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VIRTUAL: The History of Contagious Disease Hospitals in MA

Explore the history of contagious disease hospitals in Massachusetts from the 19th to the early 20th century, examining their role in shaping public health policy and institutional development.

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.**

Explore the complex history of contagious disease hospitals in Massachusetts from the 19th to the early 20th century, highlighting their role in shaping public health policy, immigration control, and institutional development. Often located near poorhouses, asylums, and prisons, these hospitals reveal how fear of contagion intersected with social reform, nativism, and evolving ideas about poverty and public responsibility. Drawing from historical records and case studies, examine how these institutions targeted immigrant and marginalized communities under the guise of care and containment, leaving a lasting impact on the Commonwealth's institutional landscape.

Led by Dr. Katherine M. (Anderson) Benson, MFA, EdD, an institutional historian and award-winning author. She has been a special educator for more than twenty years in residential treatment facilities, juvenile corrections, and therapeutic programs. Dr. Benson has written about and lectured on the history of institutional treatment in Massachusetts. She lives in Western Mass with her husband, a very bitey cat, and a special needs dog.

Sponsored by the Public Health Museum, presented with support from the Tewksbury Public Library.

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