About this episode

This episode discusses the history and influence of superintendents at the Fernald State School from 1912 to 1949.

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode discusses the years that Dr. Fernald, Dr. Greene, and Dr. Farrell were superintendents at the school. Learn about the legacy of one of the superintendents and how he single-handedly influenced New York and Massachusetts law. Learn about one boy who entered the Fernald State School at age 8 and who quickly became part of a group called "The Science Club." Trigger warnings for this episode include the use of outdated and ableist language, abuse toward childr...

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Sarah Gallup

Topics covered

• history
• psychiatric hospitals
• Fernald State School
• superintendents
• childhood experiences
• legal influence

Keywords

• Fernald State School
• Dr. Fernald
• superintendents
• New York law
• Massachusetts law
• Science Club
• child abuse
• ableist language

Mentioned in this episode

Places: New York, Massachusetts

More episodes of Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals

• Ep. 100: History of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Part 3 (1940-2026) · January 19, 2026 · 35 min
• Ep. 99: History of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (1893-1940) · December 30, 2025 · 37 min
• Ep. 98: History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Part 1 (1858-1893) · December 8, 2025 · 37 min
• Ep. 97: Interview with Jacqui Sanders · October 27, 2025 · 53 min
• Ep. 96: History of the Fernald State School (1950-2014) · September 28, 2025 · 35 min
• Ep. 94: History of the Fernald State School (1889-1912) · August 10, 2025 · 36 min

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