1. By Allie Piacenti & Becca MacLean
Dorothea Dix
By Allie Piacenti & Becca MacLean
“If I am cold, they are cold; if I am weary, they are distressed; if I am alone, they are abandoned.”

2. Early Life “ I never knew childhood.”
Born April 4, 1802 in Hampden, Maine
Father was an abusive alcoholic and her mother was in poor mental health
Went to live with her Grandmother at age 12
Began teaching classes for girls at age 15
“ I never knew childhood.”

3. Accomplishments “I tell what I have seen.”
Published several books for children and their parents. Ex. Conversations on Common Things (1824)
Taught Sunday School class for women inmates at East Cambridge Jail
1843- Proposed a plan to the MA legislature for improvement of facilities for mentally ill (passed)
Opened 32 mental hospitals, 15 schools for the feeble-minded, a school for the blind, and numerous training facilities for nurses
“I tell what I have seen.”

4. Accomplishments (cont.)
Helped to establish libraries in mental hospitals, prisons, and more
Traveled throughout 13 European countries in 2 years and fought for the mentally ill there after failing to pass a federal land plot in the US
1845- published Remarks on Prisons and Prison Discipline in the United States to advocate for change in the treatments of ordinary prisoners
Named Superintendent of the Union Army Nurses
“Some say these things cannot be remedied… I know they are.”

5. Effects
Met with Pope Pius IX and influenced him to make a series of improvements in Rome
Influenced a bill for the enlargement of the Worcester Insane Asylum
1881- her efforts contributed to opening the state hospital in Trenton, NJ
Inspired legislators in 15 states and Canada to establish hospitals for the mentally ill
US nursing pioneer
“There are few cases in history where a social movement of such proportions can be attributed to the work of a single individual.” ~ Kovach

6. Final Efforts Ill health throughout her entire life and her travels
Admitted herself into the Trenton Hospital that she helped found
Remained there for 6 years until her death on July 17, 1887
Dix was “the most effective advocate of humanitarian reform in American mental institutions during the nineteenth century.” ~Goldenson

7. Bibliography Primary: Secondary:
Dix, Dorothea Lynde. Remarks on Prisons and Prison Discipline in the United States. [Whitefish, MT]: Kessinger, Print.
"Memorial to the Massachusetts Legislature (1843)." Eca.state.gov/. Web. 05 Apr <
Secondary:
"Dorothea Dix." NNDB: Tracking the Entire World. Web. 05 Apr <
"Dorothea Dix." United States History. Web. 05 Apr <
"Dorothea Dix." Webster University. Web. 05 Apr <
Reddi, Vasantha. "Biography of Dorothea Lynde Dix." The Center for Nursing Advocacy. Web. 05 Apr <