Camarillo State Hospital Collection

The State of California acquired 1500 acres in the City of Camarillo, County of Ventura, for the Department of Developmental Services to build a state hospital in 1932. The hospital was designed to house 7000 patients and over 700 staff, making it the largest mental hospital in the world upon its completion. A former PWA project, the hospital supported a state-of-the-art teaching hospital, held a notable partnership with UCLA's psychiatric facility,  was a large community employer, housed a number of famous patients, and often is (and has been) the set or background for a number of movies and television shows. The hospital was officially closed in 1997 and was subsequently acquired by the California State University (CSU) system to house the new CSU Channel Islands campus.

The Camarillo State Hospital collection contains artifacts, documents, newspaper articles, oral histories, maps, and photographs relating to the operation of the hospital and its relationship with staff, patients, and the community.

Resources

• Camarillo State Hospital Documents and Oral Histories
• Camarillo State Hospital Images
• Finding Guide

Curated Images from the Digital Archives

• Hospital Maps
• The Great Flood of 1938
• Murals
• The Farm
• Children's Unit
• Camarillo State Hospital Pintrest Pin (requires Pintrest Account)

Contact