Dorothea+Dix

//“In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impressed that there must be something for me to do.” --Dorothea Dix//

Dorothea Dix was born on April 4, 1802 and died on July 17, 1887. She was born in Hampden, Maine and grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and then was raised in Boston while she lived with her grandmother. She ran away to Boston when she was twelve to escape her life in Worcester with her alcoholic family and her abusive father. In 1821 she opened a school is Boston. Soon after, she began her interest in taking care of and teaching poor and abused children. Year later, she traveled to England and spent a year with the Rathbone family, where they lived in Liverpool. There, in Liverpool, she was first exposed to the British lunacy reform movement.

During the Civil War, Dorothea was appointed //Superintendent of Union Army Nurses.// This put Dorothea in the position of training nurses to be on the warfront. She was soon after nicknamed “Dragon Dix” because she ignored military officials and their orders. Her nursing career did not turn out well, and she was relieved from the job.

If I were able to ask Dorothea Dix two questions, I would as her: What was it about the military officers that you clashed with the most? And did you enjoy the life on the warfront or life at Liverpool better?

Dorothea also said, //“I think even lying on my bed I can still do something.”//