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Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals
by Dr. Sarah Gallup
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Similar topics: hospitals and walls
Latest episodes
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Ep. 102: McLean Psychiatric Hospital, Part 2 (1896-1906)
June 15, 2026 · 32 minSend us Fan Mail This week's episode focuses on the history of McLean Psychiatric Hospital around the turn of the 20th century. In particular, we examine the life of one patient, Stanley McCormick, and his journey to McLean, the time he…
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Ep. 101: McLean Psychiatric Hospital, Part 1 (1818-1896)
May 11, 2026 · 26 minSend us Fan Mail This week's episode looks at the early years of McLean Psychiatric Hospital, originally called the Charlestown Asylum and Somerville Asylum. Find out what caused a delay in the funding and building of the asylum, as well…
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Ep. 100: History of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Part 3 (1940-2026)
January 20, 2026 · 35 minSend us Fan Mail IT'S MY 100th EPISODE!!! This week we wrap up the history of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and find out which treatment was used over a two-week period in an attempt to discharge patients quickly from the hospital…
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Ep. 99: History of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (1893-1940)
December 30, 2025 · 37 minSend us Fan Mail This week we look at the expansion of the asylum around the turn of the 20th century. Find out what types of treatment were used, learn what unusual (and sad) reasons got people committed to the asylum, and discover who…
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Ep. 98: History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Part 1 (1858-1893)
December 9, 2025 · 37 minSend us Fan Mail This week we start a series on Sarah's "holy grail" asylum! Learn about why it took 23 years for the asylum to be built and who was involved in the labor. Find out how the hospital took on an additional role in the history…
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Ep. 97: Interview with Jacqui Sanders
October 28, 2025 · 53 minSend us Fan Mail This week I interview historian Jacqui Sanders to discuss her study of the children and women of Aradale Mental Hospital in Australia and the release of her new book, Form of Insanity. Find out how Jacqui got drawn to…
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Ep. 96: History of the Fernald State School (1950-2014)
September 29, 2025 · 35 minSend us Fan Mail This week's episode examines the final decades of the Fernald State School. Find out about the pivotal moment in Ward 22 that forever changed the school. Learn about the fate of the Science Club members. And discover how…
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Ep. 95: History of the Fernald State School (1912-1949)
September 2, 2025 · 33 minSend us Fan Mail This week's episode discusses the years that Dr. Fernald, Dr. Greene, and Dr. Farrell were superintendents at the school. Learn about the legacy of one of the superintendents and how he single-handedly influenced New York…
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Ep. 94: History of the Fernald State School (1889-1912)
August 11, 2025 · 36 minSend us Fan Mail This week we discuss the first two decades of Dr. Walter E. Fernald's tenure at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded. Find out how he was able to expand the school in order to quickly grow to over 1,000…
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Ep. 93: History of the Fernald State School (1852-1888)
July 28, 2025 · 31 minSend us Fan Mail This week we discuss the many changes in the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth, which included a name change, three locations, and three different superintendents. Find out what an average day looked…
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Ep. 92: History of the Fernald State School, Part 1 (1845-1852)
July 14, 2025 · 37 minSend us Fan Mail This week we look at the early beginnings of what would become the Fernald State School in Massachusetts. At its outset, it was known as the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children. Find out how…
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Ep. 91: History of Spinalonga Leper Colony
June 30, 2025 · 27 minSend us Fan Mail This week we reminisce about Sarah's recent trip to Crete and her visit to the Spinalonga Leper Colony. Learn about the three different "eras" the island experienced as a Venetian stronghold, Ottoman outpost, and leper…
About the show
This podcast examines the history of now-defunct or abandoned psychiatric hospitals. Listen every week to learn about the history of mental health care and the true stories of the people who lived and worked behind the walls.