For those of you who are researching ancestors who died while living at Kankakee State Hospital here are some things I learned in 30 minutes:
1. Your questions have been asked by many before you.
2. You need to obtain a death certificate for your
ancestor, which should have a plot number on it
if they in fact are buried in the Kankakee State
Cemetery. Go online to find a grave and search. I
found my great grandfather and it included his plot
number.
3. If they died while at KSH, should have records for 1960 to present. Before 1960, maybe, they had a fire in the 1950's and records were lost.
4. KSH do not have the manpower to have every genealogical request looked up. they have a records dept., and do microfilm records, just do not have anyone who does it on a daily basis.
5. I was told when the hospital closed all the records were sent to another State Mental Hosp., in Manteno, but that closed in the 1980's and where they would go from there is unknown. There was mentioned a State Hosp., in Springfield and when I questioned about that...they stopped talking.
6. I've been through this before....people don't want to talk. The state does not want to give you records....really on someone who has been gone for almost 60 years!!??
7. Keep good records when doing the leg-work of finding and obtaining medical records. Date, Times, who you talked with, phone/cell numbers, any reference numbers, notes on what was asked and their replies etc. They did take pictures of their patients for their files, so if you get copies ask about pictures. And if you have not heard back from then do a follow up with a nice call.
8. Remember...all those who were in the KSH were not all mental patients. when one was old, sick and there was no one to care for them or no relative stepped up to care for them they went into a state mental hospital. Prime example: Tippecanoe Co., Lafayette Indiana...have a State Hospital where those who were in the civil war were placed along with spouses. Third great grandmother was found in one...and she married twice while there.
so, first find out if your ancestor was there....death certificate. go online to kankakee il webpage and order a death certificate. they do not take orders over the phone only if you go into their office. see if it has a plot number and if they were buried at KSH cemetery.
hope this helps those who are looking like i am. don't take no for an answer or sorry we cannot help. those records are somewhere!!