Castle on the Hill: A Brief History of Danvers State Hospital

By September 19, 2022 September 6th, 2024 News, Video

Monday, September 19, 7pm.
Our monthly Speaker Series welcomes back author Katherine Anderson for her new presentation:

Castle on the Hill: A Brief History of Danvers State Hospital and Mental Healthcare in Massachusetts.

An overview of the rise and fall of one of the most significant landmarks in mental health history. Danvers State Hospital, once a premier institution for the treatment of mental illness, has become a pop culture horror icon, the embodiment of the modern snake pit and the birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy. However, its legacy stretches far beyond its role in literature and film, and its impact on the evolution of mental health continues even today.

Katherine Anderson is the author of a number of volumes on the history of institutions and mental health treatment including Images of America: Danvers State Hospital. She has been in special education for over twenty years and is the president of the Belchertown State School Friends Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of state institutions and disability rights.

Katherine M. (Anderson) Benson, MAT, EdS, MFA
@PoisonedPenner

The aboveĀ  topic is now available on our YouTube Channel

Speaker Series USUALLY every 3rd Wednesday each month, 7pm.
Tapley Memorial Hall 13 Page Street, Danvers MA.
Danvers Historical Society: 978-777-1666 or E-mail to connect@danvershistory.org
Donations appreciated. Masks encouraged.