Tag Archives: the role of laypeople in asylum supervision

Who Watches the Watchers?

Thomas Kirkbride Verbalized the One Man and One Rule Philosophy

Thomas Kirkbride Verbalized the One Man and One Rule Philosophy

The insane asylum at Yankton, SD (see last post) was typical of its time. It had a board  of  men in a trustee relationship who were charged with watching over the running of the asylum. Their duties were varied and wide-ranging, and it is likely that the asylum’s superintendent was not always happy with their oversight.

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