The Lives They Left Behind : Suitcases From a State Hospital Attic

“**The Lives They Left Behind** is a deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness, and of the narrow margin which so often separates the sane from the mad. It is a remarkable portrait, too, of the life of a psychiatric asylum--the sort of community in which, for better and for worse, hundreds of thousands of people lived out their lives. Darby Penney and Peter Stastny's careful historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us.”—**Oliver Sacks, M.D.**, Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia University Artist, and author of __Musicophilia__ “The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that it’s so easy to identify with them.”—__Newsweek__ “In their poignant detail the items helped rescue these individuals from the dark sprawl of anonymity.”—__The New York Times__ “[The authors] spent 10 years piecing together . . . the lives these patients lived before they were nightmarishly stripped of their identities.”—__Newsday__ More than four hundred abandoned suitcases filled with patients’ belongings were found when Willard Psychiatric Center closed in 1995 after 125 years of operation. They are skillfully examined here and compared to the written record to create a moving—and devastating—group portrait of twentieth-century American psychiatric care. ? The Lives They Left Behind is a deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness, and of the narrow margin which so often separates the sane from the mad. It is a remarkable portrait, too, of the life of a psychiatric asylum?the sort of community in which, for better and for worse, hundreds of thousands of people lived out their lives. Darby Penney and Peter Stastny's careful historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us."? Oliver Sacks?Fascinating. ... The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that it's so easy to identify with them."? Newsweek When Willard State Hospital closed its doors in 1995, after operating as one of New York State's largest mental institutions for over 120 years, a forgotten attic filled with suitcases belonging to former patients was discovered. Using the possessions found in these suitcases along with institutional records and doctors' notes from patient sessions, Darby Penney, a leading advocate of patients' rights, and Peter Stastny, a psychiatrist and documentary filmmaker, were able to reconstruct the lives of ten patients who resided at Willard during the first half of the twentieth century. The Lives They Left Behind tells their story. In addition to these human portraits, the book contains over 100 photographs as well as valuable historical background on how this state-funded institution operated. As it restores the humanity of the individuals it so poignantly evokes, The Lives They Left Behind reveals the vast historical inadequacies of a psychiatric system that has yet to heal itself

“The Lives They Left Behind is a deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness, and of the narrow margin which so often separates the sane from the mad.  It is a remarkable portrait, too, of the life of a psychiatric asylum--the sort of community in which, for better and for worse, hundreds of thousands of people lived out their lives. Darby Penney and Peter Stastny's careful historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us.”—Oliver Sacks, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia University Artist, and author of Musicophilia

“The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that it’s so easy to identify with them.”—Newsweek

“In their poignant detail the items helped rescue these individuals from the dark sprawl of anonymity.”—The New York Times

“[The authors] spent 10 years piecing together . . . the lives these patients lived before they were nightmarishly stripped of their identities.”—Newsday

More than four hundred abandoned suitcases filled with patients’ belongings were found when Willard Psychiatric Center closed in 1995 after 125 years of operation. They are skillfully examined here and compared to the written record to create a moving—and devastating—group portrait of twentieth-century American psychiatric care.

“ The Lives They Left Behind is a deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness, and of the narrow margin which so often separates the sane from the mad. It is a remarkable portrait, too, of the life of a psychiatric asylum--the sort of community in which, for better and for worse, hundreds of thousands of people lived out their lives. Darby Penney and Peter Stastny's careful historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us.”— Oliver Sacks, M.D. , Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia University Artist, and author of Musicophilia “The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that it’s so easy to identify with them.”— Newsweek “In their poignant detail the items helped rescue these individuals from the dark sprawl of anonymity.”— The New York Times “[The authors] spent 10 years piecing together . . . the lives these patients lived before they were nightmarishly stripped of their identities.”— Newsday More than four hundred abandoned suitcases filled with patients’ belongings were found when Willard Psychiatric Center closed in 1995 after 125 years of operation. They are skillfully examined here and compared to the written record to create a moving—and devastating—group portrait of twentieth-century American psychiatric care. The acclaimed portrait of institutionalized patients whose abandoned possessions recall their forgotten lives "A deeply moving testament to the human side of mental illness." #8212; Oliver Sacks When Willard State Hospital closed its doors in 1995, after operating as one of New York State's largest mental institutions for over 120 years, a forgotten attic filled with suitcases belonging to former patients was discovered. Using the possessions found in these suitcases along with institutional records and doctors' notes from patient sessions, Darby Penney, a leading advocate of patients' rights, and Peter Stastny, a psychiatrist and documentary filmmaker, were able to reconstruct the lives of ten patients who resided at Willard during the first half of the twentieth century. The Lives They Left Behind tells their story. In addition to these human portraits, the book contains over 100 photographs as well as valuable historical background on how this state-funded institution operated. As it restores the humanity of the individuals it so poignantly evokes, The Lives They Left Behind reveals the vast historical inadequacies of a psychiatric system that has yet to heal itself Foreword / Robert Whitaker -- 1. He took them on their last walk -- 2. Who were the people that went to Willard and why did they go there? --3. How I would have furnished my room (if not for the voices) -- 4. In permanent limbo: she kept asking for dispensation (until her doctor turned into the devil incarnate) -- 5. Children were buried and she knit her life away -- 6. Like a fly in a spider web -- 7. How people were treated at Willard -- 8. A photographic talent: rising above the fray -- 9. A frequent visitor to the White House -- 10. My blood temper ... resigned -- 11. An Italian princess and a French intellectual: two ways of fighting for freedom -- Epilogue: Is it better today? He took them on their last walk -- Who were the people that went to Willard and why did they go there? -- How I would have furnished my room (if not for the voices) -- In permanent limbo: she kept asking for dispensation (until her doctor urned into the devil incarnate) -- Children were buried and she knit her life away -- Like a fly in a spider web -- What happened to the people during their stay at Willard and how were they treated? -- A photographic talent: rising above the fray -- A frequent visitor to the White House -- My blood temper ... resigned -- An Italian princess and a French intellectual The contents of 10 of the 400 patient suitcases left behind at the Willard Psychiatric Center are examined and compared to the written record to create a group portrait of 20th century American psychiatric care