The Burke Center (now known simply as Burke) was founded in 1974 as the Deep East Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services. Local County Commissioner’s Courts formed the organization to serve a twelve-county region, providing mental health services for community members in their community. Burke was named from Ward and Anna Belle Burke, parents of a daughter who needed mental health and disability services, and who were life-long supporters and advocates for community-based mental health and disability care. This collection contains annual reports, board minutes, budgets, annual reports, photographs, and newsletters.