Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode looks at the early years of McLean Psychiatric Hospital, originally called the Charlestown Asylum and Somerville Asylum. Find out what caused a delay in the funding and building of the asylum, as well as who was part of the original board of trustees. Learn about the man whose namesake has become synonymous with the history of the hospital. And discover how McLean Hospital became known as a treatment facility for the wealthy.My main sources include the book Gracefully Insane by Alex Beam and a presentation by archivist Terry Bragg. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIT'S MY 100th EPISODE!!! This week we wrap up the history of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and find out which treatment was used over a two-week period in an attempt to discharge patients quickly from the hospital. Discover how nine patients from the criminally insane ward escaped. And learn about how the asylum came back to life after it closed its doors in 1994.My main source is The Haunted History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum by Sherri Brake. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we look at the expansion of the asylum around the turn of the 20th century. Find out what types of treatment were used, learn what unusual (and sad) reasons got people committed to the asylum, and discover who was setting a series of dangerous fires. Learn more about influenza and tuberculosis treatment at the hospital, as well.The main source for this episode is the book The Haunted History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum by Sherri Brake.Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastFollow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we start a series on Sarah's "holy grail" asylum! Learn about why it took 23 years for the asylum to be built and who was involved in the labor. Find out how the hospital took on an additional role in the history of the American Civil War. And discover why there was such a high turnover of superintendents in the early days of asylum life.Follow the show on Instagram at @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week I interview historian Jacqui Sanders to discuss her study of the children and women of Aradale Mental Hospital in Australia and the release of her new book, Form of Insanity. Find out how Jacqui got drawn to Aradale and to the tragic stories she outlines in her book -- and find out what projects she has lined up next!Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the final decades of the Fernald State School. Find out about the pivotal moment in Ward 22 that forever changed the school. Learn about the fate of the Science Club members. And discover how the "research" of the past was unearthed.Main sources for this episode include the annual reports from the Fernald School, as well as the book The State Boys Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode discusses the years that Dr. Fernald, Dr. Greene, and Dr. Farrell were superintendents at the school. Learn about the legacy of one of the superintendents and how he single-handedly influenced New York and Massachusetts law. Learn about one boy who entered the Fernald State School at age 8 and who quickly became part of a group called "The Science Club."Trigger warnings for this episode include the use of outdated and ableist language, abuse toward children and dependent adults, and mention of eugenics.My primary sources for this episode include the annual reports from the Fernald State School website and the book The State Boys Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we discuss the first two decades of Dr. Walter E. Fernald's tenure at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded. Find out how he was able to expand the school in order to quickly grow to over 1,000 residents! Learn about Dr. Fernald's role in the eugenics movement of the early 20th century and what scholars were trying to legalize in the state of Massachusetts.My primary sources are the annual reports from the Fernald State School website. All other sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript.Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastFollow on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we discuss the many changes in the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth, which included a name change, three locations, and three different superintendents. Find out what an average day looked like at the school, what the guidelines were for teaching children with developmental disabilities, and why they kept moving the school to new locations.The primary sources for this episode are the annual reports available on the Fernald State School website.Be sure to follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we look at the early beginnings of what would become the Fernald State School in Massachusetts. At its outset, it was known as the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children. Find out how developmental disorders were classified back in the mid-19th century and what the school hoped to teach their students. Trigger warning for outdated and ableist language, strong overtones of discrimination and dehumanization, and abuse toward children.My main sources for this episode include the annual reports from the Fernald State School archives and the Wikipedia page on the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we reminisce about Sarah's recent trip to Crete and her visit to the Spinalonga Leper Colony. Learn about the three different "eras" the island experienced as a Venetian stronghold, Ottoman outpost, and leper colony. Discover more about leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, and the stigma surrounding it that persisted for centuries.Sources used in this episode include the Spinalonga website and Wikipedia articles on Spinalonga and leprosy.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we look at some of the paranormal activity and stories that have come from Camarillo State Hospital. Find out about the woman in white, the creepy goings-on in the former children's building, and the Scary Dairy. If YOU have a scary story from Camarillo State Hospital, please let me know!Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, we discuss the history of the children and adolescent programs at Camarillo State Hospital. Find out where children lived when they were first introduced to the hospital and how long it took them to get their own separate program. Learn what types of units made up the Adolescent Treatment Program and what services were offered to them.My primary source is the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. Other sources include documents from the California State University digital archives.Follow the show on Instagram @behindthewallspod and on Facebook.Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode explores the final decades of operation at Camarillo State Hospital. Learn about the introduction of the Developmental Center that separated patients with mental illness and those with developmental disorders. Find out how one patient attempted to escape from the hospital before being stopped. And discover when and why the hospital finally came to a close.My main source for this episode is the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram (@behindthewallspod) and on Facebook.Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the early years of Camarillo State Hospital in Camarillo, California. Find out why it grew so quickly in its first decade, and learn how many patients it housed at its peak. Discover which movie patients said was true to life at the hospital and was one that the public needed to see.My main source will be the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. Other sources include the CSU-Channel Islands Digital Library. All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram at @behindthewallspod and on Facebook (Behind the Walls Podcast).Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode explores the life and hospitalizations of author and artist Zelda Fitzgerald. Discover where she was institutionalized throughout her life and how her life came to a tragic end. Learn about the Craig House in Beacon, NY, where she was hospitalized for a time and find out what amenities were available to patients who resided there.My main source for this episode is an Atlas Obscura article written by Luke Spencer.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week, Sarah interviews Rusty Tagliareni (photographer and co-author of the Images of America book on Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital) and Lisa Marie Blohm (President of Preservation Works advocacy group) to discuss what it was like to try and save the old Kirkbride building at Greystone Park and what Preservation Works is doing now to try and save other historical sites.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.comSupport the show on Buzzsprout: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode tells the story of a patient, Harrison W. Noel, who was committed to Greystone Park for the rest of his life following the commission of a gruesome double murder and kidnapping. Learn about his symptoms prior to the crime spree and find out which infamous murder Noel hoped to copy.All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the life, music, activism, and eventual hospitalization of folk singer Woody Guthrie. Find out how he got started in music and who influenced him along the way. Learn why he was eventually committed to Greystone Park Psychiatric Center for five years on "Wardy Forty."My main sources for this episode include the book Woody Guthrie's Wardy Forty: Greystone Park State Hospital Revisited by Phillip Buehler, the Woody Guthrie website, and the Wikipedia page on Woody Guthrie. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode discusses the arc of deinstitutionalization at Greystone Park, from the early-1950s until the closure of the original Kirkbride building in 2008. Find out how many people lived at Greystone at its peak and how quickly that number dwindled. Learn about a class action lawsuit filed against the hospital due to the poor conditions for patients. Finally, discover just how many dangerous patients escaped in 1978 alone.Sources for this week's episode include the Greystone Park annual reports, accessed via the New Jersey State Library website; the Images of America book on Greystone Park by Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews; the Preserve Greystone Website; and the Greystone Oral History website.Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram at @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode focuses on how Greystone Park managed during the years of the Great Depression and World War II. From increased overcrowding due to war, economic difficulties, and multiple fires, find out how administration advocated for their patients and survived these challenging years. Learn how Dr. Curry spent his 30 year tenure at Greystone Park and his legacy that was left behind.Primary sources include the Greystone Park annual reports (courtesy of the New Jersey State Library website) and the Images of America book on Greystone Park by Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode discusses the history of the New Jersey State Insane Asylum from World War I until just before the Great Depression. Find out what circumstances led to the on-the-job death of the superintendent and find out what changes were made after a new superintendent took over. Finally, learn which ward was a favorite among the staff and public officials.My two sources for this episode include various annual reports from Greystone Park (from the NJ State Library website), as well as excerpts from the Images of America book on Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital by Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews.Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastFollow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the first couple decades of the State Asylum for the Insane in Morristown, New Jersey. Find out what an average day was like at the asylum, what treatments and entertainments were offered, and how long it took for the massive building to become overcrowded.Primary sources include the Images of America book on Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital by Rusty Tagliareni and Christina Mathews, as well as a number of annual reports from the New Jersey State Library. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram at @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode looks at the final decades of Volterra Lunatic Asylum through the lens of three different physicians who each left a lasting impact on the hospital: Dr. Claus Schilling, Dr. Franco Basaglia, and Dr. Gino Basci. Find out which doctor was later tried for war crimes and which one would go on to create the most radical psychiatric law in the world. Finally, hear the story of one patient who quite literally left a lasting mark on the hospital.My main sources for this episode include the Manicomio di Volterra website and an article by John Foot called "Franco Basaglia and the Radical Psychiatric Movement in Italy, 1961-1978." All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode covers a particularly turbulent time in Italian history: from WWI to WWII and the birth of the Republic. Find out how Volterra Lunatic Asylum fared during wartime and why it began to help feed the surrounding city of Volterra. Learn why the hospital superintendent was forced to retire after 34 years on the job. Discover how Fascism infiltrated every aspect of daily life.My main sources for this episode are the Manicomio di Volterra website and several Britannica articles on WWI, WWII, and the rise of Facism. All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, we head to Tuscany, Italy, to the hilltop town of Volterra. Learn about the early history of the Volterra Lunatic Asylum, the political climate of Italy at the time, and the controversial treatments of the first asylum director, Dr. Luigi Scabia. Finally, hear the stories of two artists who were sent to Volterra later in their lives.The main source for this episode is the Manicomio di Volterra website. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram at @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode is perfectly-timed for Halloween! Learn about Rolling Hills Asylum as a haunted attraction and what draws people to the site. Find out about the staff and patients who lived at the poor farm and whose spirits are said to roam the halls still. Discover what is so creepy about the "Christmas Room" and what happens to visitors when they lie down on the autopsy slab in the morgue. Listen, if you dare, and find out how YOU can visit Rolling Hills Asylum!All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we discuss the history of Rolling Hills Asylum, which was known as the Genesee County Poor Farm while it was in operation. Learn about the historical context that shows why poorhouses started in New York. Find out about the doctor that exposed the horrific conditions that poor and mentally ill folks were living in. Finally, discover when and why the Genesee County Farm became known as Rolling Hills Asylum.All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastCheck out the Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode tells the stories of six survivors of Ireland's Magdalen laundries and orphanages. Learn what their typical work day was like, what punishments they experienced, and what the long-term consequences were of incarceration at the laundries.My main sources for this episode include the 1998 documentary Sex in a Cold Climate and a 2013 BBC article entitled, "Magdalene Laundries: Survivor Stories." All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastBe sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you are listening!Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode discusses the history of Magdalen Asylums (also called Magdalen Laundries) in England and Ireland. Focus lies primarily on the history of these laundries in Ireland. Find out how and why these asylums started, how many there were of them in England and Ireland, and what finally brought them to a close.My primary source for this episode is the book Do Penance or Perish by Frances Finnegan, an article by the Justice for Magdalenes Research, and various other online sources. All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode features the story of "Tammy," a survivor of Goodna/Wolston Park Mental Hospital, in her own words. The focus of her story lies in the aftermath of her time spent in institutions and how her hospitalization has affected the rest of her life.Trigger warnings for this episode include the use of explicit, outdated, and ableist language; mention of suicide and self-harm; and strong themes of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available. In the U.S., dial 9-8-8. For a list of international suicide hotlines, please consult here: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/The story from this episode is taken from the book Goodna Girls by Adele Chynoweth. Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode tells the story of Jean, who later went by Erin, and her experience at multiple adolescent treatment facilities in Queensland, including Goodna/Wolston Park Mental Hospital. She also discusses the lasting effects her childhood had on her life.Trigger warnings for this episode include mention of sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, drug abuse, and death by suicide.The primary source for this episode is the book Goodna Girls by Adele Chynoweth.Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodVisit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show on Buzzsprout or Patreon!Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the history of Goodna Mental Hospital, which also went by Brisbane Mental Hospital, Brisbane Special Hospital, and Wolston Park Mental Hospital during the years between 1937 and its closure in 2001. Find out what controversial treatments were used there and why the treatments took an almost 10 year hiatus. Learn what led to the deinstitutionalization movement in Queensland.My primary source is a page on the history of Wolston Park by the Queensland Department of Health. All of my sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Visit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode discusses the early history of Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum/Goodna Hospital for the Insane. Find out why the asylum had to be moved and rebuilt several times during its early years. Learn about the superintendents that were crucial to shaping the future of the hospital. Discover what "treatments" were offered to returning veterans of WWI.All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript. Shout out to multiple Queensland government websites and Newspapers.com for most of my sources.Cultural note: Aboriginal Australians should note that this episode uses the names and information of people now deceased.Check out our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastFollow on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we head down under to Queensland to learn about Ipswich Mental Hospital, which went by many other names during its 120 year history. Find out which name is the reason this hospital was selected (I promise you'll be able to tell!). Discover how the area went from a formal penal colony to discovering coal to housing a small branch of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum.All sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript.Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/BehindTheWallsPodcastCheck out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastFollow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week we travel to South Korea to the defunct Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, which was once named the third most haunted place in South Korea and one of the freakiest places in the world. Learn about the legends and myths surrounding the facility, as well as the very real history of mental health treatment in 20th century South Korea.Sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Visit us on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit us on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode concludes the series on Seacliff Mental Hospital and the story of New Zealand writer Janet Frame. Find out why Frame was sent to Seacliff, how many psychiatric hospitals she would be admitted to, and how her writing actually saved her life.The main source for this episode is Janet Frame's autobiography An Angel at My Table. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript. Check us out on Instagram! @behindthewallspodVisit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the childhood and young adulthood of New Zealand writer Janet Frame. Learn what it was like for Frame growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, all while hoping to learn to develop and perfect the craft of writing. This episode includes excerpts from very early in her writing career.The main source for this episode is from Janet Frame's autobiography, To the Is-Land. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Stay tuned to the very end of the episode for a delightful surprise.Support the show for $3/month on Buzzsprout: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show for $5/month on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastFollow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis episode features one of Janet Frame's short stories, "Gorse is not People," which was featured in The New Yorker on August 25, 2008. Link here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/01/gorse-is-not-peopleReferences to this work are from part two of Janet Frame's autobiography, An Angel at my Table.Check out our Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastJoin us on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode discusses the life, crime, and escapes of Lionel Terry. Find out what brought him to New Zealand and why he committed this hate crime. Learn about how he escaped from both Sunnyside Mental Hospital and Seacliff Mental Hospital multiple times and who finally convinced him to stay.Trigger warning for strong racist ideologies espoused by Terry.This episode draws heavily from the book The History of Seacliff by Frank Tod. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Visit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the history of Seacliff Mental Hospital after the tenure of Sir Truby King until the closure of Seacliff and Cherry Farm. Learn about how people who had been diagnosed as "mentally defective" were treated. Brace yourself for the deadly and devastating event that finally caused administration to call for a new hospital location. And find out what brought Seacliff to a close once and for all.This episode relies heavily on the book The History of Seacliff by Frank Tod and an anthology entitled 'Unfortunate Folk': Essays on Mental Health Treatment 1863-1992, edited by Barbara Brookes and Jane Thomson. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Check out our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode looks at the history of Seacliff Lunatic Asylum during the tenure of superintendent Dr. Truby King. Find out what improvements he made to the asylum and what clinical interests sidetracked him along the way. Learn some of the reasons why he became infamous in New Zealand and some of the reasons why we should review his legacy with caution.Primary sources for this week's episode include Frank Tod's book The History of Seacliff and an anthology entitled "Unfortunate Folk": Essays on Mental Health Treatment 1863-1992, edited by Barbara Brookes and Jane Thomson. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Check out our Patreon page (with new content!): http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines a lot of history that led to the construction of the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum in New Zealand. Learn why New Zealand had six asylums built within a 20 year span in the mid-1800s and still required more space. Find out why the architect of Seacliff fled to Melbourne following construction of the asylum.My main sources for this episode include The History of Seacliff by Frank Tod and an anthology called Unfortunate Folk: Essays on Mental Health Treatment 1863-1992 edited by Barbara Brookes and Jane Thomson. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the life and crimes of "Jolly Jane" Toppan. Find out why Jane is considered the first female serial killer in the U.S. and how she escaped detection for almost 20 years.The main source for this episode is Pretty Evil New England by Sue Colette. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Visit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines the past century of treatment at Taunton State Hospital and explores the changes that have occurred during that time.This episode borrows heavily from the book A Brief History of Taunton Lunatic Hospital 1854 to 2016 by Joseph Langlois. All other sources will be listed in the episode transcript.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode examines 40 years of the history of Taunton State Hospital. Find out what notorious true crime story may (or may not) have a connection to the hospital. Learn how treatment at Taunton was ahead of its time in so many ways.My primary source for this week's episode is the book A Brief History of the Taunton Lunatic Hospital 1854 to 2016 by Joseph Langlois. All other sources wil be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Patreon page (currently under construction): http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode explores the history of the first three decades of Taunton State Hospital in Taunton, Massachusetts. Find out why people were sent to this hospital and what major world events led to a dramatic increase of patient admissions at asylums around the state. Learn what a "magic lantern show" was and why the asylum had to have a wall built around it to protect patients. My main source for this episode is A Brief History of Taunton Lunatic Hospital 1854 to 2016 by Joseph Langlois. All other sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript. Check out our Beacons page for ways to connect with the show: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/BehindtheWallsPodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, I interview photographer Christie Seyglinski. Listen to find out how she got started photographing abandoned Kirkbride hospitals and why she spent a night in an old asylum in 8th grade!Add Abandoned: Echoes of the Past by Christie Seyglinski to your wishlist now! Available soon. Follow her work on Instagram @christieseyglinski or on Facebook at Abandoned: Echoes of the Past by Christie Seyglinski.Follow this show @behindthewallspod on Instagram or join the Facebook group, Behind the Walls Podcast. Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode features the story of the tragic murder of 5-year-old Edith Freeman in 1879. Learn why her parents did not mourn the loss of their daughter, whom they said they loved more than life itself, and find out why her father was sent to Danvers Lunatic Asylum in 1880.Sources are mostly drawn from newspaper articles from the time period (thanks, newspapers.com!) and a blog article by the podcast, "In My Footsteps." All sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript.Check out our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastCheck out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode outlines the history of Danvers State Hospital from 1912 until it closure in 1992. Find out what happens to the site after the hospital closed down and how it is being used today.Most of my information is drawn from the Images of America book on Danvers State Hospital by Katherine Anderson and Robert Duffy. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.Visit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcastVisit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcastJoin us on the Facebook group: Behind the Walls PodcastJoin us on Instagram: @behindthewallspodSupport the show