| History | Conolly Norman was born 12 March 1853 in Newtown Cunningham, Co. Donegal. He studied medicine in Dublin graduating as a Licentiate of RCPI & RCSI in 1874. From the beginning he specialised in psychiatry, working at the Bethlam Royal Hospital, Monaghan and Castlebar district asylums. In 1886 he was appointed resident medical superintendent to the Richmond district asylum, Dublin, Ireland's largest asylum. During his tenure at the Richmond Norman aimed to transform it from a gloomy prison to a hospital with a humane regime. Discipline was relaxed, occupational activities were increased, patients were allowed individual clothes, diets were improved and wards were refurbished and decorated with pictures and flowers. The grounds of the hospital were opened to the patients on a daily basis, and sports, picnics, and entertainments were organised to relieve the monotony. Norman also worked hard to counter the problems of overcrowding and insanitary conditions in the hospital, he advocated for the care of certain patients in the community and for the specialised care of alcoholics and for the mentally handicapped.
Norman was a respected psychiatric clinician, he lectured and published widely. He was editor of the Journal of Mental Science, President of the Medico-Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland, Vice President of RCPI and represented the Irish medical profession at international meetings. Norman died at his home in February 1908, and was buried in Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin. |
| Custodial History | The typescripts were found with an undated letter, signed [H] Kenny, recording that the notes were found by him when clearing out the house of the 'late Mrs Conolly Norman' and that he is sending them to the recipient of the letter (possibly T P C Kirkpatrick) as 'they might be of interest to students of mental diseases'. |