Defectives, Epileptics: United States. Massachusetts. Palmer. State Hospital for Epileptics: Ox teams at Farm Group #3. 1907

Editor: This photograph, "Defectives, Epileptics: United States. Massachusetts. Palmer. State Hospital for Epileptics: Ox teams at Farm Group #3," by Woodhead Studio, shows a team of workers with oxen on a farm. It feels very staged and…stark. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, it’s unsettling, isn’t it? The clinical title clashes with the pastoral scene. I can't help but wonder about the people in the photograph – are they patients? Forced labor? It raises questions about care, control, and the blurred lines between treatment and exploitation. The ox team becomes a symbol of their burden, both physical and societal. Editor: So it’s about more than just a farm scene? Curator: Exactly. It’s a glimpse into a time when those deemed "different" were often marginalized. The photo invites us to reflect on how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, in our understanding of mental health and human dignity. Editor: I’ll definitely look at this differently now!