How the childbearing age was made a sin and a shame in the Jane Crow era.
In the first half of the last century, "feeble-mindedness" was widely regarded as a scourge to society. While hereditary diseases and mental disorders were often cited as reasons for confinement, factors like morality and sexuality were also considered traits that could be passed down by birth.
Because of these beliefs, hundreds of girls and young women from broken homes, orphanages, jails, hospitals, convents, and shelters across Rhode Island were accused of posing a danger to themselves and society, and were legally committed to an institution for the feeble-minded.
The Exeter Girls series shares the true stories of women who faced this gauntlet of institutionalization, recounting their lives through letters, notes, and firsthand accounts. Across both volumes, these harrowing journeys of injustice, tragedy, and resilience will astonish you, revealing voices that echo from a dark chapter in history.
The life and trials of three women committed to the Ladd School in the early 1900s, told through their personal letters.
The fates of three more women confined to the Ladd School in the 1920s, shared through their letters and words.
"Excellent read. Highly Recommend! Eye opening on how things were back then."
"The degree the superintendent... controlled a patient's life astonishes me. What a shameful past we have!"
"Loved this book. Its so great to read about history. The stories are real and vivid."
Maybe we'll email you.
