#willardsuitcases

Maude K. This is one of my favorite photos from the collection. Not really sure why but something about the colors and objects. Maude must have been involved with crafts as her two cases contained lots of tools and materials. Sadly I don’t have any information about her date of admission. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #institutionalization #ephemera #suitcases #crafts #glycerine https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVbBMNpD9e/?igshid=1az26q8uhle1

Maude C. Some of the buttons we came across were quite lovely. Maude’s case contained some interesting clothing including a brown overcoat with a fur collar. I have no patient number for her but the external Willard State Hospital label has a 21 August 1942 date. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #buttons #oldbuttons #ephemera https://www.instagram.com/p/CADxc5XJi5d/?igshid=1i632qj3m0vv1

Mathilda W. This suitcase was a bit beat up and was empty save for a basic label. No date or patient number for Mathilda. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/B_7fMi6JKSR/?igshid=ttfc676nduh0

Mary We. Quite a few of the suitcases contained newspapers. This was from the Syracuse Herald-Journal 19th of May 1966 edition. Mary’s patient number was 14903 and her cases were among the oldest in the collection. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #syracuseheraldjournal #movieadvertisements #rockhudson #claudiacardinale #blindfoldmovie https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0Dcv_JPoo/?igshid=ciibmscfzvgb

Mary W. Many of the cases contained lovely examples of needlework and lace making. It always made me feel a strong connection to the patients when I held these objects. The feel, the smell, and the sense that this work was produced by the owners of the suitcases was especially powerful. Mary came to Willard on the 10th of May 1968 and her patient number was 43850. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #needlework #lace #lacemaking #maryw https://www.instagram.com/p/B_nZF9BJShc/?igshid=ud2r7cihwgiz

Mary T. There is quite a bit of information on this label. Mary was admitted to Ward 6 in Elliott Hall on the 26th September 1951. Her patient number was 31726. There were several cases with this same interior pattern. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #maryt https://www.instagram.com/p/B_fJq5cJxiH/?igshid=mmjh12ears08

Mary Ruth H. I don’t post this view of the cases very often but I really like the lines of this suitcase. There are two dates on Mary Ruth’s label, 23 October 1950 with the notation “Ret’d from C.S. Adm” and 20 June 1951 which I assume was her date of admission. Her patient number was 31309. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #maryruthh https://www.instagram.com/p/B_XmhFap9Zi/?igshid=19wbys74dp594

Mary R. There is quite a lot in Mary’s case that is interesting, including some lovely needlework. It is worth a closer look on the willardsuitcases.com site. I can’t help but wonder who is Dr. Tiso and what was Mary’s interest in him. #willardsuitcases #willardasylum #joncrispin #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #drtiso #maryr https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NhvunJWUd/?igshid=1qdinr6cm8mpa