Topic: The End of an Era ... Pilgrim State Hospital, 1938

[LT]

I just stumbled upon this amazing series of pics from an American psychiatric hospital in the 30s. My 'real life' career is closely linked with psychiatry so I do have another level of interest, although I think the social documentary, personal story and photographic aspects of these pics are strong enough to hold anyone's interests. Fascinating, and troubling to see the use of straightjackets and weird psuedo-treatments - this is clearly just before the use of medication took hold.

http://life.time.com/culture/strangers-to-reason-life-inside-a-psychiatric-hospital-1938/?iid=lb-gal-viewagn#1


(there's loads of other great series on the site too)
 

[Paul Mitchell]

Quite haunting Leon, that massive brick built hospital frontage must have been quite daunting to approach for anyone let alone the patients.

[Late Developer]

Quite harrowing.

Paul, you took the words out of my mouth when it comes to the building itself. The thought of having to spend any time for any reason in such a building is enough to unsettle most people.

I found photos 14, 16 and 24 incredibly powerful. Incredible to think that place existed within living memory of people still alive today. Worse still, some of the patients (prisoners?) were probably capable of living normal lives if they'd received proper treatment.

[astrobeck]

Quite harrowing and unsettling to look at indeed. 

But on a happier note, that same photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt, is the same guy that has that famous shot of children watching a puppet show.
http://www.vpphotogallery.com/photog_eisen_puppettheatre.htm

[Phil Bebbington]

Leon, thank you for highlighting this series, fascinating. That frontage alone does it for me and then there is that water treatment, jesus!

A few years ago I found some interesting footage that I put to some music on youtube.

Micah P. Hinson - Drift Off To Sleep

[irv_b]

Oh man! I wished I hadn't looked at them now as I'm off to bed. It's quite disturbing to think that was the way we 2treated" our fellow humans rather than actually treat our fellow humans!

[original_ann]

Those ice baths... barbaric and quite horrifying.  And wow, Phil.  The music you selected for that footage adds to the poignancy.  My heart feels so, so heavy right now. 

[LT]

Phil - that is amazing - where was the footage from?

It's the catatonic states that really fascinate me, although they rarely occur anymore. Waxy Flexibility is just bizarre.

Catatonia

[Phil Bebbington]

Leon, it is from a free film archive, the address of which escapes me at the moment. I have it saved at home so will forward you the link later.

[Phil Bebbington]

Fascinating footage.