Patient Life

This is an enclosed glass case featuring a vignette of the patient dining room at the Kalamazoo State Hospital.  On the top of the case is a black and white wallpaper boarder and black and white historical images of patients at the Kalamazoo State Hospital.  Underneath the photos is a dinig table with dishes used at the hospital and feature the state of Michigan seal in gold.  There is also an original black bentwood dining chair used by patients at the hospital. 

Patients were awakened at 6:00 a.m. and took their meals at regularly scheduled times. They were taken out on escorted walks and a few had the privilege of accessing the grounds unescorted. In later years, some buildings were unlocked during the daytime, allowing the residents free egress and access. Some residents in buildings that were locked were also allowed free access to the Hospital grounds.

From the time of the opening of the Asylum, provision was made for a library. Amusements in the form of stereopticon slide shows, musical programs provided by the employees or visitors from the city, escorted excursions into the village by carriage, and train trips provided by the Michigan Central Railroad to the lake shore in South Haven, were common occurrences.

Following the advent of the neuroleptic drugs, many patients were extended “town privileges,” i.e., they were allowed to go into the city unescorted for variable periods of time to shop, attend a movie, or attend church services, etc.