The Kirkbride Plan: A Survey of America’s Insane Asylums

Thomas Story Kirkbride developed a blueprint for treating mental illness in the 19th Century. Patients would no longer be subjected to inhumane conditions, gaining more rights as full American citizens. Known as the “Kirkbride Plan,” these gothic buildings loomed over cities and held a monopoly on mental health care in the United States. His insane asylums continued to be constructed long after his death. This lecture will discuss why Kirkbride’s plan gained such popularity and how it all went so wrong for those admitted.

Madeline Feierstein is an Alexandria, VA historian specializing in psychiatric institutions, hospitals, and prisons. A native of Washington, D.C., her work has been showcased across the Capital Region. As Lead Historian for the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, Madeline leads efforts to document the sick, injured, and imprisoned soldiers that passed through Civil War Alexandria. Additionally, she supports the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and interprets the burials in Alexandria’s historically rich cemeteries with Gravestone Stories. Madeline holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from George Mason University and a Master’s in American History from Southern New Hampshire University. Explore her research at www.madelinefeierstein.com.

Photo courtesy of Danvers State Hospital.

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