Welcome to asylum notes, a blog about things related to my book, Asylum on the Hill: History of a Healing Landscape, published March 2012 by the Ohio University Press. I update the blog two or three times a month.
I am a counselor and an artist – see my blog ArtBreak®. I live in Athens, Ohio with my husband Matthew. Athens is a small town (population 20,000) in rural southeastern Ohio; it is the home of Ohio University and the Athens Lunatic Asylum, now known as The Ridges.
This is such a fantastic project! I’m so glad you took it on. I’m sure you’ve run across them, but Jeff Friedman, who was then university photographer, took documentary photos of the “asylum” at the request of Rene Glidden as the university was taking it over. I’m sure they’re in the University Photography files in the Communications/Photographers’ office.
Good to hear from you. I believe I have seen the photographs but did not know they were taken by Jeff Friedman, thank you!
That may have been John Halley – he made the arrangements to open the building before it was altered at which time I shot some video.
Dear Mrs. Ziff,
I have placed an order for your book and have a particular interest in reading it.
Between the years 1958 and 1962 I worked at the asylum as the evening lab medical technologist doing blood analysis on new admissions and emergency cases. This work
took me to every ward and in touch with most aspects of the hospital. It also paid my
way through the university as a full time student. I’m sure I will enjoy reading your book.
Garland
Dear Garland,
I hope you enjoy the book. Those were interesting and busy years that you worked at the asylum and what a view you had of things, from the microscope to the whole big picture. The OU Press is in the planning stages of a Fall event to gather oral history, I’ll post info on the event on this blog as it is available in case you are interested in sharing.
Very sincerely,
Katherine
Katherine: Also, Hollis Summers has a wonderful poem about the university’s and the state hospital’s close proximity–and how they occasionally exchanged residents. It may be in The Walks Near Athens. I also just ran into a beautiful book about the Traverse City MI Mental Health Center–which looks to have rivaled the Athens Asylum in size.
Excellent! Traverse City State Hospital’s history does closely parallel that of our asylum in Athens. I cannot wait to find Hollis Summers’ poem and will post about it when I do.
One of the many things I have learned from the asylum project is how so very many people have intersected and what a complex web of inter-relationships there are in its history. Thank you for the comment and clarification Ken.
Thanks for providing the link to your blog in your comment on mine! I didn’t realize you had one. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do…
I’ve updated my post about your book with a link here. I’ll add you to my links page and mention it on Facebook as well.
I am Parker Gundry Trostel, great-granddaughter of, Richard Gundry and Mary Martha Fitz Harris Gundry. I found out about your book through Ann Bigelow, Somerset, OH, who is a good friend of my good friend, Tony Stoneburner, who used to teach English at Dennison.
I haven’t finished your book, but the introduction made my eyes tear. The loving care that this lunatic asylum concept and staff gave in mid-eighteenth century puts many nursing hones today to shame. I’m not involved in mental healt; I am a hospice volunteer. I see nursing homes every week. Staff and situations are pleasant, but I don’t discern any effort to be outstanding. I just see the constraints of time and treasure.
I am doing some research on Richard, his father Jonathan and other Gundrys. I’d love to know more about Richard and anything about Mary Martha. She was a large presence in the family.
I have much more to say to you – about my life and after I read the book.
Peace, Parker
Dear Parker,
Thank you for writing, I look forward to hearing more from you. You are carrying on your great-grandfather’s tradition of healing, in your hospice work. I will post on Friday about Spring Grove, where Dr. Gundry was superintendent 1878-1891.
Take care and stay in touch,
Katherine
Wonderful. I would love to find your sources. The Med Chi Society of MD wasn’t very helpful. I look forward to Friday.
Dear Katherine,
Congratulations on your new book. It’s fascinating. I hope you won’t mind a quick question: I have heard that Olmstead not only trained the architect who designed the Ridges, but also contributed his own design for a garden on the grounds. Would you know if this is the case? I don’t find mention of it in your book, but I’m sure you came across seas of archival information that you couldn’t include. Thanks in advance for any information or insight you can offer.
Best regards,
Eric
Eric, I had heard stories about Herman Haerlin’s relationship to Olmsted but was unable to document much. Mr. Haerlin, a landscape gardener and greenhouse owner from Cincinnati, did the landscape plan for the asylum and is said to have been a student of Olmsted. I could not find any substantiation for this among the asylum records or among the biographical details about Haerlin from archival sources and from the Cincinnati parks people. I even attended a conference of Olmsted scholars and shared a copy of the landscape drawing with them. They agreed that the design was in keeping with Olmsted’s influence at that time in the 19th century but did not know of any connections. Nor is the asylum mentioned or listed in the extensive archival listing of Olmsted Sr.’s work.
I do think it is likely, though, that Haerlin and Olmsted met in Cincinnati. According to a biography of Olmsted, A Clearing in the Distance, Olmsted visited Cincinnati several times, I believe in pursuit of his political interests.
Thank you for this kind reply, Katherine. I appreciate it. Like Kate, I’d heard that that there was a garden designed by Olmsted where the Hocking River now runs. It’s intriguing to think about how—and why—this belief emerged as a minor local myth. No doubt an asylum on a hill overlooking a small town churns up the collective imagination of its residents, but who’d have thought it’d fix on a landscape architect? Thanks again and best wishes for the book!
Eric
Eric, thanks for the good wishes. Note that I was not able to confirm the connection, perhaps some evidence is filed away in an archive somewhere that could do so! Katherine
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
I was fascinated by Eric’s question because I, too, had heard that the garden design where the river is now–based on a card deck’s four suits–was created by Olmsted, though I had always assumed it was Olmsted Jr., not Sr. Not even sure where this “legend” came from. I just purchased your book today, so I’m eager to sit down to read tonight!
Katherine:
Are the Spring Grove and Richard Gundry materials somewhere else?
Richard Gundry (first medical super of Athens) spawned a whole family of people in caring professions. He had three sons who were psychiatrists and a fourth son who helped to found the first mental hospital for Negroes/Arican-Americans/Blacks (Crownsville). Richard Fitzharris, Lewis Henry, and Alfred Thomas all were psychiatrists and had private psychiatric hospitals, AT for women only. One of Richard’s daughters had a school for developmentally disabled in Falls Church, VA (Mattie Gundry). The next generation had one internist, my father, Lewis Perkins Gundry, son of Lewis H., and one Psychiarist, Pachel Krebbs Gundry, dasughter of Alfred. The next generation, mine, has two physicians, my brother Richard K. Gundry, internist, son of Lewis Perkins, and Sue Vautier, pediatrician and local health organization director, granddaughter of Alfred Thomas. The next generation, fifth generation, has three physicians, two sons of my brother Richard’s, Cooper Gundry, (adopted) radiologist and John Gundry, cardiologist, and our daughter Kendrick Ann Trostel, nephrologist. There are nurses, psychologists, social workers and I am a minister. As a distant cousin in Canada said, “The Gundrys have a lot of care givers.”
My goodness the Gundry’s have quite a distinguished family legacy. I would love to delve into some of that history for the blog at some point, if that would be agreeable with you.
In regard to Richard Gundry I consulted the nineteenth century annual reports, especially the early one before the asylum opened that he wrote at the request of the Board of Trustees – it was a review of the construction of the Athens asylum to date and his recommendations for completion. As to Spring Grove, I consulted the on-line archive maintained by that institution. I was not able to secure permission from Spring Grove to include in the book the photo of Dr. Gundry with his family there, to my regret. They didn’t deny permission, just did not respond.
I notice that your daughter’s name is Kendrick, which is my maiden name.
Very best, Katherine
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
Katherine – I recently received your book and can’t wait to start reading it. I also received my ancestor’s commitment papers! The physician’s statement said “menstrual derangement” was the physical cause of her lunacy. Do you have any knowledge of this diagnosis as related to insanity/lunacy? Any resources to refer me to? She was admitted in 1881. Thanks!
Hi Denise, good to hear from you, how interesting that you have gotten both book and commitment papers for your ancestor. They should make good reading taken together.
There is a discussion in the Patients chapter of my book on diagnosis vs. speculation on the cause of the mental illness. The diagnostic framework then had similarities to that used today in standard western mental health care. However, the “causes of lunacy” such as “menstrual derangement”, were thought to be many and make interesting reading; I list a number of them in the Patients chapter. Probably this particular term referred to some disruption or problem with the menstrual cycle.
I can refer you to a doctoral dissertation by Karen Coffing in 1999 (Kent State University): Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Ohio Women Convicted of Insanity, 1874-1940.
Best wishes to you! Katherine
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
Thank you Katherine for being so helpful. I will locate the dissertation. Besides cause of illness, the commitment papers reveal so much other family history and many confirming bits and pieces I already had. Your book is a huge bonus to help describe my ancestor’s life at the Ridges. Thank you for writing it.
Denise, very best wishes for your family research.So glad the book is helpful for you. Katherine
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
Katherine: Not that you will use my information, but I made two mistakes in my last post. The third generation doctors were my father (Lewis Perkins) and Rachel Gundry, psychiatrist, daughter of Alfred Thomas. The fourth generation pediatrician, grandaughter of Alfred Thomas, is Sue Vautier Raver. She goes by Raver. (Ah, we women get lost when we marry.) Sue is Rachel’s neice.
I’m searching for pictures of Richard Gundry through a source in Catonsville and Relay. Catonsville has a historical society that seems pretty active.
Peace, Parker
Dear Parker, Would it be all right with you if I post about your family and the heritage of healers? Also, if you are interested I would like to email you a scanned copy of Dr. Gundry’s masterful summary report on the construction of the Athens Asylum. Might take a little while, have to scan it first. A beautiful Spring weekend to you. Katherine
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
Hi, Katherine: No one seems able to go back further than Robert Kendrick Dunkerson who was Laura Dunkerson Orr’s father. Laura Dunkerson Orr was the mother of Samuel Orr, Laura Kendrick/Kim Orr Trostel (b. 19 Dec. 1909) and Robert Dunkerson Orr (governor of Indiana and more).
I’ll try to weazel a picture of Richard Gundry out of my brother, Richard K. Gundry, M.D. He now owes it to me as I sent him you beautiful book. Peace, Parker
Hi Parker would love to see another photo of Richard Gundry. And thank you for your comments about the book.
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
Katherine: I have two pieces of information for you. This afternoon I will get a digitized picture of six Gundry doctors. They are Richard, his son Lewis Henry, LH’s son Lewis Perkins, LP’s son Richard Keitley (my brother) and RK’s sons Cooper and John. How can I send Richard’s picture to you to you? I’d prefer an e-mail address. I am not into Face Book. Second, I am in contact with Andrea Braid, COO of Spring Grove Hospital Center. I have sent your book to the intermediary, the person who got me in touch with Andrea Braid. Ms. Braid told me that there are many “fragile” papers on Richard in the “museum” there. I am encouraging them to digitize these papers. I’ll let you know about it all. It will probably take a long time. I might have to visit the East to get a peek. All is well. Peace, Parker
Parker, exciting news from your end and glad all is well. Sounds like a trip East is in order so you can take a look at those papers. Digitizing would be a gift to researchers, people with connections to Spring Grove. Would love to receive Richard’s picture and post it on the blog: katherineziff@aol.com ~ Katherine
Katherine Ziff, PhD Briarwood Studios of Athens LLC 68 Briarwood Drive Athens, Ohio 45701
Congratulations on your book about Athens State Hospital. I’m sure it required a huge amount of meticulous research. I worked there as a psychologist between 1971 and 1973 in the days of Drs. Chovnick and Caul. The pictures brought back memories, and I hope to be able to read Asylum on the Hill in the future. Dr. Dan Dekker, Lansing, MI
Dan good to hear from you. I am sure you have many stories and memories from your days. You are right, I did spend years on the research and archives at Alden in Athens became a second home! You can order Asylum on the Hill from any bookstore and also from the Ohio University Press at: http://www.ohioswallow.com/book/Asylum+on+the+Hill
Hi Kathy–this is Robyn Jones Mixon (Perry’s friend) from Winston-Salem and I came across your site while looking for info about the asylum in St. Remy–we are headed there on Monday and have actually never visited the asylum in previous trips there. Perry had actually been telling me about your book and how well it would fit with Reynolda’s exhibit presently–really interesting that I happened upon this independently. Thanks for your information and I wish you well is sharing all the interesting research you are presenting in your book and lectures. All best.
Robyn, wonderful to hear from you and how serendipitous that we are both friends with Perry! Would love to receive impressions or photos from St. Remy. Email is katherineziff@aol.com
Have a wonderful trip to Provence!
Dr. Ziff,
I am very intrigued with your work, and would be very gracious if we could have correspondence in the near future.
Sincerely,
Breanna
Breanna my email address is katherineziff@aol.com
I can’t wait to read your book. I grew up in Athens and I used to play at the Richland Avenue Park at the bottom of the hill from the Mental Health Center. After I graduated from high school I had a summer job working at OU and we were assigned to paint the windows at The Ridges. It was in the summer of 1994, about the time OU took over the buildings. I spent a lot of time in the buildings, they are full of so much history. What fascinated me was the numbered graves in the cemetery and all of the medical records that had been abandoned. When we were painting we explored some off limits areas of the buildings.
Mona I hope you enjoy the book. If you would like to email me any particular memories or recollections or photographs I would be pleased to post them on the blog. katherineziff@aol.com