Thomas Romeo Papers, Rhode Island Department of Mental Health

University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title:	Thomas Romeo Papers, Rhode Island Department of Mental Health
Date range:	1975-2007
Creator:	Romeo, Thomas, 1943-
Extent:	9 box(es) (6 linear feet)
Abstract:	The Thomas Romeo Papers, Rhode Island Department of Mental Health covers 32 years of Thomas Romeo's role in Rhode Island mental health administration.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	MsG. 246

Scope & content

The collection contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, meeting minutes, awards, and realia from Romeo’s time as an administrator for various Rhode Island state mental health agencies. The records cover the years 1975-2007 and include important administrative records documenting the history of the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals and the Institute of Mental Health.

Arrangement

The records are arranged into the following series:

• 1. Subject File
• 2. Realia

Biographical Note

A graduate of Cranston High School in 1961, Thomas D. Romeo achieved distinction through a career devoted to human services. He earned the Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Connecticut State College in 1965 and the Master of Education degree in Rehabilitation Administration from Northeastern University in 1969. He participated in the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the Kennedy School of Government and in the Public Sector Management Seminars at the University of Rhode Island.

He was a staff physical therapist at Fordham Hospital in the Bronx and in the Waterbury Area Rehabilitation Center in Connecticut. He also served as an assistant director and, later, as an associate director in the Division of Rehabilitative Services for the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals.

Romeo was appointed director of the Rhode Island State Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals in 1981, a cabinet level position with full responsibility for operations and management of the single State Authority for Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Drug Abuse and Public Hospital Services.

He was instrumental in developing a voluntary relationship between the State of Rhode Island and Asa Messer School, with its diverse student population that includes children from Southeast Asia and Spanish communities. He was also a volunteer for the Educational Advocate Program through the Department of Education, counseling disadvantaged youth and developing a sound educational program as well as positive social experiences.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	The Thomas Romeo Rhode Island Mental Health Papers, Mss. Gr. 246, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The records were donated and transferred to the University of Rhode Island by Thomas Romeo in 2007.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Mark Dionne
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Mark Dionne 2008, updated by Mark Dionne on 2023 April 27.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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Inventory