Jon Crispin was allowed to photograph artifacts from the now-closed Willard Asylum for the Insane, where patients’ personal belongings were found in storerooms. The suitcases, trunks, and crates contained ordinary objects that offered glimpses into the lives of the forgotten individuals who lived at the asylum. Photographer Jon Crispin’s detailed photographs of these objects reveal the personal histories of former patients. Due to changes in state property laws, the collection’s ownership and access are now in question, preventing public viewing. The photography project aims to humanize and honor the patients’ stories, shedding light on their previously erased identities.
https://theamericanscholar.org/tales-from-an-attic/