In
conjunction with the exhibit “The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from
a State Hospital Attic,” Tompkins County Public Library will host Craig
Williams and Jon Crispin for a fascinating discussion about the discovery and
documentation of the Willard suitcases, October 24 at 6 p.m. in the BorgWarner
Community Room.
On display at TCPL through November 6, “The Lives They Left Behind” is a traveling exhibit featuring photographic and written profiles of patients whose stories were uncovered when their belongings were found in suitcases after the Center’s 1995 closing. In addition to patient profiles and personal possessions, actual suitcases preserved by the New York State Museum and the Romulus Historical Society will be on display.
Williams, a senior curator for the New York State Museum and former director of Ithaca’s DeWitt Historical Society, discovered more than 400 suitcases in the attic of an abandoned building at the hospital. He originally planned to return them to their owners or family members of the owners, but instead helped to create an exhibit that has enlightened and educated thousands about the struggles and injustices of the mental health system.
Williams will discuss his discovery of the suitcases and why it is important to preserve them for future generations to view and learn from.
Crispin is a nationally-recognized photographer. He is currently photographing each of the suitcases found at Willard with the goal of telling the stories of the residents through his photographs while maintaining the integrity of their lives. To date, Crispin has photographed 80 cases. These photographs can be viewed at http://joncrispin.wordpress.com/tag/Willard-suitcases. Results of the initial documentation are also currently being featured in an exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco called “The Changing Face of What is Normal.”
This talk is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Exhibit Coordinator Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org.
This presentation is made possible through support from the Finger Lakes Independence Center, the DeLuca Fund for Hope and Recovery, NAMI-Finger Lakes and Tompkins County Public Library.
“The Lives They Left Behind” was developed by The Community Consortium and is circulated by the Exhibition Alliance, Inc. of Hamilton, NY. The Library exhibit is presented by NAMI—Finger Lakes and co-sponsored by the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County and The History Center in Tompkins County, with support from Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
On display at TCPL through November 6, “The Lives They Left Behind” is a traveling exhibit featuring photographic and written profiles of patients whose stories were uncovered when their belongings were found in suitcases after the Center’s 1995 closing. In addition to patient profiles and personal possessions, actual suitcases preserved by the New York State Museum and the Romulus Historical Society will be on display.
Williams, a senior curator for the New York State Museum and former director of Ithaca’s DeWitt Historical Society, discovered more than 400 suitcases in the attic of an abandoned building at the hospital. He originally planned to return them to their owners or family members of the owners, but instead helped to create an exhibit that has enlightened and educated thousands about the struggles and injustices of the mental health system.
Williams will discuss his discovery of the suitcases and why it is important to preserve them for future generations to view and learn from.
Crispin is a nationally-recognized photographer. He is currently photographing each of the suitcases found at Willard with the goal of telling the stories of the residents through his photographs while maintaining the integrity of their lives. To date, Crispin has photographed 80 cases. These photographs can be viewed at http://joncrispin.wordpress.com/tag/Willard-suitcases. Results of the initial documentation are also currently being featured in an exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco called “The Changing Face of What is Normal.”
This talk is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Exhibit Coordinator Sally Grubb at (607) 272-4557 extension 232 or sgrubb@tcpl.org.
This presentation is made possible through support from the Finger Lakes Independence Center, the DeLuca Fund for Hope and Recovery, NAMI-Finger Lakes and Tompkins County Public Library.
“The Lives They Left Behind” was developed by The Community Consortium and is circulated by the Exhibition Alliance, Inc. of Hamilton, NY. The Library exhibit is presented by NAMI—Finger Lakes and co-sponsored by the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County and The History Center in Tompkins County, with support from Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
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