CHRISTMAS IN PURGATORY A Photographic Essay on Mental Retardation

This rare publication is available free for download on the internet through a U.S. Government website. This is now considered a rare (first edition August, 1966) publication and gives a photographic insight into the lives of people in three institutions in the United States around Christmas 1965. Burton Blatt from Syracuse University and Fred Kaplan entered the institutions with a spy camera attached to a belt and covered by their coat, they proceeded to photograph the back Wards and the people who were warehoused there. The first 1000 copies of the book were sent to Legislators and Administrators. No-one would publish the photos at first and Doctor Blatt self published this now, well know book.

“The purpose of this book is to present our findings in the hope that they will inspire constructive action among those in responsible positions. For those not in positions to legislate or reform, we hope to strike a chord of awareness, to shatter the shell of complacency born of ignorance that surrounds the problem. From this element of society, we hope for support. The first section of this essay represents conditions existing in too many institutions for the retarded. The second section of the book is devoted to the heartening conditions we found at The Seaside. Our optimism for the betterment of state institutions is based on the evidence of the forward strides that have been made there. To us, The Seaside represents what can be done with funds, intelligent administration and an adequate, sensitive and well-trained staff.”

This publication turned the course of Human Warehousing in America and ultimately started the de-institutionalisation process. It is still used today in the academic education system to understand the history of disability.

Images may be considered graphic and disturbing to some people.

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