S5E27 - Stockton State
From Hand Me Down by Gerald O'Connor
February 21, 2026 · 25 min · Season 5 · Episode 27
About this episode
The episode concludes the story of Thomas O’Connor, exploring his life from Ireland to Stockton State Hospital during the Great Depression.
A finish to the story of my great‑grandfather, Thomas O’Connor — a man whose life began hopefully in Ireland, endured immigration, hard work, three marriages, and ended during the Great Depression in a place few families ever talk about openly: Stockton State Hospital, one of California’s largest mental institutions. His story is not an easy one. But it is deeply human. And like so many family stories, it sits at the intersection of love, hardship, silence, and survival. http://oconnor.home.blog
Topics covered
- immigration
- mental health
- family history
- Great Depression
Keywords
- Thomas O'Connor
- Stockton State Hospital
- California
- family stories
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Ireland, California
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