University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Jane Craig

OH-VOA C73 Ja

Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNCA

Title

Creator

Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection

Subject

LCSH:
Craig, Jane
Asheville (N.C.) -- History
Psychiatric hospitals -- North Carolina -- Asheville
American Association of University Women -- North Carolina -- Asheville
Urban renewal -- North Carolina -- Asheville
Early childhood education -- North Carolina -- Asheville

Subject

Keyword: Highland Hospital ; Appalachian Hall ; mental illness ; urban renewal ; AAUW ; Kindergarten ; YWCA

Description

Abstract:  Craig discusses how she met and married her husband, and talks about his medical training and experience.  She describes Highland Hospital and treatments for mentally ill patients used prior to the 1980's.  She discusses recent changes in treatments, as well as changes that have occurred because of an increase in drug use in society.  She describes Asheville in the 1970's, and talks about the destruction of neighborhoods brought about by urban renewal.  She discusses her experience working as the President of AAUW, her involvement with developing kindergarten and after-school care programs for city schools, and her current involvement with the Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Home.  She discusses the change in values, a woman's role in society, changes in Asheville and anticipation for the future.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2002-04-08

Type

Sound ; Text ; Image

Format

Physical Description: 6-page abstract ; 1 90-minute audiocassette ; 7 color photographs ; newspaper articles and brochures

Identifier

http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/oralhistory/VOA/A_C/Craig_J.html

Source

OH-VOA C73 Ja

Language

English

Relation

References: none

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 146 ;  Date of acquisition: 1998

Processed By

Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard and staff

Interview Date

Interview Location

Biography

List of names

Side 1:

Jane met her husband when she was a student at Goucher College [Baltimore, Maryland] and he was in first year of medical school.  When he became an assistant resident they were allowed to marry.  He took a year of residency in neurology and in 1938 went to Duke University.  [Dr. Robert Craig, Dr. Boggs, Dr. Ford, Dr. Born Woodall]

[49]  During the war he served as a neurologist-psychiatrist (the army did not differentiate between the two) and later he got more training for his job, through Duke, in Asheville.

[93]  He was asked to go to the Highland Hospital following the fire.  The top staff was leaving because of pending suits (fire in 1948 - see file)  [Dr. B. T. Bennett, Dr. Robert S. Carroll (died 1949)]

[101]  The hospital staff (about 4 doctors) was small and there were about 80 patients.  Later (before closing in early 1994)  there were 125 with a waiting list of 75-80.  [Tape by Landon Ray is listed as completed by Dr. Silveri but it is not in file.  I have written him and it will be forthcoming]  [Miss Smathers, Landon Ray]

[122]  She never worked in the hospital but spent her time with her children and working in the community.  [Bill Craig, Nancy Craig, Susan Craig, Barbara Craig]

[167] She is on a search committee of Trinity Episcopal Church to find a new rector. [Bishop Bob Johnson]

[184]  Duke sold part of the hospital and turned it over to Dr. Charmin Carroll.  (adopted daughter of Dr. Robert Carroll)  She discusses the property and the development of the campus.  [Dr. Charmin Carroll (died 1963), Dr. Robert Craig]

[266]  She knew the Carrolls and Dr. Bennett.  She was warmly welcomed when she and her children moved to town.  [Dr. B. T. Bennett]

[281]  Patients, at about $500 a month, stayed for long periods of time.  Some were custodial.  They were about 10% teenagers, but with the increase in fees and the introduction of drugs in society the situation changed.  Insurance couldn't keep up with the fees.  Patients, unable to stay, were sent to Morganton State Hospital.

[341]  Appalachian Hall and Highland Hospital had almost identical services.  Appalachian has now absorbed Highland - all but 20 employees were dismissed.

[365]  The population dropped from 125 to 80 - too small to maintain the operation.

[370]  Shock therapy was a standard procedure and, in many cases the only thing that worked with severe depression (all of this was before medication which was developed in the late 1980's).

[392]  Because of changes in legality, patients could not be restrained for long periods of time.

[408]  Her husband went to the Blue Ridge Mental Health Clinic in 1964.

[433]  When Dr. Patton was hired at Highland the staff was enlarged.  There was an upheaval and her husband asked to go with the Blue Ridge Mental Health Clinic - a small unit on the first floor of the City Building.  He worked with the plans to build a unit close to St. Joseph's.  Patients of all ages - mostly with depression and anxiety came. [Dr. John Patton, Dr. L. H. Tenney]

[619]  "Look at the school systems and see that we are in a different world today." - drugs

Side 2:

[2/5]  Before coming here she worked at Duke Hospital on tissue culture.  Here she became involved with the Country Day School on Victoria Road (see Bingham, McCabe, Camblos tapes)  She describes the city in the 70's.

[2/63]  The city was segregated.  She describes the destruction of neighborhoods with urban renewal.

[2/84]  Through AAUW (she was President ) she started a kindergarten - there was none in the city schools although Country Day and St. Genevieve's had them.  It was hard to start, but 30-35 students were recruited and two sections were formed (one black, one white)  in the Hill Street School.

[2/110]  After integration there was a great deal of problems as the blacks did not get what they expected.  She feels that today the blacks would still like their own YWCA and library.

[2/125]  She was with the Y during the merger - it changed the face of both Y's.  She taught swimming up to a few years ago.  Her neighbor, director of the Y, is about to resign.  There was no fuss when Roosevelt talked to them at the Grove Street Y. [Florence Ryan, Thelma Caldwell, Mary Ann Richards, Eleanor Roosevelt]

[2/166]  She knows about the Booster Club (see Caldwell file). A white friend of hers went on a train trip with them.

[2/178]  She worked on an after-school program at Randolph School.   Teachers were hired for the 30 children and were paid about $100 a month.  Children paid 50 cents a day if they could.  The program was taken over by the government (not School Board).  She gave a report to the Children's Welfare League (see Wanda Stanard tape) after visiting and found that it was chaos - noise - no control.  The program was ruined and eliminated.  [James McClure Clark]

[2/225]  Asheville is hesitant about government funding because so many strings are attached.  Some people consider social programs by the government meddling.  Redevelopment of downtown is not a "people" thing.

[2/236]  She is on the Board of Deerfield Home.  They have never gotten involved with Medicare or Medicaid because of the restrictions and requirements.  The kindergarten program at Trinity Church had to be abandoned because it is not wheelchair accessible.

[2/256]  She describes Deerfield Episcopal Retirement home which gives "tender loving care" and needs to expand. [Mimi Shackelford]

[2/290]  From here to end she discusses the change in values, a woman's role in society, changes in Asheville and anticipation for the future.  Worth listening. [Mrs. Raymond, Mary Greenwood]

Thanks

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