Dorothea L. Dix - Watertown, MA - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Description: Dorothea L. Dix was born on April 4, 1802 in Hampden, Massachusetts (now Maine). She grew up in Worcester MA. Around 1821 she started a school in Boston, serving well-to-do families. Soon she began teaching poor and less fortunate children. While teaching she was the author of many books for children. Ill health forced her to give up teaching. She then traveled and witnessed the injustices of slavery and developed abolitionist views. Upon traveling to Europe she met reformers who inspired her to start working on equal rights for the mentally ill. Between 1840-41 she conducted a statewide investigations of care for the indigent mentally ill in Massachusetts. She published the first of several influential books titled Memorial to the Legislature of Massachusetts. She continued her crusade for the mentally ill in several other states. Her efforts were successful in the founding the first public mental hospital, the Harrisburg State Hospital in Pennsylvania. She also became an advocate for prison reform. During the Civil War, Dix set aside her previous work to focus completely on the war effort. She was appointed Superintendent of Army Nurses by the Union Army. In this capacity set guidelines for nurses that she personally trained and hired. At the end of the war, she resumed her crusade to improve the care of prisoners, the disabled, and the mentally ill. Dorothea L. Dix died on July 18, 1887 in Trenton, NJ at the age of 85. Books by Dorothea L. Dix: The Garland of Flora (botany) Alice and Ruth American Moral Tales: For Young Persons Conversations on Common Things, or Guide to Knowledge: With Questions Evening Hours George Mills, or, The Little Boy Who Did Not Love His Books Hymns for Children Private Hours The Trials of a School Girl The Lady and the President : the letters of Dorothea Dix & Millard Fillmore Books about mental health and prison reform: On Behalf of the Insane Poor Remarks on Prisons and Prison Discipline in the United States Memorial to the Legislature of Massachusetts Fifth Letter to Convicts in State Prisons and Houses of Correction, Or County Penitentiaries Memorial of Miss D. L. Dix in Relation to the Illinois Penitentiary Memorial of Miss D. L. Dix to the Hon. The General Assembly in Behalf of the Insane of Maryland Date of birth: 04/04/1802 Date of death: 07/18/1887 Area of notoriety: Historical Figure Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daylight Hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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