Dorothea Dix is known for her pioneering work in the field of mental health. Horrified at the abusive conditions in which the mentally ill were kept, Dix campaigned to have hospitals built to treat the mentally ill.

Born on April 4, 1802, Dix was the only daughter of Joseph Dix and Mary Bigelow Dix. The Dix family, which included Dorothea's two younger brothers, was very poor, and Dorothea was often sent to Boston to live with her grandparents. At age 14, Dix took a job as a teacher in Worcester, Massachusetts. At age 19, Dix founded a school for young ladies in Boston. Unfortunately, Dix suffered from tuberculosis, and by 1927, her health become perilous. She was forced to stop teaching, and spent a good deal of time during her recuperation writing. She had a number of works published, including a science textbook called Conversations on Common Things (1824); Ten Short Stories for Children...