Research

Administrative History

Colonies were created in 1883 as homes outside the main institution for younger patients who were judged to be potentially competent to be trained and transitioned to occupational and personal independence. Colony staff consisted of a Colony Supervisor and Assistant Colony Supervisor. In the male colonies the supervisor and assistant were man and wife. As entities located physically from five to 80 miles outside the main institution, colony personnel were somewhat more responsible for carrying out their activities on their own initiative. Colony staff provided care, training, and oversight of their patients as well as oversaw their physical facilities. Assistant Colony Supervisors were required to have a professional background in either teaching or nursing or two years of satisfactory experience in the care of mental defectives.

Skills taught to female patients emphasized cooking and domestic service. Training for girls included personal hygiene, cooking, sewing, clothing mending and alteration, cleaning, decorating, personal finance, and other skills related to home economics. Male students were chiefly taught farming and dairy skills.

The Colony Supervisors (or Matrons) also performed public relations and employment placement duties for the colony with the local community. Employers of the patients were expected to help teach their patient-employees responsibilities of living in their homes and to gradually prepare the patients ultimately to be discharged from the institution.