The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic
In 1995 when Willard Psychiatric Center, near New York’s Finger Lakes, was set to close, two workers found a long-forgotten door tucked under the rafters. To their surprise, the room contained the suitcases and personal effects of many of the 50,000 patients that passed through the center’s doors in its 126-year history.
The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic, a temporary exhibit at NYPL’s Science, Industry, and Business Library offers a glimpse into a world of forgotten "incurables" who were often held against their will for such common New York afflictions such as anti-social behavior, mild depression, and sarcasm. The exhibit includes photographs and over two dozen panels depicting the patients’ stories and cases of their belongings.
The panels include a haunting photograph of a certain young Frenchwoman named Miss Madeline who was "drawn to the occult" and fought her institutionalization for decades. Mr. Lawrence, an immigrant window washer who was institutionalized after being overheard "singing loudly, praying, and claiming to hear the voice of God." During his time at Willard, Mr. Lawrence dug over 600 graves until his death at 90 when he died and was buried in an unmarked grave. And Mr. Roderigo who spent 62 yeas at Willard after complaining of hearing demon voices.
More information on the exhibit as well as numerous photographs and audio interviews with former inmates and workers, some of whom describe treatments and methods of control such as typhoid cages, lobotomies, shock therapy and seclusion rooms, check out the online exhibit.
Location: The New York Public Library’s Science, Industry and Business Library, 188 Madison Avenue (map) 212-592-7730
Subway: 6 to 3rd Street; N, Q, R, W, V to 34th Street-Herald Square
Hours: Fri–Mon 11am–6pm; Tue-Thur 10am–8pm. Ends Jan 31st.
Cost: Free
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2 opinions for The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic
Bellie
Jan 23, 2008 at 4:35 pm
This is really interesting and if I were in NY I would love to see the exhibition. Actually the other night on PBS there was a special call “The Lobotomist” for any one who is interested in this topic you will be able to view this documentary some time in Feb at this link.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lobotomist/program/
Mary Jo
Jan 24, 2008 at 10:51 pm
This sounds like a compelling, perhaps painful, exhibit. I’ve got it on my to-see list.
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