Reform of Insane Asylum Tracts
Scope and Content Note
These tracts contain narratives published by people treated for perceived psychiatric disorders or madness. They were all published in Boston by various publishers. They vary in length from 25 to 150 pages.
Dates
- Creation: 1838-1865
Creator
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Ruth A. Haas Library
Archives and Special Collections
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: 203-837-8992
E-mail: stevensb@wcsu.edu
Historical/Biographical Note
Treatment of persons believed to be mentally ill in the 19th century was appalling. Dorothea Dix was an early advocate for better treatment and some reforms were attempted in the U.S. Many state hospitals in the United States were built between 1850 and 1870 on the Kirkbride Plan. The design of the buildings was intended to have a possitive effect on patients.
The author of Scenes in a Mad-House was John B. Derby. His fellow inmates included Jones Very and Derby's abandoned son was Captain George Horatio Derby, humorist.
Sources:
- Kirkbride Buildings - History [http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/about/history.html]
- Disability History Museum's Library [http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/lib/]
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (, 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Tracts that describe inhumane treatment of persons confined in mental asylums in the 19th century.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
The files are grouped into 1 series:
Missing Title
- Inventory
Provenance
Provenance unknown.
Subject
- Stone, Elizabeth T., 1811- (Person)
- Packard, E.P. (Elizabeth Parsons Ware), 1816-1897. (Person)
- Hunt, Isaac H. (Person)
- Derby, John Barton, 1792-1867. (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Reform of Insane Asylum Tracts
- Status
- Unverified Full Draft
- Author
- Brian Stevens
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections Repository
Haas Library
181 White St
Danbury 06810 USA US
203.837.8992
203.837.8322 (Fax)
stevensb@wcsu.edu