Maternal Insanity in the Family: Memories, Family Secrets, and the Mental Health Archive

This work investigates my family’s long-held secrets that concealed the whereabouts of grandmother. After years estrangement, father discovered Ada living in a mental hospital. Memories are rarely straightforward and could only take us so far understanding why remained missing from our family for long. My search answers involved genealogical research led me to access Ada’s patient files. rich data source provided some troubling glimpses into auditory hallucinations grandiose delusions her encounters with several institutions Victoria, Australia, during twentieth century. Critical history approaches allow gain insights gendered power relations within marriage imbalance families. The theme migration is addressed through lens mobility when relocated following movement between home on trial leave sites care after committal. Scholars have shown themes important hold personal significance exploring connection health institutionalisation family. Here, I demonstrate how illness families stigmatised its legacy younger generations.