Page 9 - Hall of Hero Catalog Proof
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DOROTHEA LYNDE DIX
American, (1802-1887)
“In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt impressed that there must be something for me to do.”
Dorothea Dix was an author, teacher, and social reformer whose devotion to the welfare of the mentally ill led to widespread international reforms and changed the way we treat the mentally ill. Her efforts on behalf of the mentally ill and prisoners helped create dozens of new institutions across the United States and in Europe and changed people’s perceptions of these populations.
She had a long and varied career as an author of children’s books and starting schools. Charged during the American Civil War with the administration of military hospitals, Dix also established a reputation as an advocate for the work of female nurses.
Her efforts revolutionized society’s attitude toward such suffering people, giving them a place in the family of humankind.
