[or-roots] Oregon Insane Asylums

[Kith-n-Kin]

A really good place to "visit" are the records of the Insane Asylum in the State Archives.

It is pretty clear, as you read the "presenting conditions", that people went there for all sorts of
reasons, including "her husband said. . . " to "he got dementia from sitting in the sun. . " and on and
on.

Some drinking, some old, some just "there" -- for no reason that would be acceptable today.  

If I had anyone confined there, I'd be sure to get the admission and death records -- you never know what
you'll find.

As to the sterilization of handicapped people -- we were doing that as recently as 1978.  Well, it was
either that, or give out birth-control pills, or deliver babies to institutionalized people and find
someone else to care for them. Things changed when deinstitutionalization took place.  And, don't get me
started on that!

Be grateful we don't live in that world anymore!

Pat (in Tucson)