When did it all begin?
Dorothea Lynde Dix was born in Hampden, Maine on April, 4th, 1802. She grew up in many small towns, before running away from her abusive and alcoholic father. That was the eye opener for Dorothea. After her experiences, she felt the need to go out of her way and assist others.
It all began with the first school she opened in Boston, for the poor and neglected children. She also began teaching these children at her very own home. Dorothea felt the need to help these children, and even wrote books with little stories for them to read. She opened schools and created activities for them until her health started failing and she went to England.
While in England, Dorothea was introduced to the British lunacy reform movement, which was a reform that overlooked and investigated different asylums worldwide.
Dorothea's health became better, she flew back to her home of Massachusetts. She s began researching, mental asylums on her own. She documented that the victims in these hospitals were chained naked and beaten with metal rods. What was shocking the most was, ill people were being punished for being considered "demonic." The doctors and nurses there believed that the mentally ill were lesser than them and didn't deserve to be treated fairly. Ever since then, she tried to keep a keen eye out, by traveling to the states.
Dorothea Lynde Dix was born in Hampden, Maine on April, 4th, 1802. She grew up in many small towns, before running away from her abusive and alcoholic father. That was the eye opener for Dorothea. After her experiences, she felt the need to go out of her way and assist others.
It all began with the first school she opened in Boston, for the poor and neglected children. She also began teaching these children at her very own home. Dorothea felt the need to help these children, and even wrote books with little stories for them to read. She opened schools and created activities for them until her health started failing and she went to England.
While in England, Dorothea was introduced to the British lunacy reform movement, which was a reform that overlooked and investigated different asylums worldwide.
Dorothea's health became better, she flew back to her home of Massachusetts. She s began researching, mental asylums on her own. She documented that the victims in these hospitals were chained naked and beaten with metal rods. What was shocking the most was, ill people were being punished for being considered "demonic." The doctors and nurses there believed that the mentally ill were lesser than them and didn't deserve to be treated fairly. Ever since then, she tried to keep a keen eye out, by traveling to the states.