Thomas Story Kirkbride

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This article is about the American physician. For the British writer, see Thomas Story.
Thomas Story Kirkbride
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeLaurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Physician, alienist
Known for
See list
Children6

Thomas Story Kirkbride (July 31, 1809 – December 16, 1883) was a physician, alienist, hospital superintendent for the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and primary founder of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane (AMSAII), the organizational precursor to the American Psychiatric Association.[1][2] Along with Benjamin Rush he is considered to be the father of the modern American practice of psychiatry as a specific medical discipline. His directive and organization of institutions for the insane were the gold-standard of clinical care in psychiatry throughout the 19th century.

Early career

Kirkbride was born on July 31, 1809, on a farm in

neurological and psycho-surgical interventions. He was honored with a membership to the American Philosophical Society in 1851,[8] and national award rarely granted to physicians. Kirkbride was also the Vice President of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind (now known as Overbrook School for the Blind
from 1844 until his death in 1883.

Professional practice

In October 1840, Kirkbride was named the first superintendent of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane[1][4][6][7] by the Board of Managers of Pennsylvania Hospital. In January 1841, the first patients were admitted to the ward to offer relief to the site of Pennsylvania Hospital's South Philadelphia campus.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during October 1844, Kirkbride helped found the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane (AMSAII). He held the position of secretary for seven years, treasurer, vice president for two years, and president for eight years between 1862 and 1870. Kirkbride pioneered what would be known as the Kirkbride Plan, which aimed to improve medical care for the insane, through standardization of buildings that housed patients.[9]

Kirkbride's magnum opus, On the Construction, Organization, and General Arrangements of Hospitals for the Insane with Some Remarks on Insanity and Its Treatment,[10] was published in 1854, and again in 1880,[5][6] and was the source book for 19th century psychiatric directives.

Towards the end of his life, Lafayette College awarded him an LL.D "in recognition of his eminent ability and the remarkable services rendered to suffering humanity".[4] In 1874, he addressed the legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, advocating for the expansion of state-sponsored clinical care for the insane. His efforts, and that of his medical peers, saw the allocation of funds for Norristown State Hospital in 1878. Subsequent to this appeal, he was offered the position of superintendent of the male department of the new state hospital, which he declined, preferring to maintain his inpatient practice in Philadelphia.

Personal life

Kirkbride was devoutly religious and a lifelong member of the

Religious Society of Friends, attending services at the Twelfth Street Meeting House from 1833 until his death. Kirkbride also had his funeral services conducted at this Orthodox Friends meetinghouse.[11] He married Ann West Jenks (1812–1862)[5] in 1839. Together, they had two children: Ann Jenks Kirkbride, who was born in 1840, and Joseph John Kirkbride, who was born in 1842.[12] After Ann died, he married Eliza Ogden Butler (1835–1919), one of his former patients.[5]
Together, they had four children: Franklin Butler Kirkbride in 1867, Thomas Story Kirkbride Jr in 1869, Mary Butler Kirkbride in 1874, and Elizabeth Butler Kirkbride in 1875.

Kirkbride experienced a prolonged respiratory illness starting in June 1883, which continued until his death from

Urologist. His grave in Laurel Hill is plain in the Quaker-style, saving only the inclusion of "Doctor of Medicine" after his name.[14]

Select professional publications

  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1843). Reports of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane for the year 1843. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA[15]
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1845). Proceedings of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane. American Journal of the Medical Sciences, XI(1), p. 249-250
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1846). Reports of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane: with a sketch of its history, buildings, and organization. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1848). Editorial and American Medical Retrospect. The New York Journal of Medicine, I(3), p. 247-250
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1850). Notice of some Experiments in Heating and Ventilating Hospitals and other Buildings, by Steam and Hot Water. With Remarks. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, p. 298-319[16]
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1850). Reports of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane for 1842, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1850. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1854). On the Construction, Organization, and General Arrangements of Hospitals for the Insane with Some Remarks on Insanity and Its Treatment. Lindsay & Blakiston, Philadelphia, PA
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1854). Letter to the Regents of the South Carolina Hospital for the Insane. TK and PG Collins Printers, Columbia, SC[17]
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1855). Reports of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane for the year 1854. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1866). Biographical memoir of the late William Pepper, M.D. Collins Printer, Philadelphia, PA[18]
  • Kirkbride, T.S.; Ray, I.; Reed, J.A.; Worthington, J.H. (1874). To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania : the undersigned, citizens of Pennsylvania, who are, or have been, actively engaged in the care of the insane. Published on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for legislative audience on Feb. 19, 1874[19]
  • Kirkbride, T.S. (1881). Memoir of Isaac Ray, M.D., LL. D. : read before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, July 6, 1881. Collins Printer, Philadelphia, PA[20]
  • Curwen, J.; Kirkbride, T.S. (1885). Memoir of Thomas S. Kirkbride MC LLD. E. Cowan & Co. Printers, Warren, PA

References

  1. ^ a b Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (2008). "Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride". University of Pennsylvania Health System. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  2. ^ Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (2008). "The Story of the Magic Lantern". University of Pennsylvania Health System. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  3. ^ The American Journal of Insanity Vol. 55 p. 120 (1898)
  4. ^
    JSTOR 982980
    – via JSTOR.
  5. ^
    S2CID 122341862
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-8122-1539-7
    .
  7. ^ a b Richard E. Greenwood (1975). "Kirkbride's Hospital". University City Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  8. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  9. ^ TALA (2008). "Building as Cure". Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  10. ^ On the Construction, Organization, and General Arrangements of Hospitals for the Insane with Some Remarks on Insanity and Its Treatment,
  11. ^ The Philadelphia Times Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 21 Dec 1883, Fri, Retrieved from: https://lovingthealienweb.wordpress.com/2022/05/11/funeral-notice-for-dr-thomas-s-kirkbride/
  12. ^ Anne West Kirkbride
  13. ^ "Thomas S Kirkbride". www.remembermyjourney.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Thomas S Kirkbride". Laurel Hill Cemetery. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  15. ^ "Report of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane for the year 1843". Elsevier BV. April 1844.
  16. ^ "Art. II.—Notice of some Experiments in Heating and Ventilating Hospitals and other Buildings, by Steam and Hot Water. With Remarks". Elsevier BV. April 1850.
  17. ^ "Letter to the regents of the South Carolina hospital for the insane". T.K. and P.G. Collins, Printers.
  18. ^ "Biographical memoir of the late William Pepper, M.D." 1866.
  19. ^ "To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania : The undersigned, citizens of Pennsylvania, who are, or have been, actively engaged in the care of the insane, respectfully represent". 1874.
  20. ^ "Memoir of Isaac Ray, M.D., LL. D. : Read before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, July 6, 1881". 1881.

External links

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