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Critical Perspectives on Disability
Acts of Conscience: World War II, Mental Institutions, and Religious Objectors
In the mid- to late-1940s, a group of young men rattled the psychiatric establishment by beaming a public spotlight on the squalid conditions and brutality in our nation's mental hospitals and training schools for people with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. Bringing the abuses to the attention of newspapers and magazines across the country, they led a reform effort to change public attitudes and to improve the training and status of institutional staff. Prominent Americans, including Eleanor Roosevelt, ACLU founder Roger Baldwin, author Pearl S. Buck, actress Helen Hayes, and African-American activist Mary McLeod Bethune, supported the efforts of the young men.
These young men were among the 12,000 World War II conscientious objectors who chose to perform civilian public service as an alternative to fighting in what is widely regarded as America's "good war." Three thousand of these men volunteered to work at state institutions, where they found conditions appalling. Acting on conscience a second time, they challenged America's treatment of its citizens with severe disabilities. Acts of Conscience brings to light the extraordinary efforts of these courageous men, drawing upon extensive archival research, interviews, and personal correspondence.
The World War II conscientious objectors were not the first to expose public institutions, and they would not be the last. What distinguishes them from reformers of other eras is that their activities have faded from professional and popular memory. Steven J. Taylor's moving account is an indispensable contribution to the historical record.
These young men were among the 12,000 World War II conscientious objectors who chose to perform civilian public service as an alternative to fighting in what is widely regarded as America's "good war." Three thousand of these men volunteered to work at state institutions, where they found conditions appalling. Acting on conscience a second time, they challenged America's treatment of its citizens with severe disabilities. Acts of Conscience brings to light the extraordinary efforts of these courageous men, drawing upon extensive archival research, interviews, and personal correspondence.
The World War II conscientious objectors were not the first to expose public institutions, and they would not be the last. What distinguishes them from reformers of other eras is that their activities have faded from professional and popular memory. Steven J. Taylor's moving account is an indispensable contribution to the historical record.
504 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2009
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About the author
Steven J. Taylor
17 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Dr. Steven J. Taylor was a scholar and professor who specialized in qualitative research methods, the sociology of disability, disability studies, and disability policy. He was Director of the Center on Human Policy at the University of Syracuse. He was also an advocate for people with intellectual disability.
Taylor published numerous articles and authored or co-authored eight books. From 1993-2011, he was editor of the journal Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Dr. Steven J. Taylor was a scholar and professor who specialized in qualitative research methods, the sociology of disability, disability studies, and disability policy. He was Director of the Center on Human Policy at the University of Syracuse. He was also an advocate for people with intellectual disability.
Taylor published numerous articles and authored or co-authored eight books. From 1993-2011, he was editor of the journal Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 25, 2009
Now HERE's a book to inspire you. A historical account of Second World War conscientious objectors who, having already taken a very brave and difficult stand, were assigned to civilian public service work in state mental institutions and proceeded to act on their principles once again, exposing the abuse of disabled people within those institutions and organizing for reform. True public service indeed.
June 5, 2017
The story of Civilian Public Service Workers during World War II is one that is generally well-known, as is the fact that these workers went into mental institutions and exposed some of the abuses of patients that were going on at the time, including beating patients, excessive restraints, boredom, etc. Taylor offers here a thoroughly researched discussion of the context that gave rise to the CPS program before moving into the specific work that the CPSers did in mental institutions and training facilities. Towards the end of the CPS movement, the CPSers had worked hard to expose the conditions that they had encountered during their work through connections with the press and other leaders. This work led to the foundation of the National Mental Health Foundation. However, Taylor shows how this failed to lead to long-lasting change in the mental health world as the foundation floundered to find funding and the board who took over did not have firsthand experiences with the hospitals that were motivating them to change. Thus, Taylor concludes that CPS did not lead to the hoped for changes in mental health institutions, but it did, for a time, cause exposure and in some cases better general treatment in the wards. This is a very well-researched and well-argued book. While it is not light reading, for those who are interested in the historic peace churches or the field of mental health, this book will be a satisfying use of time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews