Arizona State Hospital

In 1871, the territorial legislature recognized that care for the mentally ill was the responsibility of the government. From 1873 to 1887, the state contracted with a hospital in Stockton, California to send Arizona's mentally ill population there.[1]

In 1885, the territorial legislature passed a bill to create the Arizona Territorial Insane Asylum in Phoenix. The Insane Asylum of Arizona opens in 1887. 61 patients were transferred from the hospital in California.[1]

In 1911, a fire started in the central building on campus, D-Building. This causes considerable damage, but all patients and employees were safely evacuated.[1]

Arizona becomes a state in 1912 and the Territorial Asylum for the Insane is renamed the Arizona State Asylum for the Insane.[1] In 1922, the patient population had reached 568, 998 in 1942, and 1,200 in 1945.[2]

in 1939, a social worker was hired exclusively to aid in the discharge of patients.[1]

In 1952, three new buildings were built.[1]

Arizona passed a compulsory sterilization law on March 9, 1929. This was precipitated by the issue of overcrowding at the Arizona State Hospital. Under this bill, the superintendent of the Arizona State Hospital could make recommendations. The first sterilizations occurred in 1932 when twenty patients were sterilized. 30 individuals total were sterilized, of whom 20 were women 80% of victims were considered mentally ill, and the remaining 20% mentally deficient. The last sterilization took place in 1956.[2]