Forgotten Lives: The New Orleans City Insane Asylum

According to the New Orleans City Insane Asylum Record of Patients (1882–1888), the classifications of "insanity" listed below were the most frequent reasons for institutionalization during the late 19th century.

For the majority of those admitted, these facilities became a permanent residence. Many patients never regained their freedom, ultimately passing away due to advanced age or illnesses exacerbated by inadequate staffing and poor institutional hygiene. At the time, the asylum was used to house not only the mentally ill but also those marginalized for their sexual orientation or physical disabilities—including the deaf, the blind, and those with developmental delays. Abandoned by society, many of these individuals were left to suffer without proper medical intervention.

As documented in historical accounts of the era:

"Sometimes the patients died out of the staff members' sight, and weren't discovered until days later, rotting away in some forgotten room. Eventually, all of the nightmarish trappings of asylums were introduced: solitary confinement, straightjackets, electroshock therapy (which gets a bad rap, but was likely overused as a means to control patients rather than as a mode of treatment), and the lobotomy."

 

These are documentary and historical photographs representing a small fraction of the thousands of people who spent their final years in asylums around the world. Although each institution had its own context, many of the stories share a common thread—marked by hardship and isolation. It is difficult to reflect on how many of these individuals were rarely visited by their families, eventually forgotten, and in some cases buried in unmarked graves.

Women and men were institutionalized for many different reasons. Some were considered “different” because they challenged social norms or held ideas that were ahead of their time. Others may have been placed there due to family pressures, social stigma, or circumstances that left them without support. In certain historical periods, individuals could be admitted at the request of relatives, sometimes influenced by personal, social, or marital conflicts. Some of these cases continued into the 1950s and 1960s.

Perhaps most troubling is that, in many institutions, standards of care did not always improve as quickly as they should have. Reports from various periods document neglect and mistreatment, including physical and psychological abuse. These photographs stand as a reminder of that complex and often painful chapter of history.

Historical Case Record: Melancholy (1883)

Patient Profile: Jacob Stihl

• Demographics: Male, White, Age 23, Single

• Origin: Switzerland

• Admission Date: January 3, 1883

• Diagnosis: Melancholy

Recommended for commitment to the State Insane Asylum, the following observations were recorded regarding Jacob Stihl:

"It is with difficulty that any thing can be obtained from him except the fact – that – he has sinned, and that – God may forgive him for his sins. To most questions asked he answers, 'If God says so, or if God is willing.' He will prostrate himself on his knees, implore God Almighty, the Holy Ghost, & remains apparently in prayers for an hour or more."

Jacob is a Swiss native who has been in this country since May of last year. Some of his fellow countrymen have expressed the belief that "nostalgia" (homesickness) may be the underlying cause of his current condition. Efforts to gather more information regarding his family in Switzerland have been difficult; I have been unable to determine from the patient whether he has living relatives. However, the Swiss Consul has written to his home to investigate further.

Historical Case Record: Chronic Mania (1883)

Patient Profile: Wilhelmina Steinheiser

• Demographics: Female, White, approximately 58* years of age

• Origin: Germany

• Admission Date: February 6, 1883

• Diagnosis: Chronic Mania

Recommended for commitment to the State Insane Asylum at Jackson, the following observations were recorded regarding Wilhelmina Steinheiser:

"She is very talkative, but incoherent. Her appearance is somewhat suggestive of a disordered mind. Twenty-three years ago she was confined in the S.I.A. at Jackson for insanity. This is her 2d attack, and dates back 18 months – She has been at the La. Retreat for 9 months."

*Note: Historical records are unclear; the age may be recorded as either 28 or 58.

Historical Case Record: Stupidity (1883)

Patient Profile: James Connolly

• Demographics: Male, White, Age 17

• Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana

• Admission Date: February 6, 1883

• Diagnosis: Stupidity (as a secondary result of Epilepsy)

Recommended for commitment to the State Insane Asylum at Jackson, the following archival observations were recorded regarding James Connolly:

"This child was at the City Insane Asylum, for several months. Last September when the inmates were sent to Jackson, the Judge [Mause?] & myself refused to send him there finding him suffering from Epilepsy. Since then he seems to have become quite stupid."

Historical Case Record: Incoherency (1883)

Patient Profile: Unknown Woman (Alias "Queen Victoria")

• Demographics: Female, White, Native of Germany? [sic]

• Admission Date: February 12, 1883

• Diagnosis: Incoherency

Recommended for commitment to the State Insane Asylum at Jackson, the following details were recorded regarding this patient:

"This unfortunate creature was picked, on Feb 1st/83, roaming about the streets and charged by the officer (Armstrong) with being insane. Her conversation is very incoherent. All I can make is that her troubles are here? — showing the praecordial region. This led me to inquire if she had any husband & children. She says her husband is up there (heaven) & her children, to the number of 4, are dear. She speaks German. From this I suppose that she is German by birth & that afflictions might have been the cause of her insanity."

Historical Case Record: Delirium of Grandeur (1882)

Patient Profile: Mrs. Mary Nelson

• Demographics: Female, White, Married

• Origin: Ireland

• Admission Date: August 14, 1882

• Diagnosis: Delirium of Grandeur

Recommended for commitment based on the following archival observations:

"This woman is very quiet in her speech and in-offensive. Her movements are slow and sluggish. She has a marked irregularity in the beatings of the heart. Her pulse is 96, but when the irregularity takes place, it scarcely beats two (2) pulsations in five (5) seconds. She complains that she has been robbed of her money, amounting to One Million of Dollars, which is in the hands of …..[sic] and yet she is dressed in rags and dirty. Hence her commitment on the charge of Delirium of Grandeur – Her education is very poor, or more properly, she has none; she is of the laboring class."