← Events in Boston Archivist Terry Bragg on the Founding and History of McLean

Archivist Terry Bragg on the Founding and History of McLean

Past Event Events

Date & Time

📅 Sat, Feb 7, 2026

🕐 8:00 PM

Ends: Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 9:30 PM

Location

📍 Somerville Museum

1 Westwood Road, Somerville, MA 02143, United States, Somerville, MA, 02143

🏙️ Boston

About This Event

Join us for a deep dive with Archivist Terry Bragg as he uncovers the fascinating history of McLean - you won't want to miss this!

Terry A. Bragg, Archivist of the McLean Hospital in Belmont since 1981, will present an illustrated lecture tracing the remarkable history of New England’s first psychiatric hospital. From the time it opened in 1818, McLean Hospital followed the principles of “moral treatment” for the mentally ill, in distinct contrast to the prevailing practices at the time. Patients with mental illness were most often hidden and housed in jails, almshouses, and private homes. If they existed at all, dedicated facilities for the mentally ill provided little care and few activities. With this new approach to mental healthcare, the construction and maintenance of psychiatric care institutions began to play an increasingly important role in the treatment of the mentally ill, and McLean Hospital was among the leaders in the transformation. Terry Bragg will speak to the history of McLean in Somerville and their development of the existing site in Belmont.

How do you want to get there?

Driving
Public transport
Biking
Walking

Somerville Museum

1 Westwood Road, Somerville, MA 02143, United States, Somerville, MA, 02143

Open in Google Maps

Tickets

USD 0.00 - 12.00

Find Tickets

Good to Know

Duration

1 hour 30 min

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

Organized by

Somerville Museum

Somerville Museum

Events

11

View Profile

Share this event

Let others know about this event.

More from Somerville Museum

More Events in Boston

View All Events