Tag Archives: 1880s

November 1, 2013 · 2:08 pm

1883 Illustrated Guide to Insane People

This is a pretty chilling look into the ‘state of the art’ definition of insanity in 1883.  This is an illustrated guide published to help other ‘mental health’ professionals at the time with diagnosis and treatment, a precursor to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, known as the DSM-IV-TR, or the fourth version, text revision.  Chances are in the Age of Steam you would be locked up in a cell for the rest of our life if you were considered a risk to self or others.

1883:  Illustrated Guide to Insane People

 

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February 12, 2013 · 10:04 pm

The Immediate Impact of the Telephone on New York

The Immediate Impact of the Telephone on New York

“In 1875 Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and in 1878 the first telephone was installed in Madison by Richard Johnson. It connected his home, the Johnson Starch Factory and the J. M. & I Railroad depot. It was a convenience for him and, by all accounts, a source of amusement for his family, especially his young daughter who took every opportunity to sing to people on the other end of the line.” – History Rescue Project

So, new tech invented in 1875, installed three years later, first person to use it extensively was a young girl.  Sound familiar?  The amazing thing is what happened next.  One decade later, the pictures below show what New York City looked like with the telephone wires installed in less than ten years.

Telephone Wires over New York

c. 1887-1888:

 

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