Our second team, Traci Brimhall, professor of English, and Heather McCrea, associate professor of history, are currently working on their project called, "Unsolved Histories: Uncovering the Lost Stories of Kansas’s Mental Health Institutions". This research will bring life to the stories of women who were hospitalized at the State Mental Hospital in Winfield, Kansas. In partnership with the Cowley County Historical Society, this research team will create interactive experiences and digital exhibits to shed light on these forgotten stories and create community dialogues around mental health and the history of medicine. Drs. Brimhall and McCrea are also working with two Chapman Center summer interns, Alex Partin and Marta Richenburg. Alex and Marta are both seniors at K-State and are studying History and Political Science.
The entire esearch team recently traveled to the Cowley County Historical Society to gather the many artifacts that were donated to the historical society. They were allowed to transport their archives on the Winfield State Hospital to the Chapman Center to be digitized. The digitization process will allow for an increase of access to the information and archives, and to help the group as they proceed with their project.
Alex presented on the project at the Summer Undergraduate Research Showcase at K-State. While difficult to discuss, eugenics played a role in many mental health treatment plans in 19th and early 20th century Kansas. Alex sheds light on this troubled history by uncovering the stories of the staff and patients who lived through this difficult period.