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Pontiac, Michigan: Postcards
The following are the texts of postcards written by family members or guardians of patients who have been hospitalized
inside the Pontiac, Michigan Insane Asylum in the late 1870s and
1880s. They are addressed to David Parker, the Superintendant of the institution.
PONTIAC MICHIGAN LETTERS
Henton Aug 18/78
Sir Please inform me if the insane asylum is opened and if you
have room for my wife as she is insane I would like to obtain
admittance for her about the 20 or 25 (ill) Please answer
Yours in haste David Parker
Henton Sept 4/78
Dr Please inform me in regard to my wife if She takes her medicine
We have discovered since we came home that she shit out the powders
after holding them 1/2 hour
yours in haste David Parker
Henton Oct 2/78
gents, Please inform me in regard to my Wife in every particular
and if I could write to her.
Yours very truly
in haste David Parker
Henton Nov 23/78
Dr Hurd
Sir
Please inform me is my wife any better and does she speak of me
in any way
Yours very truly
in haste David Parker
Henton Jan 28/79
Dr Hurd
Dear Sir Please inform me concerning my wife is she any better
and if I can Wright (sic) to her also if her Sisters can Wright
to her is she able to ride out and Does She have those bad Spells/yours
in haste David Parker
Henton Mar 6/79
Dr Hurd Dr Sir Please inform me in regard to my Wife in every
respect and if She Speaks of me or home and if She is contented
yours very truly in haste David Parker
Henton April 3/79
Dr Hurd Please inform me is my Wife any better than when you
last Wrote Please tell me all about her yours truly in haste
David Parker
Henton April 30/79
Dr Hurd Please inform me is my Wife Still the Same Please take
(?) how She is in every Respect also if her sister can come and
see her Please say if her Sister can come
yours in haste David Parker
Henton June 2/79
Dr Hurd
Dear Sir Please inform me is my wife any better Please State
all about her and if She Would like to come home on a visit
yours David Parker
Henton July 1/79
Dr Hurd yours of the (ill) inst is just at hand the goods are
all Purchased and making (?)
yours in haste
David Parker
Henton July 23/79
Dr Hurd Please see that my Wife gets those goods also that She
takes care of them her Sisters have made a grat Effort to Please
her With them they Anticipate Coming to see her by and by and
Perhaps Fetch her home with them to make a visit
yours in haste David Parker
Henton Aug 11/79
Dear Sir Please Say if my Wife is any better did She like those
goods did She ask Who Sent them Please tell me all about her yours
in haste David Parker
Henton Sept 2/79
Dear Sir How is my Wife is She any better Does She Say anything
about her Sisters and do you think She could (come) [inserted
above line] and make them a visit for a week or two
yours very truly David Parker
Henton nov 18/79
Dr Hurd Please inform me in regard to my Wife is She any Better
Does She at any time complain of her Back or Spine Does She Ever
Speak of me
yours very truly David Parker
Henton Jan 31/80
Dr Hurd Dear Sir Please is my Wife any better Does She ask or
Speak of me and if so in what manner and Does She Still wish to
Stay at the Asylum
yours very truly David Parker
March 13/80
Dr Hurd
Dear Sir Please is my Wife any Better Does She Still wish to be
at the asylum Please time her Pulse both right and left and Send
me the time Per Second of each
yours truly David Parker
Henton April 20/80
Dr Hurd Please is my Wife any better does She Still Wish to Stay
at the asylum has She Spoke of me if So in What manner do you
think She Will ever recover permanently
yours in haste David Parker
Henton June 2/80
Dr Hurd Dear Sir Please is there any Change in my Wifes mental
health Since you last wrote me Does She ever Speak of me if so
in what manner
yours very truly
in haste David Parker |
