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| architecture_style = Gothic Revival, Gothic
 
| architecture_style = Gothic Revival, Gothic
 
| peak_patient_population = 7,000
 
| peak_patient_population = 7,000
| alternate_names =<br>
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| alternate_names =  
*Government Hospital for the Insane
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Government Hospital for the Insane<BR>
*United States Government Hospital for the Insane  
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United States Government Hospital for the Insane  
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
[[Image:St Elizabeth WestCampus.jpg|thumb|left|280px|The west campus]]
 
[[Image:St Elizabeth WestCampus.jpg|thumb|left|280px|The west campus]]
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The first appropriation towards building the Government Hospital for the Insane was of $100,000, and was made by Congress in 1852 for the purchase of land.  The organic act creating the institution and outlining the duties of its officers and providing for the admission of various classes of insane patients was not approved until March 3, 1855.  The hospital, however, had been opened for the reception of patients on January 15,1855.
 
The first appropriation towards building the Government Hospital for the Insane was of $100,000, and was made by Congress in 1852 for the purchase of land.  The organic act creating the institution and outlining the duties of its officers and providing for the admission of various classes of insane patients was not approved until March 3, 1855.  The hospital, however, had been opened for the reception of patients on January 15,1855.
  
The creation of the hospital was due very largely to the activity of Dorothea L. Dix.  She drew up with her own pen the outlines of the organic act establishing the institution, and virtually named its first superintendent , Dr. C. H. Nicholas.  During the latter part of her life Miss Dix spent much of her time at the hospital, where quarters were always reserved for her, and the little desk upon which she drew up the original act creating the hospital stands in the board room in the main building.
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The creation of the hospital was due very largely to the activity of Dorothea L. Lix.  She drew up with her own pen the outlines of the organic act establishing the institution, and virtually named its first superintendent , Dr. C. H. Nicholas.  During the latter part of her life Miss dix spent much of her time at the hospital, where quarters were always reserved for her, and the little desk upon which she drew up the original act creating the hospital stands in the board room in the main building.
  
 
On the first of July, 1855, the President named a board of visitors, as follows: Benjamin F. Bohrer, M. D., president; William W. Corcoran, Jacob Gideon, Professor Grafton Tyler, M. D., Daniel Ratcliff, Professor Thomas Miller, M. D., William Whelan, M. D., U.S.N., Robert C. Wood, M. D., U.S.A., and Rev. P. D. Gurley, D. D.  The make-up of the board has, in the main, followed the plan of the first board, namely, to name as members of the board on representative of each of the classes card for in the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, usually the acting or the retired surgeon-general of these several services, a lay physician, a lawyer, a clergyman, a layman, and in recent years two women.
 
On the first of July, 1855, the President named a board of visitors, as follows: Benjamin F. Bohrer, M. D., president; William W. Corcoran, Jacob Gideon, Professor Grafton Tyler, M. D., Daniel Ratcliff, Professor Thomas Miller, M. D., William Whelan, M. D., U.S.N., Robert C. Wood, M. D., U.S.A., and Rev. P. D. Gurley, D. D.  The make-up of the board has, in the main, followed the plan of the first board, namely, to name as members of the board on representative of each of the classes card for in the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, usually the acting or the retired surgeon-general of these several services, a lay physician, a lawyer, a clergyman, a layman, and in recent years two women.
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Dr. Godding had been appointed upon the hospital staff some time 1863.  He came from Fitchburg, Mass., and previous to hist connection with the Government Hospital for the Insane had been connected with the New Hampshire Hospital for the Insane at Concord.  Later he had been superintendent of the Taunton State Hospital for a number of years and resigned the position to return to Washington.
 
Dr. Godding had been appointed upon the hospital staff some time 1863.  He came from Fitchburg, Mass., and previous to hist connection with the Government Hospital for the Insane had been connected with the New Hampshire Hospital for the Insane at Concord.  Later he had been superintendent of the Taunton State Hospital for a number of years and resigned the position to return to Washington.
  
During Dr. Godding's incumbency of 22 years the institution grew rapidly.  When he took charge of the hospital in 1877 he found only six buildings.  During his superintendency he erected 22 buildings and various extensions and additions.  The larger buildings erected were the Relief Building, the Home Building, Howard Hall for the criminal insane, the Toner Building and Infirmary, a large refectory, the Oaks Building for the epileptic insane, with its large kitchen, a power house with electrical installation, and the Allison Building.  When he took charge there were 765 patients; when he died he left a population of 1967 patients.  He found, in 1877, 227 employees.  He left and organization of 540 employees, or a total of over 2500 patients and attendants.  Besides the erection of these buildings he added over 500 acres to the hospital grounds and established a farm colony at Godding Croft.  During this period of growth the appropriations for the support of the institution trebled, and at the time of his death he was annually disbursing of $500,000.
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During Dr. Godding's incumbency of 22 years the institution grew rapidly.  WHen he took charge of the hospital in 1877 he found only six buildings.  During his superintendency he erected 22 buildings and various extensions and additions.  The larger buildings erected were the Relief Building, the Home Building, Howard Hall for the criminal insane, the Toner Building and Infirmary, a large refectory, the Oaks Building for the epileptic insane, with its large kitchen, a power house with electrical installation, and the Allison Building.  When he took charge there were 765 patients; when he died he left a population of 1967 patients.  He found, in 1877, 227 employees.  He left and organization of 540 employees, or a total of over 2500 patients and attendants.  Besides the erection of these buildings he added over 500 acres to the hospital grounds and established a farm colony at Godding Croft.  During this period of growth the appropriations for the support of the institution trebled, and at the time of his death he was annually disbursing of $500,000.
  
 
The Government Hospital for the Insane was one of the early institutions in the country to recognize the value of scientific work and one of the first to appoint a pathologist.  Dr. I. W. Blackburn, who had been associated with Professor Formad of Philadelphia, was appointed special pathologist in the fiscal year 1883-4.  In after his work became well known, and at the time of his death-June 18, 1911-he established for himself a national reputation among workers in his field.
 
The Government Hospital for the Insane was one of the early institutions in the country to recognize the value of scientific work and one of the first to appoint a pathologist.  Dr. I. W. Blackburn, who had been associated with Professor Formad of Philadelphia, was appointed special pathologist in the fiscal year 1883-4.  In after his work became well known, and at the time of his death-June 18, 1911-he established for himself a national reputation among workers in his field.
  
The Government Hospital for the Insane was also one of the first to take up the systematic application of hydrotherapeutic measures to the treatment of the insane.  The active man on the staff in this work was Dr. G. W. Foster, who had charge of the Toner infirmary.  The report for 1895-6 shows that during the previous two years he had been actively engaged in using hydroterapeutic measures and had made special application of the form of treatment to general paresis.  Subsequent reports made considerable mention of this treatment, describing both Dr. Foster's methods and his conclusions.  During the first three years no special hydrotherapeutic apparatus was installed, the treatment consisting mostly of the application of the cold pack accompanied by cold to the head in the form of a wet towel or ice pack.  During the fiscal year 1897-8 a complete hydrotherapeutic outfit was installed, the form of apparatus bearing that designed by Dr. S. Baruch, of New York City.  Dr. Godding died in office on the 6th of May, 1899.
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The Government Hospital for the Insane was also one of the first to take up the systematic application of hydrotherapeutic measures to the treatment of the insane.  The active man on the staff in this work was Dr. G. W. Foster, who had charge of the Toner infirmary.  The report for 1895-6 shows that during the previous two years he had been actively engaged in using hydroterapeutic measures and had made special application of the form of treatment to general paresis.  Subsequent reports made considerable mention of this treatment, describing both Dr. Foster's methods and his conclusions.  During the first three years no special hydrotherapeutic apparatus was installed, the treatment consisting mostly of the application of the cold pack accopanied by cold to the head in the form of a wet towel or ice pack.  During the fiscal year 1897-8 a complete hydrotherapeutic outfit was installed, the form of apparatus bering that designed by Dr. S. Baruch, of New York City.  Dr. Godding died in office on the 6th of May, 1899.
  
 
During the interval Dr. Godding's death and the appointment of his successor, Dr. A.H. Whitmer became acting superintendent.  During his short period of service the school of instruction in nursing, which had begun in 1894, was reorganized and extended, and arrangements were made to give a certificate after the completion of a two years' course, with promotion and increase in pay.
 
During the interval Dr. Godding's death and the appointment of his successor, Dr. A.H. Whitmer became acting superintendent.  During his short period of service the school of instruction in nursing, which had begun in 1894, was reorganized and extended, and arrangements were made to give a certificate after the completion of a two years' course, with promotion and increase in pay.
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Video==
 
The following short documentary video was created by St. Elizabeths hospital that documents the institution's history.
 
 
*[http://vimeo.com/27793520 http://vimeo.com/27793520]
 
 
==Cemetery==
 
The West Campus Cemetery was originally established for "friendless patients" who were to be interred "without ceremony", according to Dr. Nichols in a letter to the Secretary of the Interior. Researched records indicate the cemetery has approximately 300 military graves (of which less than 200 are marked with a headstone) and approximately 160 civilian graves (none of which are marked with a headstone). White and African American soldiers from the Union army and soldiers of the Confederacy are interspersed throughout this cemetery. The graves are located on a hill near I-295 and overlook the Potomac River and Washington, DC. Eagles and deer have been sighted there as well as wild turkey.
 
  
 
== Links & Additional Information ==
 
== Links & Additional Information ==
 
*[http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/saint-elizabeths/ St Elizabeths @ Kirkbride Buildings.com]
 
*[http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/buildings/saint-elizabeths/ St Elizabeths @ Kirkbride Buildings.com]
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elizabeths_Hospital St Elizabeths @ Wikipedia]
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elizabeths_Hospital St Elizabeths @ Wikipedia]
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*[http://dmh.dc.gov/dmh/cwp/view,a,3,q,516064.asp DC Department of Mental Health]
 
*[http://www.allfortheunion.com/ste/history.htm A Detailed History of the Hospital]
 
*[http://www.allfortheunion.com/ste/history.htm A Detailed History of the Hospital]
 
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061601192.html A Washington Post Article on the Hospital]
 
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061601192.html A Washington Post Article on the Hospital]
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*[http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1812&ResourceType=District National Historic Landmark Entry]
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*[http://www.urbanatrophy.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=49 Photos of the Kirkbride Building (from 2007)]
 
*[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/medtour/elizabeths.html Historic Medical Sites in the Washington, DC Area]
 
*[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/medtour/elizabeths.html Historic Medical Sites in the Washington, DC Area]
*[https://research.archives.gov/id/17331642?q=St.%20Elizabeths%20Hospital Register of Patients in the 1800s]
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*[http://www.stelizabethswestcampus.com/ A Website Dedicated to the Historic West Campus]
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/418.html Records of St. Elizabeth's Hospital at the National Archives]
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*[http://dmh.dc.gov/dmh/cwp/view,a,1407,q,640055.asp Photos of the Construction of the new Hospital (2006-2009)]
 
 
  
  
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[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
 
[[Category:Kirkbride Buildings]]
 
[[Category:Active Institution]]
 
[[Category:Active Institution]]
[[Category:Institution With A Cemetery]]
 
[[Category:Past Featured Article Of The Week]]
 
[[Category:Government Institution]]
 
[[Category:Articles With Videos]]
 

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