Transforming Psychiatry One Patient at a Time: The Story of William C. Menninger
Thesis
The Family PracticeThe Hidden Wounds of World War IILegacy of HealingConclusion
Research
“The Menninger’s who gave their name to a medical organization that is recognized today as one of the world’s major centers of psychiatry.”
-The Menninger Foundation of Kansas
William Claire Menninger was born on October 15,1899 in Topeka, Kansas. William's two older brothers, Karl and Edwin Menninger, followed in their father's footsteps, graduating from Washburn University with medical degrees.
Karl at age 7, Edwin at age 4 1/2 and William Claire at 18 months
Source: Kansas Memory, 1900
Karl and William would go on to help their father in the development of the Menninger Psychiatric clinic. Edwin would pursue his interest in horticulture.
Source: Kansas Memory, Early 1900s
C.F. Menninger opened the family clinic in the early 1900s, with the help of his sons Karl and William.
Source: Kansas Historical Society, 1900-1923
The Menninger Clinic began out of a farmhouse in Topeka, which would begin the legacy of the world-renowned foundation.
Source: Kansas Memory, 1952
Charles F. Menninger came to Topeka, Kansas in 1889 to begin his medical practice after attending Medical School in Chicago. Charles started a group practice with his sons, William and Karl in Topeka, they “established a Sanatarium in a converted farmhouse on the western edge of Topeka.” Their clinic broke barriers by treating all patients that walked through its doors.
"The number of troubled men, women and children appealing to the prairie clinic for help is formidable. The C.F. Menninger hospital limits the number of inpatients to 120, cares for another seventy-five on a day-hospital basis, and sixty in its children's department. Yet the clinic receives more than 2500 inquiries a year."
-The Saturday Evening Post, 1962
Will, Edwin, Dr. C. F. and Karl, taken March 31, 1919.
Source: Kansas Memory, 1919
The Menninger men strove to break barriers in psychiatry through their research and treatments of patients.
Source: Kansas Memory, 1953
When the Menninger's first proposed the idea of their groundbreaking psychiatric clinic, many were not ready for such a radical change to the field of psychiatry. Most were confused by how their clinic was going to help patients.
After 10 years of successfully helping patients, the Menninger Sanatorium began receiving accolades for their accomplishments. The sanatorium was recognized by Fortune Magazine as the “outstanding private mental hospital west of the Alleghenies."
"A psychiatrist must believe in the individuals’ inherent capacity for reconstruction… that even the sickest patient can be helped"
-Karl Menninger, The Saturday Evening Post, 1962
It was noted by many that there was an emphasis on a team approach to the analysis and treatment of patient's problems, creating an intense collaboration across the entire staff. The more comfortable atmosphere at the clinic, the greater possibility for success to benefit both the patient and the doctors.
The close-knit staff of the clinic allowed all to feel comfortable, allowing studies to be accurate and patients to be treated.
Source: Kansas Memory, mid 1900s
"We had a vision of a better kind of medicine and a better kind of world."
- C.F. Menninger
William would take all that he had learned as a partner in building the family practice and would apply these revolutionary psychiatric techniques to break barriers aiding soldiers in the field of war.