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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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So Many Stories to Tell

Young Thomas J. "Tommy" Kozlina and my mom Anna Margaret Kozlina.
Friends,

This past year, I have dedicated much time to my favorite hobby: family history. I have read books, listened to podcasts, attended workshops, and begun again, to research our family lines.

I do so for a variety of reasons, but mainly I am intrigued and excited by the people the research reveals. At first, it was all about the names and dates, and "how far can I get back?" And, while that is still somewhat of a focus (Apparently, we cannot go back to Ireland until I find out where the Casey line is from!), I find more and more that I am just drawn into the stories that emerge, as I find more details of our ancestors' lives.

There's the funny stuff : "Polish Wedding Causes Trouble," is the headline of a newspaper article featuring my great grandmother Margaret McAndrew Gilbride. We'll save that one for another post.

There's everyday life: "So-and-So is visiting their mother this week." The not-so-everyday: "Sleeping Sickness Fatal to Girl."

There are stories which break your heart, and ones that make you nod your head and say, "Oh, so THAT's why..."

There are discoveries of familial likenesses, shared hobbies, tales of travel from abroad, and tales of deeply held American roots. There are railroad men, a hockey player, a prominent blacksmith, several coal miners, a nun and a priest...

Newspaper snippets - the Facebook of the time - recording who visited whom, or who wore what to whose wedding. There are both slices of everyday life and memorable moments in photo. There are bunches of interesting folk, who lived sometimes ordinary, sometimes extraordinary lives.

So many stories to tell. And here in this little space, I hope to share them with you.

Come on along.
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