Transcript Dorothea Dix

Dorothea Dix
Charlotte Bolio, Greg Villafane, Alex
Herbert
Early Life

Dorothea Dix was born April 4th, 1802 In a
small town called Hampden Maine
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The first child of three siblings
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Abusive family life: Father Joseph Dix
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Dorothea ran away from home which
triggered her sympathy for the helpless
Passion for Teaching

In 1821 she opened a school in Boston in
her Grandmothers estate for both wealthy
and poorer class

Taught neglected and poor children, as well
as the upper class to appeal to her
grandmother
Teaching Cont.

Became ill in 1824

Wrote a book during her recovery, called
“Conversations on Common Things”

When she recovered, in 1831, she opened a
small school for girls in Boston which she
managed successfully until 1836 when she
became ill with tuberculosis .
English Experience

In 1836 she traveled to England where she
spent a year with a prominent upper class
family.

She was exposed to noble social reformers
who shared her belief that the government
should have an active role in social welfare.

She also observed the “British Lunacy
Reform Movement”
Return to America

On her return to America she conducted a
statewide inspection and wrote a report
detailing Massachusetts’ care for the
insane/poor.

She found that the system was underfunded
and unregulated

Traveled across the country documenting
the condition of pauper lunatics
Getting Legal
 She lobbied her observations in
Washington to pass laws helping the
mentally ill and helpless
 She worked in hopes that the “Bill For
the Benefit of the Indigent Insane”
would be passed, which planned to set
aside 12,225,000 acres of federal land
giving the sale profits to states in order
to improve and maintain their asylums.
 However, in 1854, president Franklin
Pierce vetoed it because he believed
that federal government should not be
responsible for social welfare. It is the
states responsibility.
Civil War

During the Civil War she was appointed
superintendant of the Union Army nurses.

However, her qualities as an activist were
not ideal for a position of leadership.

She was relieved of her position.

She considered this chapter in her life a
failure.
Abraham Lincoln
letter to Dix asking
her to be
superintendant of
the Union Nurses
Last Years

After her time as a nurse, she moved into
the NJ State Hospital in Morris Plains
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Admitted herself into the hospital 1881

After 6 years being hospitalized she died
July 17th, 1887

Was buried at Mount Auburne Cemetery
Dix’s Contributions

Her major contribution was to the indigent
insane movement, which was suffering from
poor funding as well as little concern and
awareness.

She was also an advocate for complete
government support of social welfare.

Her avid work for the indigent insane
brought awareness and funding to help the
helpless.
Contributions Cont.

She influenced fifteen states to open
hospitals for the mentally ill