Elizabeth Packard

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Elizabeth Packard (1816–1897) was an American advocate for the rights of women and the mentally ill, who gained fame after being involuntarily committed to an insane asylum by her husband. Her case led to significant reforms in the treatment of women and the mentally ill, as well as changes in the laws governing involuntary commitment in the United States.

Early Life

Elizabeth Parsons Ware was born on December 28, 1816, in Ware, Massachusetts. She was well-educated for a woman of her time, attending the Amherst Female Seminary and later marrying Theophilus Packard, a Calvinist minister, in 1839. The couple had six children together. Elizabeth's troubles began in earnest when she started to express religious views that differed from her husband's and the local community's.

Involuntary Commitment

In 1860, without her consent, Elizabeth was committed to the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane in Jacksonville, Illinois, by her husband. Theophilus Packard justified his actions by claiming that Elizabeth was insane, a claim based largely on her religious liberalism and increasingly outspoken views on women's rights, which clashed with his own conservative beliefs.

During her three-year confinement, Elizabeth was denied the right to a trial to prove her sanity. Despite this, she managed to smuggle out letters to her friends, detailing her unjust treatment. These letters helped to build public support for her cause.

Legal Battles and Reforms

Elizabeth was finally released in 1863 after a jury found her to be sane. Following her release, she became a vocal advocate for the rights of married women and the mentally ill. She lobbied for laws that would protect these groups from unjust confinement and abuse. Her efforts led to significant legal reforms, including the enactment of a law in Illinois that required a public hearing before a person could be committed to an asylum, granting them the right to a defense.

Elizabeth also fought for married women's property rights and for reforms in the treatment of the mentally ill. She published several books and pamphlets on these subjects, including The Great Disclosure and Married Women's Liabilities.

Legacy

Elizabeth Packard's advocacy work had a lasting impact on American society. Her efforts helped to improve the legal rights and treatment of both women and the mentally ill. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering figure in the fight for civil rights and social justice.

See Also

• Women's rights
• Mental health law
• History of mental health