A page from the intake book from the St. Louis County Insane Asylum detailing why people were admitted and their mental condition

This page from the admittance book at the St. Louis County Insane Asylum (1868) is typical of the time period. Patient histories included a vast array of information about the patient's condition and the conditions of family members. Causes of admittance ranged from "feeble-mindedness" to "acute melancholia."
Courtesy Of Missouri Institute Of Mental Health
Missouri History Museum exhibition
Americans with Disabilities Act: 20 Years Later.
June 26, 2010
to Jan 8, 2012