"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Their names were never mentioned because families feared the stigma that might follow. They were hidden in attics and buried without names on their tombstones. Or, they were sent off to a sanitarium where they were dropped off without a name or contact information. The insane, often called lunatics, have had various treatment thought to cure the disease throughout our recorded history. The techniques recorded are both humane and bizarre. Sometimes they were treated humanly, but often their treatment was macabre, even into the 20th century. Physical restraints are not used as much today as they were in the past, but when employed, they are supposedly only used with proper safeguards.
Residents lived and died within the walls of the asylums. In death, they were buried with only a number on their tombstone corresponding to a number and name of the patient in the respective hospital. These people who suffered from mild or massive mental problems are of great concern to many relatives and caring people. There is no longer a stigma related to these problems as we become more familiar with this condition, whether mild or severe, which can be effectively treated with the proper medications. Whatever the cause of death, or whether or not they suffered from abuse, kindness, neglect, or were used as research subjects, the deceased often did not receive more than a number on a concrete stone when they were buried.
The economy greatly affects the mental hospital or sanitarium staffing. A failing economy is responsible for some vacant buildings in the country, many thought to be historic buildings worth saving.
Texas has five historic asylums still in operation: Austin State Hospital built in 1857; San Antonio State Hospital; Rust State Hospital converted from a prison into a hospital in 1919; Terrell State Hospital still in operation today; and Wichita Falls State Hospital.
More on these hospitals may be found in the New Handbook Texas available in print and online at www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/sbr3.html.
Tyler State Hospital employees are presently working with people to identify and mark the approximately 3,6000 people buried in the hospital s Wildwood Cemetery. Their campaign is called the Numbers to Names. If you would like to mark a grave or make a contribution to mark a stone, call the Community Relations Department at 972-551-8639, or write to Volunteer Services Council, Terrell State Hospital, P. O. Box 70, Terrell, TX 75160-0070, or E-mail the Director of Community Relations and Development Kim Harris at kim.harris@mhmr.state.tx.us.
To see more on these subjects visit www.newadvent.org/cathen/08038b.htm,
http://darkspire.org/asylums/ and www.abandonedasylum.com/.
MUNICIPAL HISTORIANS: Did you know that some towns appoint a municipal historian to answer questions about the county and its people? Connecticut is one state that provides this service as a result of Section 7-148 of the Connecticut General Statutes, Scope of Municipal Powers. For a list of Connecticut municipal historians go to www.cslib.org/munihist.htm thanks to Richard C. Roberts of the History and Genealogy Unit in Hartford.
1930 CENSUS ADDITION: AncestorSpy web site has updated its site to include the addition of the 1930 census to the Pennsylvania and Ohio pages. Take a look at www.ancestorspy.com/pa/pa.htm and click on the sites highlighted in green.
OLD BIBLES: Search old Bibles on e-Bay at www.ancestorhunt.com/ebay_family_bibles.htm.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
