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Jane's Illness: What Did Acute Mania Look Like in the 19th Century?

A woman diagnosed as suffering from hilarious mania, colour lithograph, 1892, after J. Williamson, 1890. (Wikimedia Commons) Since I began writing about Jane Darragh, my great-great-grandmother, whose cause of death was noted as "acute mania," I've heard from several readers with various theories of what might have happened to her. There are certainly many different angles to consider. More than one reader suggested that perhaps Jane's diagnosis was a case of her being deemed "hysterical" as a catch-all for any number of ailments. Others thought her diagnosis could have been an easy way to "get rid of her" if she was being troublesome to her husband or family. Another reader suggested that physicians of the day—being male—dismissed women's complaints as being imagined or that her symptoms might not have been seen as remarkable if displayed today. All are excellent points. There's much I don't know about Jane's situation, as her deat...
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Favorite Photo


I'm participating in the 2024 "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" Writing Challenge - Week 3 Theme: Favorite Photo


It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite photo from those I've accumulated through my research or that have been shared with me over the past several years by cousins. My "favorite" changes from time to time.

This precious photo is one of my current favorites, and was shared with me by my cousin. Pictured is my grandmother Mary Josephine Baker (1911-1981) with her older brother Charles Edward Baker (1908-1955).1 

I'm guessing that was taken about 1913 or so likely in Cleveland; Charles (or Charlie, as he was known), was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but Mary Josephine (known is Josephine or Jo), was born in Cleveland. If taken about 1913, the family was living at 5009 St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland.2

Dad always said that his mother and her big brother were very close, and one can see the connection here. I can imagine Charlie protecting and guiding his little sister around the house or playing in the yard, making sure she did not get into any trouble. Little Jo looks very shy and quiet, and like she relied upon her big brother to take care of her.

The original photo was black and white. I enhanced the digital copy of the photograph with the Photomyne app on my Samsung phone in 2022. 

Until next time...

Next week's theme: Witness to History 

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© Nancy Gilbride Casey, 2024. All rights reserved.

 

NOTES

1 For Mary Josephine's birth: St. Edward's Church, Cleveland, Ohio, Certificate of Baptism for Mary Josephine Baker, (7 May 1911), prepared 1 June 1973. Private collection of R. Firestone [address for private use], 2022. Copied from original church register; date of birth 7 May 1911, date of baptism 4 June 1911. For Charles' birth: St. Catharines, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada, Births, 1908, #104, Edward Charles Baker, 1 May 1908, father Edward Jos. Baker, moulder; database and images, "Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1912," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y3S7-23B : 10 October 2023). 

2 Photo of Edward Baker and Mary Josephine Baker, unknown photographer, about 1913, location unknown; private collection of R. Firestone [address for private use], 2022. Colorized by N. Casey using Photomyne app, 2022.  For 1913 residence: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," Cleveland, Ohio, 1913, p. 85, Baker, Edw., molder r 5009 St Clair av NE; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1344482356:2469 : 14 January 2024), image 770.


 


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