Hartford Retreat

The Hartford Retreat (now known as the Institute for Living) in Connecticut was founded in 1822 through a petition made by the Connecticut State Medical Society to the State General Assembly. In 1823, funding was secured through a campaign, and the medical society agreed to build the hospital in the city.

The small, semi-public institution focused on using a moral treatment approach, and by 1824, the hospital housed forty patients. In 1843, Dr. John S. Butler became superintendent, and throughout his tenure, he emphasized the importance of treating patients in a humane way.