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Dorothea Dix Was Born
Dix was born on April 4, 1802 in Hampden, Maine. Her father, Joseph Dix, was an alcoholic and her mother, Mary Dix, suffered from depression. She was the eldest child with two younger brothers. -
The Dix Family Moves
The Dix family moves to Vermont during the War of 1812. At the time Hampden was getting invaded by the British. They lived in a small cottage and Dorothea had a lot of responsibilities due to her parent's issues. -
The Dix Family Moves
At the age of 12, Dix moves in with her grandmother due to a harsh environment with her parents. Her grandmother was very wealthy and lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Though her grandmother was strict, she still provided a better life and education for Dix. -
Starting a School
Dix's grandmother encouraged and helped her build a school. The school was held in her grandmother's mansion. It was a free school for all girls in Boston. -
Dix's Sickness
Dix becomes severely ill with tuberculosis. She tries to regain her health by spending the summer in Rhode Island. Dix spent the whole summer writing while also trying to get healthier. -
Opening an Elementary School
Dix opened an elementary school in her home town, Boston. She did this after she returned from her extended retreat in St. Croix. She taught in the school while writing and taking care of her aging grandmother. -
Learning About the Mentally Ill
Dix witnessed the treatment of the mentally ill when she taught a Sunday school class at the East Cambridge House of Correction. She was appalled by what she saw. Dix realized that it was the people running the jail that desperately needed an education. -
Touring Asylums
Dix toured asylums and prisons all throughout Massachusetts. The asylums and prisons were filled with mentally ill people with no criminal records. Dix got to talk to so many people working at the asylums and she did a lot of research. -
Memorial
Based on her observations, she crafted a powerful memorial to the Massachusetts legislature by Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. He was the director of the Perkins School for the Blind and he was a strong advocate for the mentally ill. The memorial first met with criticism and denial, but independent observations soon supported the truth of her claims. -
Creating Hospitals
Dix had traveled approximately 10,000 miles, visiting eighteen state penitentiaries, 300 county jails, and more than 500 poorhouses in much of the U.S. Midwest and South, as well as in portions of eastern Canada. She had helped to establish six new hospitals for the mentally ill and had influenced the improvement of numerous other facilities. During the following three years she continued to lobby state legislatures on behalf of the mentally ill. -
Civil War Nurse
Dix became a nurse of the Union Army during the Civil War. She was the superintendent. She became the superintendent because she beat out Elizabeth Blackwell. -
Dorothea Dix Dies
Dix died in the hospital that she founded. The hospital was located in New Jersey. She is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
