Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History

[Susan Higginbotham]

I got Jason Emerson's Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History yesterday. It's a chronological compilation of documents related to the insanity case--letters, court filings, newspaper accounts, the patient reports from Mary's asylum stay. Some of the material has been published elsewhere, but it's handy to have it all in one place. Very useful for anyone interested in this sad period of Mary's life

[Gencor]

(01-18-2015 10:23 AM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I got Jason Emerson's Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History yesterday. It's a chronological compilation of documents related to the insanity case--letters, court filings, newspaper accounts, the patient reports from Mary's asylum stay. Some of the material has been published elsewhere, but it's handy to have it all in one place. Very useful for anyone interested in this sad period of Mary's life

I was wondering, Susan, if this book gives an accounting of what caused Mrs. Lincoln's mental breakdown.

[Susan Higginbotham]

(01-20-2015 10:06 PM)Gencor Wrote:  

(01-18-2015 10:23 AM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I got Jason Emerson's Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case: A Documentary History yesterday. It's a chronological compilation of documents related to the insanity case--letters, court filings, newspaper accounts, the patient reports from Mary's asylum stay. Some of the material has been published elsewhere, but it's handy to have it all in one place. Very useful for anyone interested in this sad period of Mary's life

I was wondering, Susan, if this book gives an accounting of what caused Mrs. Lincoln's mental breakdown.

No, it's all documentary material. Emerson gives his own theories in his book The Madness of Mary Todd Lincoln.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Are these documents from the insanity files?
Susan, have you or has anyone read this one and can give a feedback?
http://www.amazon.com/The-Insanity-File-...0809318954

[Gencor]

(01-21-2015 05:03 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Are these documents from the insanity files?
Susan, have you or has anyone read this one and can give a feedback?
http://www.amazon.com/The-Insanity-File-...0809318954

I second that. There were so many comments about this. I remember when we studied about Mrs. Lincoln, it was said that she has syphillis. I never knew if that was true. It wasn't gossip, however.

[Gene C]

(01-21-2015 11:58 AM)Gencor Wrote:  I second that. There were so many comments about this. I remember when we studied about Mrs. Lincoln, it was said that she has syphillis. I never knew if that was true. It wasn't gossip, however.

I've never heard that before.

[Gencor]

(01-21-2015 12:27 PM)Gene C Wrote:  

(01-21-2015 11:58 AM)Gencor Wrote:  I second that. There were so many comments about this. I remember when we studied about Mrs. Lincoln, it was said that she has syphillis. I never knew if that was true. It wasn't gossip, however.

I've never heard that before.

I heard this years and years ago, Gene. I never knew if it was true or not. I would like to know what caused her mental breakdown. She suffered from depression, for sure and the death of her son and her husband but I always wondered what the true reason was about.

[Gene C]

From what I can gather it is a combination of several factors, depresion like you mentioned, side effects from medication, other health issues (female problems, bad headaches, bad back, etc.) , W A Evans in his book Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, indicated there was also family history of mental ilness.

[Gencor]

(01-21-2015 01:11 PM)Gene C Wrote:  From what I can gather it is a combination of several factors, depresion like you mentioned, side effects from medication, other health issues (female problems, bad headaches, bad back, etc.) , W A Evans in his book Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, indicated there was also family history of mental ilness.

Thank you so much for the info, Gene. I have always found Mary Todd Lincoln such a fascinating character in our history. I look forward to reading even more about her.