In the 1970s, the lives of women in Oregon’s only all-female mental hospital were captured by Mary Ellen Mark, an award-winning journalist, for weeks.
The images she took in 1976 offer a unique glimpse of the harsh reality of psychiatric life for women in the decade.
The images show the lives of women locked in the maximum-security ward at Oregon State Hospital, called Ward 81, a year before it closed to make way for a more modern facility.
The images captured by Mark serve as a time capsule, depicting the emotional reality of the women’s incarceration.
Mark’s images are all the more poignant, given that the asylum was the location for the seminal 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson.
This film was made just a year before Mark spent 36 days in the hospital, living among the women of the all-female facility.
Mark, who died in 2015 at age 81, is remembered for her ability to capture the fringes of society through her camera lens.
Mary Ellen Mark’s Photos of Ward 81
Mary Ellen Mark’s photos of Ward 81 have been featured in her inaugural project, Ward 81, and have since been expanded in a new release called Ward 81: Voices, published by Steidl. The book features dozens of photographs and interviews with patients not seen in the original.
The images are a stark reminder of the harsh realities of psychiatric life for women in the 1970s, highlighting the intense emotional pain and distress experienced by the patients.
In the images, we see the women, many of whom were deemed ‘dangerous’ by hospital staff, going about their daily lives, both in group and individual settings.
The photographs capture the reality of the women’s incarceration, with scenes showing patients walking around in hospital gowns and bare feet, while others stand alone, staring blankly at the wall.
In one photograph, we see two women holding hands, a poignant reminder of the need for connection and companionship in the face of institutionalization.
The legacy of Mary Ellen Mark’s Work
Mary Ellen Mark’s work continues to inspire and impact generations of photographers, as well as highlighting the realities of marginalized groups in society.
Her ability to capture the humanity and emotions of her subjects is evident in the Ward 81 photographs, which provide an intimate and honest portrayal of the women’s experiences in the all-female mental institution.
Through these images, Mark invites us to see the world through the eyes of the patients, and to consider the ongoing challenges faced by those who are institutionalized, as well as the need for compassionate and humane care for individuals experiencing mental illness.