Central State Hospital and at the Georgia Archives
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“GONE TO MILLEDGEVILLE”: NORTHEAST GEORGIA WOMEN AND THE GEORGIA STATE SANITARIUM, 1886-1936 by LAURIE JANE VARNER Under the Direction of Kathleen deMarrais ABSTRACT This study examined the lives of rural women of northeast Georgia through the prism of the Georgia State Sanitarium. Based on the need to fill a gap in the literature on women from Georgia, this qualitative dissertation examined ninety patient records of women from northeast Georgia who were committed to the Georgia State Sanitarium in Milledgeville and died there between 1886 and 1936. By analyzing these records, the researcher isolated three themes: the prevalence of control and confinement both on the way to and at the Sanitarium, the pervasiveness of poverty among the women and the common losses they endured. In addition to thematic analysis, the author used case studies to form a more textured glimpse of four women who were patients at the Sanitarium. Findings indicated the vulnerability of women during this period in history, the ambiguity of interactions with the Sanitarium, and the disconnect between female patients and their male physicians. Recommendations for the preservation of fragile hospital records are highlighted. This dissertation seeks to fill a gap in the literature by honoring the experiences of the many ordinary women who lived and died at Milledgeville. INDEX WORDS: Georgia State Sanitarium, Milledgeville, rural women, northeast Georgia, patient records, hospital archives “GONE TO MILLEDGEVILLE”: NORTHEAST GEORGIA WOMEN AND THE GEORGIA STATE SANITARIUM, 1886-1936 by LAURIE JANE VARNER B.S.Ed., The University of Georgia, 1990 M.Ed., Georgia State University, 1999 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA © 2011 Laurie Jane Varner All Rights Reserved “GONE TO MILLEDGEVILLE”: NORTHEAST GEORGIA WOMEN AND THE GEORGIA STATE SANITARIUM, 1886-1936 by LAURIE JANE VARNER Major Professor: Kathleen deMarrais Committee: Ron Butchart John Inscoe Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia August 2011 In memory of my father, Aubrey Varner I am so sorry you couldn‟t be here to see me “get the damn thing done.” v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS When I began graduate studies in August of 2000, a friend shared an insight which has proven to be true. For some of us, earning a PhD is more about p[P]erseverance, h[h]umility and d[D]eference than about intelligence. I have been grateful for those words of wisdom more times than I can count during this process, particularly as it drew to a close. Recognizing my own limitations and asking for and receiving help has been especially humbling, but had I not done so, I never would have been able to complete this work. With that in mind, I here publicly recognize all those (I can remember) who have helped me in what has become an eleven year process. This dissertation could not have been completed without the help of two individuals, Kathleen deMarrais and Joanna Smolko. Dr. deMarrais facilitated the completion of my dissertation, working with me weekly since August of 2009 and holding my hand through every step of this endeavor. I am so very grateful for her faith in my ability, her consistent guidance, encouragement, and support. Dr. Smolko began helping me in February of 2011 and provided day-by-day (and at times, minute-by-minute) support and encouragement throughout final drafting, revision and formatting. I am also indebted to her husband, Tim, and sweet twins as they tolerated their scholar mommy‟s devotion to guiding and supporting the work of others. This dissertation could not have begun without the advisement of Ron Butchart, whose early guidance in my doctoral studies never failed to inspire me. I will never forget sitting enthralled through Dr. Butchart‟s summer course in the history of education and making daily trips after his class in order to read for myself everything I learned from him. Ron spent time in vi attentive conversation with me, opened his home to me numerous times and never failed to support and protect my scholarly interests. This dissertation could not have come to life if not grounded in the understanding of southern history I developed under the tutelage of John Inscoe. Dr. Inscoe‟s depth of knowledge and kind but authoritative manner guided much of what I read and understood to be critical to the South. His faithful commitment to seeing this dissertation all the way through was a blessing to me. I would like to thank Dr. Donald Manning and his assistant Wanda Thompson of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, for enabling me to access patient records at Central State Hospital and at the Georgia Archives. I further extend my gratitude to Anne Smith at the Georgia Archives and to Shorne Robinson, Vicky Densley and Kimberly Devero at Central State Hospital for facilitating that access. The Portico Community of High Shoals, Georgia, has consistently prayed for me. I appreciate so much the kindness, help, encouragement and care of my friends Amy Barber, Nicole and David Bryan, Paul Dotterweich, Joe and Julie Gunby, Lee and Leslie Moody, Ben Whetstone, Acorn and Asa. Thank you for enduring these long years of distraction on my part. Thank you for the intentional community we share. Early on, Tim McIntosh provided the accountability I needed to write consistently. Later, he provided my most faithful companion, my beloved dog, Don. Charlise Rowley, friend and cousin, not only expressed enormous interest in the project, but also spent days on end helping me to collect data in Milledgeville. Thank you, Charlise (and husband, Dennis). And Ophelia vii Culpepper stepped in to save the day by agreeing to help me prepare me for the culminating event of this endeavor. Thank you, dear friends! My family and the history we share are the inspiration for this work. Nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles too numerous to name here, spoke honestly and openly with me and loved me unconditionally. My Aunt Pammy, especially, spent hours with me and shared her memories without reservation. Nancy Varner sent a most timely card of encouragement. Deb and Frank Cole provided not only a restful retreat at the beach but also much-needed words of encouragement. Patsy and Craig Kent prayed for me consistently and sent me prayers and sustaining encouragement by email. And Susan and Hampton Groover blessed me with their very joy and presence in my life. My mother, Jane Jones Varner, is my greatest earthly blessing. My earliest memories are of her soothing, loving and protective presence. She is my kindred spirit, my best friend and my most faithful advocate. Thank you, Mama, for every prayer, every tear, every word and every thought. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 2 CONTEXT AND LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................10 A Context of Mental Institutions in the United States ...........................................10 Review of the Literature ........................................................................................24 3 HISTORICAL CONTEXT ..........................................................................................39 Northeast Georgia ..................................................................................................39 The Institution ........................................................................................................43 4 METHODS: A JOURNEY INTO THE ARCHIVES ..................................................63 5 CONTROL AND CONFINEMENT ...........................................................................77 A Case Study of Confinement: Augusta Gordon ................................................110 6 POVERTY, PELLAGRA AND PAUPER‟S HOMES ..............................................122 A Case Study of Poverty: Elizabeth Avery Dalton ..............................................137 7 PUERPERAL INSANITY, MORTALITY AND ABANDONMENT .....................148 Two Case Studies: Leila Ward and Neelie James ...............................................164 8 CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................174 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................186 ix APPENDICES A PATIENT INDEX CARD .........................................................................................196 B RECORD OF DEATH ...............................................................................................197 C PATIENT HISTORY FORM ....................................................................................198 D GENERAL EXAMINATION ...................................................................................199 E PERSONAL HISTORY.............................................................................................200 F PHYSICAL SUMMARY ..........................................................................................201 G ATTITUDE AND MANNER; MENTAL SUMMARY ...........................................202 H MENTAL SUMMARY; TENTATIVE DIAGNOSIS ..............................................203