Preserving the Memories of Kentucky's Historic Asylums, Hospitals and Institutions
CSH: Image Gallery
A Photographic Journey into Central State Hospital’s Past
Newspaper sources are copyrighted by their respective authors/owners. Photos with an asterisk denotes images from the Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) newspaper archives.
Central Kentucky Lunatic Asylum (Circa 1884, Photo by Theodore Irvin Jr.)
Connecting overpass walkway under construction. (Circa 1890)
Another view of the overpass walkway under construction, (Circa 1890)
McNary Cottage, an open ward building for male patients named after Superintendent Hugh McNary. Located behind eastern wing of the Administration Building. (Circa 1896)
Front View of the Asylum* (Circa 1896)
Eastern Female Wing* (Circa 1896)
Asylum Ward Attendants (Circa 1900, Photo courtesy of Bob Richardson)
Pusey Building (Circa 1901)
View of Asylum, Looking East to West (Circa 1901)
Dr. Thomas Palmer Satterwhite, President of the Asylum’s Board of Commissioners from 1896 until 1903
The Amusement (Oaklawn) Building* (Circa 1903, This, along with the Administration Building, were two of the final structures demolished in the late 1990s)
Lakeland Interurban Station (Circa 1905)
Administration Building (Circa 1905)
Tennis Court at CSH (Circa 1905)
Fountain and Garden, Facing Lakeland Road (Circa 1905)
Central Kentucky Asylum for the Insane (Circa 1906)
Main Dining Room, in Basement of Administration Building (Circa 1906)
Second Floor Male Ward (Circa 1906)
Female Ward (Circa 1906)
Lakeland Road, Facing Towards the Asylum (Circa 1906)
Amusement (Oaklawn) Building (Circa 1906)
Auditorium in Amusement Hall (Circa 1906)
Interior of Industrial and Amusement Building; L-R Includes the Ballroom, Library, and Billiard Room (Circa 1906)
Carriage Steps in Front of the Asylum (Circa 1906)
Administration Building and Front Grounds (Circa 1907-1909, From Annual Report)
Central Kentucky Asylum for the Insane (Circa 1910)
Patients Watching a Baseball Game on Hospital Grounds (Circa 1910)
Laundry Building (Circa 1910)
Sketch of Tuberculosis Ward (March 1912)
Open Air Porches for Women (L) and Men (R) in the Newly Constructed Tuberculosis Shack* (October 1912)
First Graduate Nursing Class, Oaklawn Building (Circa 1913, in no order, Regina Bohon, Edith Green, Bess Sleet, Stella English, Nell Mehorney, Margaret Brown, Minnie O’Daniel, and Tina Padgett)
Male Patients Enjoying the Day, Outside of Wards 26 and 27 (Circa 1913)
Engine Room (Circa 1913)
Pump House (Circa 1913, the foundation of this building can still be found on the grounds)
African American Wards and New Water Tower (Circa 1913)
Administration Building (Circa 1913)
Central Kentucky Asylum for the Insane’s Electric Trolley Car (Circa 1914, photo courtesy of Bob Richardson)
Newly Installed Turbine in the Hospital’s Powerhouse (Circa 1915)
Hogs Feeding on the Farm (Circa 1915)
Hospital Laundry (Circa 1915)
Hogs Feeding on the Farm (Circa 1917)
Hospital Staff (Circa 1918, photo courtesy of Bob Richardson)
Former Servicemen being treated at the Hospital (Circa 1920s)
Anita Hite, granddaughter of James and Eliza Hite, Standing at Entrance to the Cave (Circa 1928)
Anita Hite, granddaughter of James and Eliza Hite on the steps of the Hite house. (Circa 1928) Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Howard.
Hospital Kitchen (Circa 1933, photo from the University of Louisville Archives)
Hospital Cafeteria (Circa 1933, photo from the University of Louisville Archives)
Superintendent W. R. Summers Pointing to Leak in Pipe for the Main Water Tank During an Inspection.* (March 1936)
Male Patients Congregating in Ward* (April 1937)
Patients Playing Softball on Hospital Grounds* (May 1939)
Patients Awaiting a Performance in the Oaklawn Building* (May 1939)
Administration Building* (February 1940)
Dr. Louis M. Foltz Using a Newly Donated Medical Lamp While Examining a Patient.* (February 1940)
All-Girl Band from Loretto High School Practicing Before Performing for the Patients. (March 1940, photo from the University of Louisville Archives)
Loretto High School Band Performing in the Oaklawn Amusement Building (March 1940, photo from the University of Louisville Archives)
Photos Showing the State of Disrepair Overcrowding* (March 1940)
Patients Square Dancing* (March 1940)
Patients Eating in the Dilapidated Male Dining Room* (April 1940)
Patients Enjoying an Outdoor Talent Show on Hospital Grounds* (September 1941)
Superintendent Isham Kimbell with Mrs. A. T. McCormack and a Cow* (October 1941)
Kentucky Governor Keen Johnson and Others on an Inspection Tour at the Hospital* (October 1941)
Superintendent’s Mansion (Circa 1942, photo courtesy of Bob Richardson)
Before and After Photos of Wards 21-25 in the Kasey Building after Renovation* (March 1942)
Before and After Photos of the Renovated Interior Kasey Building* (March 1942)
Before and After Photos of the Shower Area in Pusey Building During Renovation (1942)
Before and After Photos of a Hallway in the Pusey Building During Renovation (1942)
Artist Conception of What Would become the Merritt Building (1942)
Patient Beds in the Amusement Hall, Due to the Lack of Roof Over Their Wards; A Lack of Government Funds Resulted in Construction and Renovations Being Stopped.* (December 1943)
Due to a Lack of Government Funds, This Roof Sits Unfinished* (December 1943)
Patients Walking Towards Dining Hall Amongst Unfinished Construction* (December 1943)
Ward Nurse Fixing a Female Patient’s Hair in Dismal Surroundings* (December 1943)
Nurse’s Dormitory (Circa 1943)
Kentucky Governor Simeon Willis With Dr. A. M. Lyon, Director of the State’s Mental Institutions and Joshua B. Everett, Chairman of the Board of Welfare at the Dedication of the Reconstructed Administration Building.* (October 1944)
Western Side of the Occupational Therapy Building, Previously Used as the African American Segregated Wards. (Circa 1947)
Western Male Ward (Circa 1947)
Eastern Female Ward (Circa 1947)
Patients Waiting to be Seen at New Cancer Clinic at the Hospital* (August 1948)
Mrs. R. L. Smith, Head of the Sewing Room, Examines a Dress Made by a Patient. Patients in Occupational Therapy would make most of the clothing worn by the general patient population, along with the sheets and pillowcases used at the hospital.* (September 1948)
The New $350,000 Kitchen at the Hospital (July 1949)
70,000 Gallons of Food Preserved for Winter in the Hospital’s Cannery* (October 1949)
Drawing by T. D. Luckett of the Proposed New Female Wing* (January 1950)
A patient undergoing a dismissal review on Wednesday or “Staff Day” at the hospital. On the left, Dr. J. A. Little, psychiatric consultant, and to the right is Dr. Frank Peddicord, assistant superintendent.* (April 1950)
A Candid Picture of the Administration Building’s Front Porch (May 1950)
Ward Attendant Supervising a Group of Elderly Male Patients.* (June 1950)
Female Patients Cramped into Hallways, a Daily Scene Due to the Overcrowded Conditions at the Hospital.* (July 1950)
Occupational Therapy Building (Circa 1950)
Members of the Shawnee Post, American Legion Present a New Television Set as a Gift to the Patients.* (August 1950)
Superintendent Dr. A. M. Lyon Supervising the Installation of Two New Cafeteria Units.* (December 1950)
A Christmas Caravan Arrives at the Hospital* (December 1950)
Thelma Osbourn, a Volunteer from the Red Cross Joins a Patient in a Game of Shuffleboard in the Male Treatment Ward.* (July 1951)
Operating Room (Circa 1951)
Group of Patients Enjoying the Grounds* (May 1952)
Photo Showing the Overcrowded Conditions* (May 1952)
The Newly Constructed Eastern Female Wing, Built to House 292 Patients* (November 1952)
Beauty Shop in the New Female Wing* (November 1952)
Side Entrance to the Newly Built East Lyon Wing (Circa 1952)
A Christmas Caravan Arriving at the Hospital to Donate Presents to the Patients.* (December 15, 1952)
Administration Building and New Lyon Wing (Circa 1953)
Members of the Grand Jury on their inspection of the conditions in the Merritt Building kitchen. The findings of this inspection would result in the indictments against Superintendent Dr. A. M. Lyon and the hospital’s business manger G. W. Kincaid.* (April 21, 1953)
Members of the Grand Jury Inspecting the Plumbing in the Merritt Building.* (April 21, 1953)
Grand jury members being shown beds set up in the Merritt Building hydrotherapy room to relieve overcrowding.* (April 21, 1953)
Dr. Wyman and his family on the front porch of the superintendent’s residence shortly after his appointment as Superintendent.* (June 1953)
Hospital Laundry on Fire* (December 1, 1953)
Aerial View of the Grounds (1955)
Dr. T. A. Schramm (L) Leading a Staff Conference.* (February 9, 1956)
The Lakeland Railroad station shortly before being demolished; built in 1892, this station served as the major arrival point for those visiting the asylum for many years.* (March 1956)
Mrs. Wendell Alcorn, Administrative Director of the children’s unit helping a young patient with his letters.* (April 1956)
Director of children’s services, Dr. Ethel O’Brien talking with two young patients from the children’s unit.* (April 1956)
Installation of Central State Hospital’s first Boy Scout troop, the Frank M. Gaines Post.* (April 27, 1957)
Scoutmaster Russell Shrinkle, a psychiatric aide in the children’s unit, presents two scouts with Tenderfoot pins. (April 27, 1957)
Pictures of the new miniature golf course adjacent to Lakeland Road.* (July 1957)
Photos of the renovated Tuberculosis unit.* (August 1957)
Clinical Director Dr. C. W. Morris receiving presents from Santa and Mrs. Claus.* (January 1958)
Overcrowded conditions for elderly women in Ward M, located in the basement of the Auditorium.* (April 1958)
Mrs. Lovelle Warren, a hospital physical therapist, showing a member of the grand Jury an example of the overcrowded conditions.* (April 11, 1958)
Dr. Fox chatting with two staff members manning the dart game during the annual Hospital picnic. (Take note of the staff caricatures as targets.) (August 14, 1958)
A tractor from Central is being used to cultivate the remains of the farmland for the hospital. Much of the farm land had previously been sold in 1958.* (March 1959)
Workers setting up for lunch in the $100,000 newly refurbished dining hall at Central State.* (April 23, 1959)
Mrs. W. W. Marple, chairwoman of the Crescent Hill Woman’s Club at Central State Hospital with former chairwoman Mrs. W. R. Falkenburg.* (June 28, 1959)
Patients enjoying a county fair on the hospital grounds.* (August 1959)
A trio of student volunteers taking patients out for a picnic by Willow Lake.* (August 9, 1959)
Nurse Augusta Raymond and student volunteer Marlene Bryant cleaning up after a rain leak.* (August 9, 1959)
Two student volunteers, Angeline Waites and Marlene Bryant, playing table tennis with two female patients.* (August 9, 1959)
Two members of the Louisville Junior Chamber of Commerce, Merritt Marcus and Paul Bollinger, finishing a paint job in a bathroom in the children’s unit.* (August 30, 1959)
Members of the Saint Matthews Junior Chamber of Commerce doing some volunteer painting on Ward O.* (November 1959)
College student volunteers prepare for an open house at the hospital in the new Rehabilitation Unit under the supervision of resident doctor John Wernert (fourth from left).* (June 14, 1960)
Christmas Entertainment at the Hospital* (December 1960)
One of the many overcrowded wards at the hospital.* (November 1961)
Drawing of the Proposed New Campus Buildings* (April 1962)
Drawing of Proposed New Dining Hall* (April 1962)
Donna Jackson, a Central State Hospital nurse, demonstrates the dispensing of tranquilizers for patients.* (April 22, 1962)
Boys from Southfields unloading a tree to be planted under the supervision of hospital consultant and landscape artist Edmund E. Ely.* (April 29, 1962)
The new campus buildings undergoing construction.* (June 1963)
Ernestine Patterson, Kenneth Hannawalt, and Mrs. Jane Phillips on a “Friendship” project at Central State Hospital.* (August 15, 1963)
New Gymnasium Under Construction* (November 14, 1963)
Clinical Director, Dr. Imogene Gobble, talking with Eugene Goodbub, Hospital Engineer and Robert P. Funk, Hospital Administrator in the new Administration building’s first floor lounge.* (November 15, 1963)
New Two-Story Dormitories* (November 15, 1963)
Main entrance to the new Administration Building on the new campus.* (March 1964)
Members of Central State Hospital’s “Gateway” at a group therapy session.* (April 1964)
Kentucky Governor Edward T. Breathitt is given a laboratory demonstration by Dr. Jan Balling during a tour of the new buildings.* (May 1964)
Psychologist, Thomas Colley, during a therapy session with a child patient.* (August 2, 1964)
Cornelius Sandifort, the hospital’s art therapist, explaining some of the art work done by patients to a group of volunteer workers.* (October 1964)
Superintendent Hayes supervising as the first patients are moved into the new main building.* (July 29, 1965)
Hospital Psychiatrist Wilber Mitchell administering Electro-shock therapy to a patient.* (1965)
A dilapidated section of the Kasey Building.* (April 1965)
Patients and hospital staff eating lunch in the new dining hall.* (October 1965)
A patient using a loom in the Occupation Therapy Building.* (October 1965)
Patients exercising in the new gym.* (October 1965)
Patients and Aides piecing quilts in a basement workshop.* (October 1965)
Patients working in the Hospital laundry.* (March 1967)
A patient in their room in the Pusey Building.* (March 1967)
A photo of a ward in the Pusey Building showing that, even with the additional new buildings at Central State Hospital, the overcrowded conditions continued to be a problem.* (March 4, 1967)
A child patient showing the damage and missing ceiling tiles from a leaky roof in a dormitory in the Jefferson Building.* (March 5, 1967)
A female patient suddenly attacking Mrs. Lamona Oldson, a psychiatric aide in the acute ward.* (July 30, 1967)
Mr. R.C. Abbott, a Central State Hospital patient, cuts the ribbon at the formal dedication for the new hospital buildings along with Dr. Dale H. Farabee, the state commissioner of mental health.* (November 1967)
The Christmas Nativity scene at Central State Hospital being inspected by patients and student nurse Ms. Joann Hunley.* (December 1967)
A Lyndon fireman spraying down furniture after a fire is put out in a basement storeroom in the Bingham Building.* (April 28, 1968)
Mrs. Carolyn Murphy serves lunch to a patient.* (July 28, 1968)
Psychiatric aide James Scott works with a male patient.* (July 28, 1968)
Patients in art therapy.* (February 1972)
Administration Building (Circa 1973)
Removing the Spires* (July 1974)
Local Louisville band, Friction, practicing in the Ackerly Gymnasium. (Circa 1975)
A female patient eats her lunch while an inspection is conducted at (then) River Region Hospital.* (Circa 1975)
Firemen inspecting a hallway of the Merritt Building after putting out a fire.* (January 4, 1976)
Superintendent’s Mansion (Circa late 1970s, photo courtesy of Bob Richardson)
Another view of the Superintendent’s Home (Circa late 1970s, photo courtesy of Bob Richardson)
Advertisement for Nurses* (Circa 1982)
Two employees walking with two patients on the hospital grounds.* (December 1983)
A hospital social worker counseling a patient. (December 1983)
A group of potential investors walking the grounds during an auction of the Administration building.* (April 1993)
Ariel view of the grounds, shortly before demolition began. (1996)
Oaklawn Building prior to demolition. (October 1996, image from the U of L Cardinal Newspaper)
Former CSH maintenance worker, Ron Radford, digging through one of the old hospital dump sites.* (January 1997)
New Central State Hospital Campus* (January 1999)
Small plaque that once hung on the Cemetery fence post. (Circa 2010)
CSH Memorial plaque that was at one time located in the Gazebo. It has since disappeared. (2005)
Important note: If you would like to use any information on this website (including text, bios, photos and any other information) we encourage you to contact us. We do not own all of the materials on this website/blog. Many of these materials are courtesy of other sources and the original copyright holders retain all applicable rights under the law. Please remember that information contained on this site, authored/owned by KHI, is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Photographs, text, illustrations and all other media not authored by KHI belong to their respective authors/owners/copyright holders and are used here for educational purposes only under Title 17 U.S. Code § 107.
Kentucky Historic Institutions 