1908-1945; chiefly 1913-1942.
The few Indian institutions covered are classified as private and semi-private institutions, and appear only in the records in volume form from 1906 and earlier, specifically only in volumes 1, 6, and 7. Included are St. Mary's Industrial Boarding School for Indian and Half-breed Girls in Bayfield; the Tomah Indian School, Monroe County; and the Bethany Indian Mission School in Wittenberg, Shawano County.
Materials similar in form to those in Boxes 1-9 but pertaining to inspection of county insane asylums, homes, and hospitals comprise Boxes 10-20.
The detailed inspectors' reports cover management data; building, heating, lighting, and ventilation; fire protection; water supply; laundry; cold storage; bedrooms and dormitories; beds and bedding; sanitation; bathing facilities and lavatories; sewage disposal; health care; clothing; food (a day's menu is included); amusements and recreation; employment; religious services; and other topics, 1910-1947, chiefly 1914-1939.
Boxes 21-23 contain a card record of inspections of county jails, police stations, and lockups, 1910-1938, generally arranged by name of city or village in which located. Shows name and location of institution, name of officer in charge, name of inspectors, date inspected, conditions, and recommendations.
Box 24 contains cards of the same format but this sequence pertains to county jails only and is arranged by county, Bayfield through Rusk. Other county jails are represented in the previous group of records.
Material in Boxes 21-24 partially, but not completely, duplicates information found in Boxes 1-9.
