I recall being taught in school about Susan B. Anthony but – until I happened upon this book I had never heard of Elizabeth Packard.
‘The Woman They Could Not Silence’ – by Kate Moore
“1860: As the clash between the states rolls slowly to a boil, Elizabeth Packard, housewife and mother of six, is facing her own battle. The enemy sits across the table and sleeps in the next room. Her husband of twenty-one years is plotting against her because he feels increasingly threatened – by Elizabeth’s intellect, independence, and unwillingness to stifle her own thoughts. So Theophilus makes a plan to put his wife back in her place. One summer morning, he has her committed to an insane asylum.
The horrific conditions inside the Illinois State Hospital in Jacksonville, Illinois, are overseen by Dr. Andrew McFarland, a man who will prove to be even more dangerous to Elizabeth than her traitorous husband. But most disturbing is that Elizabeth is not the only sane woman confined to the institution. There are many rational women on her ward who tell the same story: they've been committed not because they need medical treatment, but to keep them in line – conveniently labeled “crazy” so their voices are ignored.
No one is willing to fight for their freedom and, disenfranchised both by gender and the stigma of their supposed madness, they cannot possibly fight for themselves. But Elizabeth is about to discover that the merit of losing everything is that you then have nothing to lose...
Bestselling author Kate Moore brings her sparkling narrative voice to The Woman They Could Not Silence, an unputdownable story of the forgotten woman who courageously fought for her own freedom – and in so doing freed millions more.
Elizabeth’s refusal to be silenced and her ceaseless quest for justice not only challenged the medical science of the day, and led to a giant leap forward in human rights, it also showcased the most salutary lesson: sometimes, the greatest heroes we have are those inside ourselves.”
Elizabeth Packard was a prominent advocate for women's rights and mental health reform in the 19th century. She wrote several books detailing her experiences and advocating for social change. Here are some of her notable works:
"The Great Drama: Or, The Millennial Harbinger" (1878) - This book reflects her religious and philosophical views, particularly her ideas about spirituality and the coming of a new age.
"Modern Persecution, or Insane Asylums Unveiled" (1873) - In this two-volume work, Packard recounts her own experiences of being unjustly committed to an insane asylum by her husband and exposes the abuses within the mental health system.
"Marital Power Exemplified in Mrs. Packard's Trial" (1866) - This book details her legal battle against her husband's decision to commit her to an asylum and highlights the lack of legal rights for married women at the time.
"The Prisoners' Hidden Life, or Insane Asylums Unveiled" (1868) - Another exposé on the conditions within insane asylums, this book further advocates for reform and the rights of those committed.
"A Vindication of the Rights of Married Women" (1864) - This work argues for the legal rights of married women, particularly in regards to property and personal autonomy.
"The Mystic Key, or the Asylum Secret Unlocked" (1866) - This book continues her critique of the mental health system and her advocacy for the rights of those unjustly committed.
Elizabeth Packard's writings were instrumental in bringing attention to the plight of women and the mentally ill in the 19th century, and her advocacy contributed to significant social and legal reforms.
Listen Here at this site :
Author explains how she came to tell Elizabeth Packard's story | NPR Illinois
Here's an online Free Book Link for a book by Mrs. Packard herself :
About the Book :
""Marital Power Exemplified in Mrs. Packard's Trial, and Self-Defence from the Charge of Insanity" by Mrs. E. P. W. Packard is a historical account likely written in the late 19th century. The narrative revolves around Mrs. Packard's harrowing experience of being accused of insanity by her husband, Reverend Theophilus Packard, following a disagreement over religious beliefs, which leads to her forced confinement in an asylum. The text serves as both a personal account of her struggle against marital and institutional authority and a broader critique of the legal and social systems that allowed her oppression. At the start of the account, Mrs. Packard introduces her story of being trapped in a brutal situation where her religious beliefs clash with her husband’s conservative views. Following a Bible class discussion, she receives the shocking news that her husband has deemed her insane. The account details a traumatic scene where she is forcibly taken from her home and confined to an asylum based solely on her expressions of differing beliefs. Through a series of legal encounters and the eventual trial that questions her sanity, Mrs. Packard’s narrative unfolds, highlighting the abuse of power within marriage and the legal injustices faced by women at that time, setting the stage for her fight for autonomy and recognition of her sanity."