Bryan Hall, a Patient at the Government Hospital for the Insane, Admitted in 1874 and Spent at Least 47 Years There
In 1903, the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians‘ first year of operation, the American Medico-Psychological Association (the main U.S. organization for psychologists) met in Washington, DC.
During opening remarks, visitors were reminded of the city’s many interesting sights and activities available to them, including a association-sponsored general smoker in the Willard Hotel (a smoker was an informal meeting or a recruiting meeting used by men’s organizations) and a luncheon at the Government Hospital for the Insane (later known as St. Elizabeths).
One of St. Elizabeths Dorm Rooms, 1905
Just two years earlier, Congress had appropriated almost a million dollars to help the institution expand. The facility served 2,300 patients and desperately needed new buildings.When work was completed, there would be 48 buildings on the grounds, and for at least a period, adequate space and resources for patient care.
One of the reasons politicians successfully pitched for the creation of the Canton facility was that the asylum in Washington was so crowded.
They doubtlessly knew that steps were being taken to appropriate money for the institution and that the relatively small number of insane Indians could have easily been accommodated there –one indication that the Canton asylum was a pork barrel project as much as a hospital serving a gap in government-provided health care for Indians.
Bear Cubs at St. Elizabeths Zoological Garden, courtesy National Archives
I believe that “blood quantum” is the measurement used to determine degree of Native American blood. To my knowledge, this is determined through your family history. For instance, if both mother and father were full-blooded Native American, you would be, too. If your mother was Native and your father was not, you would be one-half. If you know your mother’s tribe, perhaps you can go to that tribe and find out the particulars of how you determine blood quantum. Many people do this, so it’s nothing tribes haven’t dealt with before.
I hope this helps.
I am Native American. Checked how can they tell how much by using my blood ?