Tavla

The objects from St Jörgen are collected in connection with the documentation that the Bohuslandstingen commissioned to the Museum of Bohusläns on the occasion of the closure of the hospital. The documentation and collection was carried out in 1990 by Ann-Marie Brockman, Bohusläns museum. Most of the facts about the objects, 265 objects, were left by dr. Sten Landgren, active in the hospital 1948-1987, which collected older objects from the hospital’s period of activity and in conversation with five retired officials - overattendants and performers. St Jörgen’s hospital has roots in Lödöse, the 1200th century. At the closure probably the oldest psychiatric hospital in the world. 1621-1931 was the name Göteborg Hospital, then again St Jörgen. In 1872 the business moved to newly built premises in Backa on Hisingen. There there was an administration building m offices, church room, pharmacy, library; 2 lengths for womens resp manl patients about 3 caregivers each; a cell building for violent/criminal patients. Between the lengths there was an economy building m kitchen, bakery, laundry. Everything surrounded by walking yards, park, plantations, burial ground. The whole area was fenced by fences. Portrait cottages at the gates. The caretaker staff lived at the beginning in the buildings where they worked. Other staff had independent homes of different kinds. Villas for a doctor/syssloman. In 1909, Gbg’s city inaugurated 3 nursing pavilions: Skogshyddan, Karlsro for easy-care female resp male patients, and what became “Kvinsettan” for hard-to-care kv. patients. The old cell building was thus reserved for maltreated male patients and called “Mansettan.” At the same time, the Förstaklas Pavilion was built for well-ordered patients. For many years the hospital had this appearance. In 1956 - 64 a major modernisation was made. The central complex consisting of the administration building, the lengths and the economy building in the courtyard was demolished and replaced by detached buildings. The following materials are collected: UM23907 - UM23930, UM23933 - UM23936, UM24345, UM24563, UM24647, UM24675 - UM24689, UM24758, UM24916, UM25163, a total of 265 objects. The documentation also includes an image collection, see UMFA53256. This is made up of a larger glass plate collection, about 2.300, with mainly patient portraits of which a 50s are scanned and registered, staff portraits, exteriors and interiors; also pictures of the staff’s families. An album with original copies from around 1910, see UMFA53256: 1035. Probably a thorough professional photography of the hospital has been done around 1910. In the picture collection there is also an album with postcards over Swedish psychiatric hospitals, produced by the pharmaceutical company Dumex. Some pictures are borrowed from private individuals. Exhibited interviews are kept in the archives of the Museum of Bohusläns. In 1986, further objects were received from St Jörgen, UM26619 - UM26624, which were previously part of the Göteborg City Museum’s collections. The National Archives in Gothenburg has the archives of the hospital until 1967, documents are subsequently kept in the archives of the County Council. Literature: Brockman, Ann-Marie: Göteborgs Hospital - St Jörgen. Psychiatric hospital in West Sweden A memorial book. Scriptures issued by the Museum of Bohusläns and the Bohusläns Home Association, no. 51. Uddevalla 1994.