Submissions Words I truly wish to be the trusted voice of the people who would like to express their personal views, experiences and opinions about Manteno State Hospital, and consider it an honor to do so. In my constant search for information about MSH, I have run into several "brick walls". Archives and libraries have very limited information or records regarding MSH. With that said, I am forced to turn to the people, the former employees and even, perhaps former patients and relatives who may have accounts of the place. I strongly urge anyone who has any information about MSH to contact me. Even if your information is just an urban legend, I still feel that it is important to understanding people's views and feelings about MSH. Another problem that I seem to run into is that people may be unwilling to submit such information, especially when there is evidence of injustice or harm. Many of these people may fear retribution or have personal feelings of guilt. While I can not change the past or the way people feel, I can offer anonymity. If there is any kindness, injustice, unique circumstance or pertinent information that you feel would be of benefit to others in knowing, please feel free to submit that information in the strictest confidence to the email address pictured below: Guidelines for Written Submissions Please include: Contact information: A way to contact you. (Need not be personal or identity revealing.) Time: The era, year or decade that you, acquaintance or relative were at MSH. If employee: Department of employment or general title (nurse attendant, administrator, etc) If patient: General diagnosis at time of admittance, release or deceased. Location assigned/admitted to: Building function (i.e.. hospital, power plant), ward or cottage name (i.e.. Todd I, Singer, Administration Building). If resident of area: General information as to location (such as nearby farm, house or town). Anonymity: Request for anonymity or not. (For those who waive anonymity: Any information submitted by you will remain on hold until such a time as legal forms be made available regarding release. Any information you provide would not be published without the acquisition of this form, unless you wish to submit an article to be published to this site as sole author of said article. Please specify what personal information you are willing to make public.) Any information you care to share: This information can be personal experiences, known experiences, professional experiences, rumors, urban legends or ghost stories. Any information, no matter how trivial seeming or minute, is greatly appreciated. Museum: Objects and Items   Hospital Towel and Robe   Plans are being discussed with the property owner of one of the old ward buildings at MSH for the existence of a small, commemorative museum. It is possible that the items collected will be entered into this museum and set on display for those interested in the history of MSH. Any submission of material objects is important, whether it be the item itself or a photographic reproduction. I have, in the past, been sent items from MSH, such as towels, letters, memo's, maps and even an old Physician's Desk Reference stamped from Manteno Mental Health Center's library. Objects of particular interest are those stamped or stated as originating from Manteno State Hospital or Manteno Mental Health Center. Please contact me, if you should happen to have any of these items that you would be willing to donate. Further information will be made available on this site as to the progress towards a commemorative museum. As of now, the museum is only an idea, although contributed items may be photographically reproduced and displayed on this site in the "virtual museum". For more information, submissions or arrangements, please email the address pictured below: . Guidelines for Object/Item Submissions Please include: Contact information: A way to contact you. (Need not be personal or identity revealing.) Anonymity: Request for anonymity or not. (For those who waive anonymity: Any information submitted by you may be attached to the item and your name displayed as a contributor within the museum or on this site. Please specify what personal information you are willing to make public.) Location where item originated or was found: Such as a basement, building, or room of the hospital. Approximate date of the item: When you or someone else acquired the item or approximately when it may have been issued or used at the institution. How or where the item was used: Unless it has an obvious function such as a memo or a spoon. (A spoon, however may have originated from the "Officers Dining Room" or from a ward. There may be a marked difference, as an Officer's Dining Room spoon may have been more ornate or stamped with the institution name.) Any other information you may have relating to item.   Thank You!