Health Care Facilities: Allenwood Hospital, 1920-1970s
RECORD GROUP: Other County Records
RECORD SERIES #: 6100
SERIES: Health Care Facilities: Allenwood Hospital
DATES: 1920-1970s
VOLUME: 4 boxes
In the early twentieth century, tuberculosis (TB) was a serious problem. Out of a growing concern for public health, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in 1916, deputized a volunteer organization called the Monmouth County Organization for Social Services. Its job, with the aid of the Public Health Department, was to locate people who had contracted TB. Once located, these patients were examined by local physicians. They would then become county charges who were placed in hospitals throughout the state that dealt with this disease.
The Freeholders became aware that there was a need for a county sanitarium so that, while convalescing, the afflicted would not be far from family and friends. Attention given to the problem by the Freeholders, state tuberculosis clinics, the Public Health Nursing Service, and the MCOSS, as well as by local communities, resulted in the establishment of the Allenwood Sanitarium, later known as Allenwood Hospital, and today as the Geraldine Thompson Medical Home.
Federal policies concerning construction during World War I postponed completion of the tuberculosis hospital, which opened on January 10, 1921. What was once a small one-story building, holding a mere twenty-eight patients, evolved into a model institution where more than seventy patients could be cared for in a facility recognized for its high standards and its highly qualified staff of health care professionals. A chronology of the Allenwood Hospital can be found at the end of this finding aid.
Geraldine L. Thompson
Called “The First Lady of New Jersey” by New Jersey Governor Alfred E. Driscoll, and granted awards and certificates from universities, state, county and local agencies, and from Congress, the namesake of the Geraldine L. Thompson Medical Home is a prominent figure in the history of New Jersey health care.
Thompson was born Geraldine Livingston Morgan on March 22, 1872. She was privately educated in France at the Convent of the Sacre Coeur. She married sportsman and social leader Lewis Steenrod Thompson in 1896. In 1912, she founded the Monmouth County Organization for Social Service. This organization was chiefly responsible for the creation of the county tuberculosis center that now bears her name. Geraldine Thompson was the only woman in New Jersey given an honorary masters degree in Philanthropy from Rutgers.
A childhood playmate of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, Geraldine Thompson was a guest at the White House during both the Roosevelt administration as well as Herbert Hoover’s. Brookdale Community College is built on land that she willed to the County. She died on September 9, 1967.
On her 88th birthday Governor Meyner said, “I speak for all the informed people of New Jersey in saying that this state owes a special debt to you for a lifetime of vigorous, fruitful and generous service on behalf of those who are unequipped to speak for themselves.” Quoted in “Mrs. Lewis W. Thompson. Former Member of the Board of Control Lauded,” The Psychogram, 44:10 (April 1960), 5.
These records pertain primarily to Allenwood Hospital, known since 1968 as the Geraldine Thompson Medical Home. The Allenwood Hospital records series consists of minutes, correspondence, publications, and photographs. There are twenty-nine years of minutes of board meetings, over fifty years of correspondence and printed materials pertaining to budget, construction, and other subjects. There are also publications from Allenwood and other hospitals. Lastly, there are numerous photographs, both black-and-white and color, in different sizes. Except for large prints, the photographs are in folders.
Box 1 and 2. Minutes and Correspondence
Primarily contains minutes of the board meetings (1921-1952) and correspondence (1923-1970’s), including folders of correspondence of Mrs. Geraldine Thompson and Miss Elizabeth Hynes, R.N., Superintendent of Allenwood Hospital.
Box 3. Subject Files
Contains annual reports (1921-1931) and other printed materials including budgets, various maintenance and construction plans, as well historical information about Allenwood Hospital. There are also various publications from other hospitals and a history of Monmouth County from 1683 to 1929.
Box 4. Photographs
Contains photographs of the hospital, staff, patients, and grounds. The photos are in both color and black-and-white and range in size from 3×5 to 11×14 inches, although most of the photos are 8×10. Many are loose; some are in booklets. Primarily, the photographs depict the interior and exterior of the hospital. The interior photographs are of offices, patients, and staff.
125 Symmes Drive
Manalapan, NJ 07726
Phone: 732-308-3771
Most of the records were transferred to the Monmouth County Archives in October 2001 by Donna Clayton Gaj, Secretarial Assistant, under the direction of Diana Czerepuszko, Administrator, Monmouth County Care Centers, Geraldine L. Thompson Division, Allenwood (Accession 2001-08). A small amount of administrative correspondence, transferred to the archives in 1991 by Dorothea K. Holmes, Retired Coordinator, Monmouth County Tuberculosis Control Program, was merged with the correspondence in the 2001 accession.
The Monmouth County Archives also holds Allenwood Hospital Commitment records, 1931-1960, which are restricted. The Commitment series contains applications from residents for care in the Allenwood Tuberculosis Sanatorium, as it was also known. These applications were submitted to the Common Pleas Court and later the County Court. The applications came to be in the Archives because they were a record of the County Clerk due to that official being the Clerk of the Courts at the time. In addition to this series, there are newspaper clippings about the Geraldine L. Thompson Medical Home (formerly Allenwood Hospital), 1971-1986, in the Red Bank Register collection, filed under Nursing Homes. Additional records related to Geraldine Thompson are in the MCOSS and Monmouth County Welfare Board record series.
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1-30 |
Minutes of Board Meetings |
1921-1952 |
|
31 |
General Correspondence |
1920 |
|
32-45 |
Correspondence |
1923-1935 |
|
46 |
: Mrs. Geraldine (Lewis S.) Thompson |
1935 |
|
47 |
: Miss Elizabeth Hynes |
1936 |
|
48 |
Correspondence |
1936 |
|
49 |
: Mrs. Thompson |
1937 |
2 |
50-54 |
1937-1950’s |
|
|
55-59 |
1965-1970’s |
|
|
60 |
undated |
|
|
|
Subject Files |
|
|
61 |
Statistics, pamphlets, budgets, misc. |
1960’s |
3 |
|
|
|
|
62 |
Chapel plans |
undated |
|
63 |
History, reports, background information |
undated |
|
64 |
Maintenance, budgets, construction, misc. |
undated |
|
|
Publications |
|
|
65 |
A Sketch of Monmouth County 1683-1929 |
1929 |
|
66 |
Training manuals : Allenwood Hospital. Article Psychology of the Sick. Copy of patient admission form |
1935 |
|
|
Allenwood Hospital Booklets |
|
|
67 |
History of Allenwood Hospital |
undated |
|
68 |
Information for patients |
1956 |
|
69-74 |
Annual Reports |
1921-1931 |
|
|
Other Hospital Publications |
|
|
75 |
American Hospital Association. Pamphlet: Caring for the Chronically Ill. |
1947, 1964 |
|
76 |
Bonnie Burn Sanatorium |
1949-1951 |
|
77 |
City of Chicago TB Sanitarium |
1941-1944 |
|
78 |
Iowa University |
1956 |
|
79 |
Roosevelt Hospital |
1946-47, 1953 |
|
80 |
John E. Runnells Hospital |
1956, 1966 |
|
81 |
Valley View Sanatorium |
1946 |
|
82 |
Manual of Hospital Standardization |
ca. 1941 |
|
|
Allenwood Hospital- Photographs in Folders (Box 4 located in vault) |
|
4 |
83 |
P1 (photocopy) exterior grounds. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1921 |
|
P2 recreation area. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1922 |
|
|
|
P3 exterior grounds. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1922 |
|
|
P4 patient in room. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1922 |
|
|
P5 patio area. Occupied. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1923 |
|
|
P6 outdoor meeting. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1927 |
|
|
P7 actual of P1. B&W. 5 x 7 |
1921 |
|
|
P8 exterior grounds. Winter. B&W. 3 x 5 |
1922 |
|
84 |
P9 hospital building. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P10 exterior ground; structures. B&W. 3 x 5 |
undated |
|
|
P11 patio; occupied. B&W. 5 x 7 |
undated |
|
|
P12 building. B&W. 5 x 7 |
undated |
|
|
P13 exterior grounds. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P14 exterior toward main building. B&W. 5 x 7 |
undated |
|
|
P15 young girl doing crafts. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P16 patient doing crafts. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P17 patient in recreation room. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P18 exterior with senior staff. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P19 patient doing crafts. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
|
P20 patient doing crafts. B&W. 8 x 10 |
undated |
|
85 |
P21 patient room (occupied). B&W. 8 x 10 |
1948 |
|
|
P22 exterior hospital building. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1948 |
|
|
P23-30 Small photo packet. B&W. 3×5. Exam rooms. See folder 91. |
1954 |
|
86 |
P31 dining area. B&W. 8 x 10. P32. Exam room. B&W. 5 x 7 |
1954 |
|
87 |
P33 (photocopy), many photos on one sheet. Staff. |
1955 |
|
88 |
P33a Allenwood Sanitarium. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P34 Miss Reilly. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P35 Mr. John Fritz. 2 copies. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P36 Mr. Robert Smith, Ms. Carol Swikart-Occupational Therapist. 2 copies. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P37 Mr. Clifford Johnson. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P38 Dr. George McDonnell- Medical Director, Mrs. Edith Anderson. 2 copies. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P39 Mrs. Virginia Birdsall. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P40 Mr. Ivan Kozia. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P41 patient sewing. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P42 Ms. Alma Ham. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P43 Mr. Edgar Wymbs, Mrs. Nancy Savino, Mr. John Fritz. Nativity scene. 2 copies. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P44 Mr. Ivan Kozin. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P45 Mr. Edgar Wymbs. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P46 Mrs. Haruko (Nancy) Savino. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P47 Mr. John Caroli. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P48 Mrs. Rosemary Erhardt-Superintendent. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P49 Nurse. Unnamed. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1956 |
|
|
P50 Ms. Carol Swikart-Occupational Therapist. B&W. 8 x 10. Mrs. Jean Britton. |
1956 |
|
89 |
P51 interior of woodshop. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P52 interior, woodshop w/ patients. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P53 interior of sewing area. Patients. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P54 Crafts area, with patients. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P55 exterior, patients painting doghouse. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P56 crafts area. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P57 sewing area. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P58 secretary patient typing. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
P59 interior crafts area. B&W. 8 x 10 |
1958 |
|
|
Photos– Loose |
|
|
|
P60 aerial shot of prosecutor’s office. Color. 11 x 14 |
1995 |
|
|
P61 exterior of hospital. B&W. 11 x 14 |
Undated |
|
|
P62 aerial view of hospital. B&W. 11 x 14. |
Undated |
|
|
P63 aerial view of hospital. B&W. 11 x 14. |
Undated |
90 |
Photos-Separate packet. Color, 3 x 5. |
||
P64 exterior of hospital |
Undated |
||
P65 interior eating area | Undated | ||
P66 interior, office |
Undated |
||
P67 exterior, hospital building |
Undated |
||
P68 interior, file room, office |
Undated |
||
|
|
P69 interior, office |
Undated |
|
|
P70 interior, office, shelves |
Undated |
|
|
P71 receptionist’s office |
Undated |
|
|
P72 treatment room |
Undated |
|
|
P73 treatment area, laboratory |
Undated |
|
|
P74 office, break room |
Undated |
|
|
P75 patients room |
Undated |
91 |
Bound photo packet, black-and-white, 3 x 5 |
1954 |
DATE | EVENT |
1911 | First thoughts of Sanitarium begin in 1911. |
1912 | Study of tuberculosis by Monmouth County organization for Social Service, November 1912. |
1921 | Sanitarium opened (capacity 28 patients) January 10, 1921. Total number of patients admitted:104. |
1922 | Total # of patients admitted for year: 79. Two more pavilions added. A second artesian well, two hydrants and hose lines are added. |
1922-1923 | Chapel built, possibly initiated by patients. Material and labor donated and provided. Building started in the fall of 1922, completed 1923. Only purchase necessary was the stained glass windows. |
1923 | Free weekly clinics begun throughout the country; second floor reconstructed for female patients who were convalescing; ten feet added to women’s ward for an assembly hall; staff building opened. |
1924 | Pagoda spaces enclosed, screened, and painted allowing for six new beds. |
1924-1925 | Nurses home was built between 1924-1925. Acquired x-ray equipment Sleeping porch added to nurses home. Total # of patients admitted for year: 101. |
1926 | New wing including ten rooms, laboratory and drug rooms, diet kitchen, enlarged patient’s dining room and sewing room; complete x-ray equipment added as well as a runway and trestle to facilitate the unloading of coal for the powerhouse. Total # of patients admitted for year: 90. |
1927-1928 | Use of Streptomycin introduced in 1927-1928. Mutual partnership with Ocean County; another small chapel was completed and dedicated on October 7, 1928; a clinic for former hospital cases was started in May of 1928. Total # of patients admitted for 1927:133; for 1928:113. |
1929 | Construction included two new pavilions, two cubicles, an addition to the main building, a nurse home and a building for men bringing the capacity to 90 beds. Total # of patients admitted for year: 139. |
1930 | Capacity of Sanitarium: 73 patients. Two small cottages were built consisting of one room each. |
1931 | X-Ray laboratory was built. |
1932 | Dr. Fairbanks, Medical Director, appointed. |
1940-1941 | Doctor’s cottage, now administrator’s home, built between 1940-1941. |
1955 | Capacity of Sanitarium: 110 patients. |
1955-1956 | Feeney cottage built. Daniels and Matthews cottages were built between 1955 and 1956 by PWA. |
1957 | Sanitarium turned into a nursing home. |
1957 | Thompson employee building was built. |
1957-58-59 | Patios between buildings enclosed. |
1963 | The Annex opened to geriatrics. |
1968 | Name changed to Home. |
1968 | Skilled geriatric care added. |
1968 | Upstairs added. |
1968 | Name changed to Geraldine L. Thompson Medical Home in August. |
1969 | C Wing added. |
1970 | Capacity of Hospital now 73 patients. |
1971 | Chapel re-opened. |
1982 | Combined with shelter for juveniles in need of supervision. |
1988 | Construction begun on a new building. |
WPDOCS\FINDING AIDS\OTHER COUNTY RECORDS\Allenwood Hospital Finding Aid 6100.doc