DOROTHEA LYNDE DIX “The tapestry of history has no point at which you can cut it and leave the design intelligible.”

Early Years Dorothea Dix was born on April 4, 1802 in Hampden, Maine. Dorothea and her family took refuge in Vermont after the Civil war began Dorothea had two other siblings, Joseph and Charles, whom she cared for.

A Dark Childhood Dorothea’s household can be described as abusive Her father, Joseph Dix, was an itinerant preacher and publisher of religious tracts. - her father was also an abuse alcoholic. - he influenced her teaching careering by helping her to learn how to read and right before she entering school. Her mother, Mary Dix, suffered from depression and created a depressing environment at home for her family.

Leaving… When Dorothea was twelve she moved in with her grandmother as a result of her father’s alcoholism and he mother’s mental illness. - her parents were sent to live with relatives. she continued to take care of her brothers and even taught them how to read and write.

“Young Lady” after moving into the Dix mansion with her grandmother, Dorothea was demanded into taking the role of a wealthy girl, when she refused she was sent to live with her great aunt. soon after she transformed her self into a young lady, so she could return to the mansion to be with brothers but she didn’t not return until four years later.

Her Passion For Teaching Later on Dorothea met her second cousin, Edward Bangs, who offered her to teach young women, since they weren't allowed to attend public schools during this time. Dorothea was going to teach for the first time in her life, and she not only succeeded greatly, but influenced the life of all of her students by taking a stand, and pursuing her beliefs and goals. Dorothea completely dedicated her life to delivering an education to anyone, no matter what the cost. She even took the courage to ask her grandmother if she could use the mansion to hold classes for women there as well, and surprisingly her grandmother was delighted to her hear Dorothea’s idea, and let her create classes for both poor, and wealthy young women Even though her father had passed away and her cousin had proposed to her, she set aside those dilemmas in order to continue her desire for enlightening young women.

Realizing the Horror At the age of Thirty-nine, Dorothea volunteered to teach a Sunday School class for women inmates at the East Cambridge Jail. Dorothea’s life completely changed the moment she stepped into the East Cambridge Jail. She discovered the horror of the conditions in the jail, and knew she had to take a stand for the mentally ill, who were being cruelly treated as criminals. She took the situation to court, and after a series of battles, she won her case. From that experience on, she traveled all around Massachusetts, changing the way the mentally ill were being treated, and saving the lives of many. She traveled even farther past Massachusetts and went to many other states, fighting for the health of the mentally ill

The Results Her efforts were not fruitless, for her influence impacted almost every state located on the east side of the Mississippi River In all she played a major role in finding 32 mental hospitals, 15 schools for the feeble minded, a school for the blind, and numerous training facilities for nurses. Afterward, she attempted to achieve her dream, and almost convinced the United States Congress and the president to leave five million acres free for use for the mentally ill, but the plan was vetoed by President Franklin Pierce. However, she didn't stop there, for she soon traveled to Europe, and impacted a change in treating the mentally ill in England, Scotland, France, Austria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Germany. It only took her two years to achieve this great impact in Europe too.

Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital.

The Civil War At age fifty-nine, Dorothea Dix offered her services to the Union Army during the attack on Fort Sumter in April She was made the Superintendent of Nurses, and changed the views on women nurses, and their skills. About 3000 women served for Dorothea Dix, who was known as “Dragon Dix” during the bloody conflicts. Thanks to Dorothea once again, army nursing improved greatly during Dix’s tenure.

Neglected in History Dorothea Dix is "the most effective advocate of humanitarian reform in American mental institutions during the nineteenth century" (Goldenson, 1970) Yet she is only mentioned in in 5 out of the current 53 psychology textbooks due to the fact that she never contributed to improvement of our knowledge of the mentally ill.

Did she want this Fame? Dorothea Dix probably would’ve wanted to remain in her current state as far as popularity concerns. Dix hardly ever took credit for her publications about the matters of the treatment of the mentally insane. She often turned down the offers of hospitals being named after her. After her retirement she chose not to speak of her achievement, but wanted them to “rest in peace” (Viney & Zorich, 1982).

Present… Dorothea Dix influenced the medical needs for psychiatric patients that are available today and swayed people to get involved in caring the mentally ill. Now there are more hospitals, people, and treatments around the world to help the mentally ill.

Painting Lilla Cabot Perry Mother and Child Reading This painting by Lilla Cabot Perry is a great depiction of what Dorothea Dix set out to do in her life. The mother symbolizes Dorothea caring for the young women, shown by the child. There is further meaning to what this painting symbolizes because it symbolizes the care that we need to show towards the mentally ill, and the message Dorothea was trying to get across.

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