Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
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Boston, MA 02115
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.

Collection Overview
Title:Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence records
Dates:1972-1989 (bulk 1976-1981)
Location:71/2
Call Number:M27
Volume:4.40 cubic ft. (14 boxes)
Scope and Content Note:The records of the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence document the group's formation and operation as an anti-violence grassroots organization, its work at various institutions including Bridgewater State Hospital and the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Framingham, and the activities of various anti-institutional violence and anti-prison groups in the 1970s-1980s. Records include correspondence, financial records, minutes, fliers, brochures, newsletters, press releases, articles, information packets, and testimonies.
Historical Abstract:The Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence was founded in Boston in 1975 in response to the proposed establishment of a "special unit for violent women" at Worcester State Hospital. Comprising ex-mental patients, mental health workers, and prisoner rights groups, the Coalition launched an extensive letter-writing campaign forcing the Department of Mental Health to hold public hearings on the need for the unit. Widespread opposition to the plan prevented the unit from ever opening. The Coalition went on to protest the development of other "special units" at various Massachusetts facilities before disbanding in 1988.
Arrangement:Organized into 3 series: 1. Administration; 2. Project Files; and 3. Related Issues.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence
  • Women's Educational Center (Cambridge, Mass.)

  • Mentally ill prisoners -- Massachusetts
  • Mentally ill women -- Massachusetts
  • Prison violence -- Massachusetts
  • Prisoners -- Civil rights -- Massachusetts
  • Reformatories for women -- Massachusetts
  • Violence in women -- Massachusetts.
  • Women prisoners -- Civil rights -- Massachusetts
Restrictions:The collection is unrestricted.
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Deborah Richards, August 1998

Historical Note

The Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence was founded in 1975 in Boston.  The group was a comprised of ex-mental patients, mental health workers, and prisoner rights groups.  The Coalition formed in response to the construction of a "special unit for violent women" from state mental hospitals and state prisons at Worcester State Hospital.  Through an extensive letter writing project the Coalition forced the Department of Mental Health to hold public hearings required by the Determination of Need process.  Due to numerous testimonies in opposition to the unit and documentation showing the unfeasibility of the unit, it did not receive funding and never opened.

In addition to their work against the Worcester Women's Unit, the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence attended numerous public meetings and conducted letter writing projects against other "special units."  These projects included the Worcester Regional Adolescent Program, an Adult Psychiatric Unit and later a Pediatric Psychiatric Unit at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester and a "special unit for violent women" at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Framingham.  The group disbanded in 1988.
Bibliography

History of the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence [M27, Box 1, Folder 12]
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Series:
1. Administration, 1976-1988
Volume:0.5 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

The Administration records focus on the group's formation and operation as a grassroots organization.  The collection includes correspondence between the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence and its supporters, politicians, and other anti-institutional violence organizations (Box 1, Folders 5-6); information on the Coalition's publicity efforts, including fliers (Box 1, Folder 24, Box 13, Folder 279, and Box 14, Folder 293) and newsletters (Box 2, Folder 27); material documenting the group's fund raising efforts (Box 1, Folders 10-11); and minutes from the group's most active period, 1976-80 (Box 1, Folders 14-7).
BoxTitleDate
1Austin, Lee and Sunny Robinson: Interviewn.d.
1Chronology of the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence1977
1Contacts: Lists (2 folders)n.d.
1Correspondence (2 folders)n.d., 1976-1980
1Endorsement Letters for the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence1977
Finance
1Bank Account Statements1977-1978
1Donations1977
1Funding Proposals (2 folders)n.d., 1979-1981
1History of the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence1976-1986
1Logca. 1977
1Minutes (4 folders)n.d., 1976-1980
1Notesn.d., 1977, 1988
1Orientation: Listn.d.
1Outreach: Formsn.d.
1Phone Tree1981
1Principles of Unityn.d.
Publicity
1Benefit1979
1, 13, 14Fliers (3 folders)n.d., 1977-1979
1Graphicsn.d.
2Information Packet1977
2Newslettersn.d., 1979-1980
2Press Listn.d.
2Press Releases1977-1978
2Public Service Announcements1977
2Volunteers: Listn.d.
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Series:
2. Project Files, 1973-1989
Volume:2.3 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

Project files are of special interest because they extensively document the work of the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence.  Members retained detailed paperwork on each project.  The Coalition worked against proposed "women's violent units" at Bridgewater State Hospital (Box 2, Folders 32-40), Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Framingham (Box 2, Folders 41-50), Metropolitan State Hospital (Box 2, Folders 51-6), and Worcester Women's Unit at Worcester State Hospital (Boxes 6-8, Folders 105-55 and Box 13, Folders 281-4).  In addition to their opposition of "special units for violent women," the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence also worked against an Adult Psychiatric Unit (Box 4, Folders 85-7) and a Pediatric Psychiatric Unit (Box 5, Folders 88-93) at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.  The Coalition documented and worked to stop regional adolescent programs (Box 3-4, Folders 57-84).  There is information on several Regional Adolescent Programs, including Centerpoint (Box 3, Folders 58-65), Medfield, Najnah (Box 4, Folders 73-5), Solomon Carter Fuller (Box 4, Folders 80-1), and Taunton.  One of the Coalition's largest projects was against the proposed Regional Adolescent Program at Worcester State Hospital (Boxes 5-6, Folders 94-104 and Box 13, Folder 280).

Records for each of these projects include advisory committee minutes; appeals against funding; articles about the proposed units; correspondence between the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence, politicians and other government officials, between the Coalition and Ten Tax Payer groups (groups of supporters, or opponents, who received information on the proposals, funding, hiring of directors, etc. regarding these units); determination of need applications (A determination of need application is a process for receiving funding; they require public hearings.); evaluation reports; information packets; lists of Ten Tax Payers groups; petitions; staff and summary reports; photographs; and testimonies.
BoxTitleDate
2Bridgewater State Hospital (9 folders)n.d., 1974-1977
2Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Framingham (10 folders)n.d., 1973, 1980-1989
2Metropolitan State Hospital (6 folders)n.d., 1978-1979
Regional Adolescent Programs
3Analysis of Similarities and Differences Among Regional Adolescent Programs DYS and State Hospital Youth1980
3Centerpoint (8 folders)n.d., 1977-1980
3Evaluations: Notesn.d.
3Evidence of Monitoring and Evaluation Studies of the Regional Adolescent Programs1980
3Health Systems Agency Staff Report on Regional Adolescent Programs1979-1980
3Medfield and Taunton Regional Adolescent Programs1977-1979
3Program Regulations: Regional Adolescent Programsca. 1980
3Proposed Effectiveness Evaluationca. 1980
3Sampling of Typical Regional Adolescent Program Clients1980
4Najnah (3 folders)n.d., 1977
4"Regional Adolescent Programs: Treatment or Psychiatric Jail"n.d.
4Regional Adolescent Programs (Others)1978-1980
4"A Report to Regional Directors on Regional Adolescent Programs"1980
4Residential Units 12-month Programn.d.
4Solomon Carter Fuller (2 folders)1977-1980
4"A Study of Regional Adolescent Programs: Successes and Failures"1980
4Summative Evaluation of Medfieldca. 1978
4Summative Evaluation of Regional Adolescent Programs1978
4University of Massachusetts Medical Center Adult Psychiatric Unit (3 folders)1983
5University of Massachusetts Medical Center Pediatric Psychiatric Unit (8 folders)1977-1980
5-6Worcester Regional Adolescent Program (11 folders)1978-1981
13Testimonies: Audio Cassetteca. 1980
6-8Worcester Women's Unit (53 folders)n.d., 1973-1980
13"Women's Anger and Violence": Audio Cassettes1977
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Series:
3. Related Issues, 1972-1988
Volume:1.6 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

Related issues were used by the Coalition to Stop Institutional Violence for background information, networking, and as a resource library.  The material offers a glimpse into the activities of various anti-institutional violence and anti-prison groups in the 1970s and 1980s.  Included are articles, brochures, newsletters and reports relating to issues on anti-racism, deinstitutionalization, the Department of Mental Health and of Youth Services (Massachusetts), feminist therapies, involuntary commitment, mental health and mental patients, prisons, psychotherapy, sterilization and women and violence (Box 9-14, Folders 156-300). There is material on several support committees for prisoners including Ella Ellison (Box 11, Folders 228, Box 13, Folder 287), Jay Freeman (Box 11, Folder 233), the Norfolk-Walpole strike (Box 11, Folder 240, Box 13, Folder 288), Willie Sanders (Box 12, Folder 252) and Susan Saxe (Box 12, Folder 246 and Box 14, Folder 300).
BoxTitleDate
13Alliance for the Liberation of Mental Patients1980
9Angola Solidarity Coalitionn.d.
9Anti-Racism Materialsn.d., 1979-1980
9"Assaults on Women: Rape and Wife Beating"1980
9Backman Senator Jack: Finding Aid1988
9"Beacon Hill Update": Newsletter1979-1980
9Behavior Modification1979
9Black Young Women in the Community Workshop1976
9Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of Public Inpatient Mental Health Services (2 folders)1980
9Boston Alliance Against Racist and Political Repressionn.d.
9Children Psychiatric Standards1975
14"Children's Campaign '74"1974
9Citizens for Participation in Political Action1977
9Civil Rights Guidelines1980
9Deinstitutionalization: Pros and Cons1978
9Delaney, Debbie: Case Materials1977
Department of Mental Health: Budget Hearings
9Notes1976-1979
9Quality Assurancen.d.
9Questions and Answers1979
9-10Department of Youth Services (6 folders)n.d., 1977-1980
10Elizabeth Stone Housen.d.
10Family Advocacy Counciln.d.
10Feminist Therapists1979
10Fernald State School (2 folders)1978-1979
10Florida Citizens Against the Death Penaltyn.d.
10Florida Clearinghouse on Criminal Justice1977
10Girls on Horseback: Photographca. 1958
10Hospital Projects1977
10"Institutions, Etc.": Newsletter1980
10Involuntary Commitment (2 folders)n.d., 1978
10"The Issues of Security in a Community-Based System of Juvenile Corrections"1977
10Jose T. vs. Okin Case1980
10Massachusetts Accountants for Public Issuesn.d.
10Massachusetts Advocacy Center (2 folders)1975-1975
10Massachusetts Association for Mental Health1978
10Massachusetts Association for Retarded Citizens1979
10Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Womenn.d.
10Massachusetts Service Groups1980
10"Massachusetts Psychiatric Wards"197?
10Mental Health (2 folders)1976-1980
11, 13Mental Patients (4 folders)n.d., 1974-1977, 1985
14Newsletter: "Acting Out"1979-1980
11National Association of Accountants for the Public Interestn.d.
11National Lawyers' Guild (2 folders)n.d., 1977
11New England Association of Scientologists for Reform Citizens Commission on Human Rights1976
11New England Human Rights Network1978
11"New Right": Readings1981
11People United for Free Air Wavesn.d.
Prisons
11African National Prison Organizationn.d.
11African National Solidarity Committeen.d.
11African People's Socialist Partyn.d.
11Alderson Security Unit for Women1977-1978
11Boston Bail Project/Bail Funds (2 folders)n.d., 1977
11Children and Prisonsn.d., 1978
11Community Prison Network1980
11Connolly, Mary: Case Correspondence1980
11"Control Custody Care Treatment and Instruction of Inmates"1977-1978
11Correctional Change Group, Inc.1977
11Correctional Reform Act1972
11, 14"Doing Time": Newsletter (2 folders)1978-1980
11, 13Ella Ellison Support Committee (2 folders)n.d., 1976-1978
11Families and Friends of Prisoners, Inc. (2 folders)1977-1980
11Framingham Prison Hospital Wing: Photographs1976
11Friendly Visitors, Inc.1979-1980
11Jay Freeman Defense Committee197?
11JERICHO: Newsletter of the National Moratorium on Prison Construction1977-1980
14"The Kite: Anti-Prison News Journal"1979
11Lewisburg Prison Project, Inc.1979
11Marion Prison: Court Transcript1975
11Massachusetts Women's Bail Fun and Lawyers Network1986-1987
11National Committee to Support the Marion Brothersn.d.
11"No More Cages": Newsletters1979-1980
13Norfolk Prison Strike Face Sheet1978
11Norfolk-Walpole Strike Support Committee1978
11"Olympic Jail, A Mistake"1978
11Pontiac Prisoners Support Coalition1979
13Prisons and Criminal Justice System1974
11, 14"Question Mark": Newsletter (2 folders)1976-1978
12Secure Units1978
12, 14Solitary Confinement Abolition Project (2 folders)n.d.
12, 14Susan Saxe Defense Committee1976-1977
12"Violence and a Violence Center"1974
12Walpole Prison (5 folders)n.d., 1977-1980
13Willie Sanders Defense Committee1980
12Women in Prisonn.d., 1977-1979
12Prostitutes' Union of Massachusettsn.d.
12Psychosurgery197?
12"Psychotechnology and the UCLA Violence Center"n.d.
12Psychotherapy1974, 1977
12Public Health Council (2 folders)n.d., 1980
12Puerto Rico Solidarity Committeen.d.
12Report of the Governor's Determination of Need Task Force1980
12"The Right to Refuse Psychiatric Medication"1980
13"Sanity Now": Newsletters1977
12"Science for the People": Magazine1978
12"Secure Settings"1975
12Special Committee to Investigate Seclusion, Restraint and Deaths in State Supported Facilities1979
12"State and Mind": Magazine1977
12Sterilization Regulations1978
12"Stop Psychosurgery"n.d.
12Task Force on Institutional Abuse1978
12Trial and Error Governor's Conference on Young Women in the Juvenile Justice System1974
12Understanding the Legislature1979
12Violent Unit Proposals1973
12"We Are The River": Songn.d.
12Women and Violence Conference1978
12Women, Inc.n.d.
12Women's Center Transsexual Women's Policy1978
12Worcester Area Community Mental Health Center1978
13"Worcester County Wrap-Up": Newsletter1976-1977
12Workshop: Notes1977
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