Dorothea Dix
By Melissa 8-1
Dorothea Dix was born in Maine in 1802. At the age of 12 she moved to Boston to become a teacher. When she was 14 she opened her own school. In 1841 she took a job that required teaching school to women in jail. When she was there she saw that mentally ill people were there because they had problems. She didn’t like that so she went to the legislators and fought for a new mental hospital for the mentally ill, like people who can’t take care of themselves.
In 1861, at the, age of 59, she volunteered her services. In June, she was placed as a superintendent for women nurses during the Civil War. During the war she convinced people that women could do the jobs very well. Since she was the superintendent she only allowed plain women (no fancy person, and they are not pretty) over 50 years old. She didn’t want jewelry or hoops (bracelets) on and she wanted them to wear black dresses. Some people called Dorothea Dix "Dragon Dix." Even though she was stern the nursing care improved. Dix was a very kind woman. She looked after the welfare of both nurses and soldiers.
When the war was over she went back to fight for the mental hospital. At the end of the battle for the hospital, Dorothea won. The New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum was built in Ewing Township. Dix died in 1887, but the hospital still stands today. Today it is a " monument for what one courageous women could do." (http://njtimes,rutgers.edu/dix.htm)
Bibliography
I like to give thanks to:
Mrs. Joldersma for helping me with part of my web page.
Mr. Peterson for helping with the Battle of Chickamauga and helping me with the computer.
Ms. Patterson for helping me with spelling and fixing words.