Few people have heard of Canton Asylum (or Hiawatha, as it was often called locally) in South Dakota, or have cared much about its history. I hope to change that through a book I’m writing about the asylum.
Owner: cjoinson
Listed in: Academics
Language: English
Tags: insane asylum, asylum for insane indians, mental health history, Canton, South Dakota, insanity in history
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Latest Blog Posts for Canton Asylum for Insane Indians History Blog
- Were Cures Worse Than the Condition?By the middle and late 1800s, so-called “heroic” medicine (in which extraordinary measures to cure a condition often endangered the patient) had been abandoned. However, patients were sometimes little better off calling a doctor than if t...
- The Price of ConvenienceThe vast majority of employees at the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians lived on the premises as part of their compensation package. Though it could certainly be a bit restrictive to seldom leave the asylum grounds, they benefited by not having to tru...
- A Favorite ProjectDr. Harry Hummer, superintendent of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians, almost continually made and implemented plans to expand the facility. One building that he especially wanted and never received was a separate cottage for epileptics. Though it...
- Many Thankson Nov 20, 2016 in Canton Asylum for Insane Indians Indian tribes Native American customs bean dance buffalo dance expressions of gratitude in Native American culture gratitude ceremony green corn dance maple syrup ceremomy Native American harvest dances Qahatika Indian smudging strawberry ceremony Taos PuebloThough the majority of the U.S. population celebrates an official day of gratitude called Thanksgiving, Native Americans have always had a deep tradition of routinely giving thanks. They have particularly given attention and gratitude to the animals...
- A Remarkable Womanon Nov 13, 2016 in Canton Asylum for Insane Indians Indian tribes Medical History Bancroft Nebraska Chief Joseph La Flesche Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies first Native American medical missionary first Native American woman to receive medical degree Hampton Institute Henry Picotte Omaha Indian tribe Susan La Flesche Picotte Walthill Nebraska Women's Medical College of PennsylvaniaSusan La Flesche Picotte was born in 1865 to the last recognized chief of the Omaha Indian tribe, Chief Joseph La Flesche (Iron Eye). She went to the Elizabeth Institute for Young Ladies in New Jersey and then returned to her reservation to teach at...
- A Look Inside Hummer’s HomeDr. Harry Hummer, superintendent of the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians, made sure that he and his family got the choicest rooms in the asylum for their living quarters. His selfishness in the matter of living arrangements contributed to a divisive...
- A Home of One’s OwnMany people in today’s workforce complain that it’s difficult to get away from the job–they’re available to their employers through phones and email almost constantly. Superintendents and other staff at insane asylums were als...
- An Impossible Job?Though the rules and duties of each asylum position had been formulated by 1903, they were not initially given to employees at the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians. Its first superintendent, Oscar Gifford, told an inspector that he hadn’t done...
- No ConsequencesAnyone following the inspections and various reports made on the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians might well feel amazed that Dr. Harry Hummer managed to continue as superintendent there. Several inspectors suggested outright that he be dismissed fro...
- He Didn’t Even TryBy the end of what might be called the “asylum era,” most superintendents or administrators were buried under mountains of paperwork. Almost all public facilities were overcrowded and understaffed, which meant poor care and more problem...
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