Need Help researching my family tree?

Question:

Need Help researching my family tree?

I'm trying to find out more info on one of my ancestors. It was said that she was placed in a Mental Hospital in Massachusetts sometime between 1929 and 1934. Is there anyway I can search those records or call someone, I've already tried Ancestry.com.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Not easy, but not impossible.
First, information of that nature would never be given via a phone call. Ancestry.com is overrated (and you didn't ask anything about immigration).
I assume you have a family group sheet or know what it is? You need one for this lady and her husband, with ALL the details you can possibly locate. How old was she? When/where was she married? Where was she living in 1920 census (this is maybe the only thing ancestry can find for you). Do you have an accurate list of her children, especially dates and places of birth? What I am trying to narrow down is when the kids are born, and if this happened after 1930? If still at home, she would be in that census record. If in the hospital at the time, THAT COULD SHOW UP ON THE CENSUS.
Going back to the kids, their place(s) of birth is one means to narrow down the city or county where they lived at the time. Of course, this assumes that this happened while the kids were children, maybe that isn't the case. How about whoever has custody of old family photos, if any? Does she have children still living, who might tell you more?
If there is any way to narrow down where they did live, then the trick is to find possible city directories, or other locations that may show hospitals in that locality, and the name. Dallas, for example, has a very good local history board, and old timers who have knowledge of local buildings/ landmarks, so forth. There is an orphanage here that goes back close to 100 yrs, but is still in existance, and even has a web site.
Going over your records with a fine tooth comb will show you where you lack details, and focus your search. Did she die there? Finally, if this is a direct ancestor (grandmother for instance) and you can show this, you can determine the policy on records if they still have them. Sadly, women may have been in a hospital for something as common as depression, which today could easily be treated elsewhere.
Contact me via my profile, if I can help further.