Event Details

The History of Tacachale with Steve Noll at the Matheson Museum

Time: 6:00 pm til 8:00 pm

Location: Matheson History Museum, 513 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601

Description: The Matheson History Museum is honored to welcome author and historian Steve Noll to share the history of Tacachale and discuss his book, "Feeble-Minded in Our Midst: Institutions for the Mentally Retarded in the South, 1900-1940." A book signing will follow his presentation. Space is limited for this FREE program. Please RSVP via Eventbrite. (Registration starts Dec. 1.)

Originally named the Florida Farm Colony for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic, Tacachale opened in November 1921 on 3,000 acres and was the first state-funded program for residents with developmental challenges. Today it is one of two such institutions in the state and is run by the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities. In his book, Steve Noll traces the history and development of institutions for the 'feeble-minded,' such as Tacachale, in the South between 1900 and 1940. He examines the influences of gender, race, and class in the institutionalization process and relates policies in the South to those in the North and Midwest, regions that had established similar institutions much earlier.

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FPAN is posting this event as a courtesy, we will neither be hosting nor attending this event.