PRE-CIVIL WAR BLACKWELLS ISLAND WOMEN' AYSLUM DOCTOR LETTER NEW YORK CITY 1855 For Sale

Blackwell's Island, now Roosevelt Island, NY City was New York's first Women's Asylum, a " hell hole" founded in 1839 and incarcerated " difficult and troublesome women", largely composed of black women until it was finally made infamous by Reporter Nellie Bly's expose "Ten Days in a Mad House". The Asylum remains, now known as the "Octagon House". . An original July 3, 1855 letter from Dr Frederick A Smith at "Blackwell's Island Lunatic Asylum", to his cousin William (William Lewis, Colby, New Hampshire medical student & future asylum physician), writes that he has a "very desirable" practice" at the 600 patient asylum, patients are "very healthy at present", mentions Professor Sanborn of Dartmouth College, with family news & complaint of a "horrid & rude dinner at the Parsons Home" in Colby. . 12pp ink, 8 x 5" , minor edge wear, Overall Exc. (From the William Lewis Family Estate).

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