Description:
Oil painting with wooden frame; of George A. Zeller, MD; by P.R. McIntosh, 1938. George A. Zeller written on back with blueish magic marker.
George A. Zeller, MD, by P.R. McIntosh, 1938. (Painting sustained damage, the eyes were gouged out by a former patient of Zeller Mental Health Center)
"Dr. George A. Zeller, first superintendent of Peoria State Hospital and leader in "non—restraint/ non—imprisonment, non—resistance," and in considerate, gentle care and treatment of the mentally ill. He "fearlessly...dared to introduce innovations, wrote his successors at the helm of the hospital. Professionals from throughout the nation and from abroad came to witness the methods of operation at the hospital." — Tom Edwards.
The major achivements of George A. Zeller, MD, are considered to be...
Non—restraint of patients not the first in the state to advocate it or pursue it, but the first to practice it 100%.
Non—imprisonment Zeller was evidently the first in the state to totally eliminate locking patients up, to remove all the bars and gratings from doors and windows, and also to totally eliminate "seclusion" (solitary confinement) of patients. In this he was a world leader.
The eight—hour tour of duty for hospital workers First such institution in the state, or the world, according to Zeller, to adopt this. (Zeller later wrote that it was 10 years before another like institution followed suit.)
First in the state to put women in charge of the wards of "insane men," instead of, and rather than, men, who had historically been in charge of such wards.
Narcotic drugs evidently the first in the state, at least, to totally abolish the administration of narcotic drugs, routinely used in those days to keep patients in a soporific condition. Zeller considered this to be a very definite form of restraint, and held that any patient that became agitated or otherwise troublesome needed personal care and attention with no substitutions.
Development of the "home type atmosphere of grounds layout and building design and operation, including all the social amenities of normal community life.
George A. Zeller, MD, by P.R. McIntosh, 1938. (Painting sustained damage, the eyes were gouged out by a former patient of Zeller Mental Health Center)
"Dr. George A. Zeller, first superintendent of Peoria State Hospital and leader in "non—restraint/ non—imprisonment, non—resistance," and in considerate, gentle care and treatment of the mentally ill. He "fearlessly...dared to introduce innovations, wrote his successors at the helm of the hospital. Professionals from throughout the nation and from abroad came to witness the methods of operation at the hospital." — Tom Edwards.
The major achivements of George A. Zeller, MD, are considered to be...
Non—restraint of patients not the first in the state to advocate it or pursue it, but the first to practice it 100%.
Non—imprisonment Zeller was evidently the first in the state to totally eliminate locking patients up, to remove all the bars and gratings from doors and windows, and also to totally eliminate "seclusion" (solitary confinement) of patients. In this he was a world leader.
The eight—hour tour of duty for hospital workers First such institution in the state, or the world, according to Zeller, to adopt this. (Zeller later wrote that it was 10 years before another like institution followed suit.)
First in the state to put women in charge of the wards of "insane men," instead of, and rather than, men, who had historically been in charge of such wards.
Narcotic drugs evidently the first in the state, at least, to totally abolish the administration of narcotic drugs, routinely used in those days to keep patients in a soporific condition. Zeller considered this to be a very definite form of restraint, and held that any patient that became agitated or otherwise troublesome needed personal care and attention with no substitutions.
Development of the "home type atmosphere of grounds layout and building design and operation, including all the social amenities of normal community life.
Dimensions:
H—93 L—84 cm
Object ID:
2003.59
Object Name:
Painting
Signed Name:
P.R. McIntosh 1938
Signed Location:
Bottom left of painting
Title:
George A. Zeller M.D.
Source:
Alvey, Roger
Provenance:
Donor bought the painting at a sale of items from the Zeller Mental Health Center upon the closing of the institution
Material:
canvas, wood
Frame Size:
93 cm High x 84 cm Wide
Frame Description:
brown wood with rounded decorative grooves
Date:
1938
Category:
8: Communication Artifact
Artist — Creator:
P.R. McIntosh
Accession#:
2003.59
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