On November 9, 2012, I received a beautiful gift from Doug and Jane Anderson at Port City Paranormal. They purchased the book Pictorial Album of The Willard Asylum 1869 – 1886 by Wayne E. Morrison, Sr., and sent it to me because they knew how much I would appreciate and enjoy such a rare piece of history. I cannot thank Doug and Jane enough for being so kind and thoughtful! I hope that one day I will be able to meet them!
Wayne E. Morrison in his printing shop 2009.
According to The Ithaca Journal, published on April 10, 2012: “Ovid: Wayne E. Morrison, Sr., 79 of Ovid, died Friday, April 6, 2012 at his home. He was born in Fairport (NY) a son of the late Earl B. and Grace Yorks Morrison. Mr. Morrison was a printer and publisher for 65 years and was the owner and operator of W.E. Morrison & Co. in Ovid. He was a member of the Fairport and Galen Historical Societies, a former member of the Clyde Fire Dept. and was a past Member of the Ovid Baptist Church. …There was a quote that Mr. Morrison loved that was made by Marianne Nichols. ‘Wayne doesn’t live in the past but the past lives in him.’”
1 – Pictorial Album Of The Willard Asylum 1869 – 1886.
Mr. Morrison’s book is not numbered but is filled with 119 beautiful, historical photographs of The Willard Asylum (Willard State Hospital), the people who worked there, and historical information. He also recorded who took these wonderful photographs. I would like to share with you a few photographs from the first pages of his book. What follows are Mr. Morrison’s words:
“Year after year since 1869, the Willard Asylum has proved an incalculable blessing to thousands of the unfortunate of humanity in the State of New York – a refuge for the chronic insane and upon lands partially in the Towns of Ovid and Romulus, Seneca County, it was the first such institution established in the nation and has been the exemplar from which other states have formed like asylums.
01-The Main Building-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
The early photographs of Willard Asylum, published for the first time, are the work of Nelson S. Hopkins, whose brother, Dr. Horace G. Hopkins, was a Resident Officer of the Asylum at the time. The preponderance of his pictures were made in 1886, however some were taken a year earlier, and a few as late as 1892. Some are also credited to Anne Maycock Hopkins, the wife of Dr. Hopkins. They have been preserved by Dr. Robert E. Doran of Geneva, who has in his possession the Hopkins collection in its entirety – more than three hundred fine old pictures.
Excepted are the two views in 1869 on the main building in the process of erection taken by Mr. C.V.D. Cornell, photographers, of Waterloo. The front view was loaned by the Willard Asylum Museum, and the rear view by Michael F. Perry, of Ovid. – W.E. Morrison & Co., Ovid, N.Y.”
(Copyright 1978 Wayne E. Morrison, Sr.)
02-The Asylum Medical Staff-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
03-The Asylum Officials-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
04-The Main Building In The Process Of Erection-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
05-The North Wing In Process Of Erection-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
06-Rear Of The Main Building In Process Of Erection-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
07-The Main Building From The North-West-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
08-The Main Building From The North-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
09-The Medical Office-Main Buildiing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
10-The Main Building From The North-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
11Group Of Attendants, Detached Building No. 1-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
12 Detached Building No. 1, For Men-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
13-A Group Of Physicians & Attendants, Detached Building No. 2-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
14-Detached Building No. 2, For Women-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
15-Physicians & Attendants, Detached Building No. 3-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
16-Detached Building No. 3, For Men-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
17-Supervisor-In-Chief, Attendants & Employees, Detached Building No. 4-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
18-Detached Building No. 4, For Women-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
19-Physicians & Attendants, North Wing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
20-The North Wing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
21-The South Wing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
22-Physician & Attendants, South Wing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
23-The W.B. Dunning Leaving Willard Landing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
27-A View At Willard Landing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
28-A Group Of The Asylum Staff-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
29-The Onondaga At Willard Landing-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
30-Cap’t & Mrs. Anson Wheeler-Wayne E. Morrison, Sr. 1978
The Inmates of Willard 1870 to 1900 / A Genealogy Resource 
I would like to purchase a copy of the Pictorial Album of the Willard Asylum by Wayne Morrison. I will pay handsomely for it. The book will be donated to a museum, along with the builders plate from one of the earliest train engines used at the Willard Asylum. The engine was #4217, built in 1877, and ended up in Ivanhoe, Virginia .
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I am interested in purchasing a copy of the Pictorial Album of the Willard Asylum by Wayne Morrison. The book will be going to a museum along with the builders plate from one of the train engines. I will pay handsomely for it.
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Is the Pictorial Album of the Willard Asylum still available for purchase somewhere? I would love to get a copy.
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Does someone have a picture of the beam steam engine from the asylum? I believe there was one in the album. I’d like to get a good copy of it if possible. Thanks Jake
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Which train do you want a picture of? I have great pics of them that I can email to you.
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Hello, I’m interested in pictures of the beam steam engine inside the facility. This was a stationary steam engine not a locomotive, do you have pictures of that one too?
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Does anyone have a picture of the beam steam engine from Wayne’s album? I am interested in a higher quality image of the engine seen here. It looks to be 1860s or 1870s vintage.
https://mn.gov/mnddc/wolfensberger/imagegallery/slides301-350/wolf_343.html
Thank you! Jake
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Hello, thanks for posting this information. In this book, is there a picture of the beam engine shown here? https://mn.gov/mnddc/wolfensberger/imagegallery/slides301-350/wolf_343.html
I would really appreciate having a higher resolution photograph of this engine for my studies. I believe Dr Wolfensberger received this image from Mr Morrison’s book. Any help in getting a better photo would be most appreciated. Jake
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I did find one in the book. But your link is much better quality than what’s in the book.
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Thank you for your kind words about my father and his work. As a young child, I remember him compiling this book, and I went with him on several trips to the old asylum grounds before the building were torn down. They were beautiful, ornate buildings that could never be replaced. I’m glad someone appreciates this history and my father’s words.
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Thank you, Jessica! Your father’s photographs bring Willard to life. The most popular posts/photographs are the trains. I love them all! Thank God for your father! God Bless You! Sincerely, Lin
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I received a copy of this book bound at some point in a hardcover as a gift from a very nice author. It had a couple of old newspaper articles about this project in 2001. I was very lucky to receive this gift.
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Jane and I were glad that we could give this to you. Willard has a very special place in our hearts. Like you, we have spent hundreds of hours researching this amazing place. We have found great collections of information and photos, both in Cornell and Ovid libraries. We have taken and collected hundreds of photos of the area. Jane and I had the privilege of meeting and speaking to Wayne Morrison. The man had a wealth of knowledge as well as a collection of very rare photos.
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Thank you, Doug!!
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wonderful.
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There is no favor to repay. Sharing this history with someone who cares so deeply, not only brings us joy but honors Wayne’s memory and his work.
Thank you, Jane & Doug
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