The past 25 years have seen a transition from the asylum idea toward that of the hospital … not only the care, the clothing and feeding, of the patient, but also for his treatment, for a scientific attempt to restore him to a life of usefulness.
Dr. Kline was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; his early education occurred in the public schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1901, which awarded him an honorary M.A. in 1931. He began his psychiatric career as an assistant physician at the Worcester (Mass.) State Hospital under Dr. Adolph Meyer for a year and then moved to the Iowa State Hospital for four years. He spent the next six years as an assistant physician at the State Psychopathic Hospital of the University of Michigan under Dr. Albert Barrett. In 1912, he was appointed Superintendent of the Danvers (MA) State Hospital and, in 1916, named Director of the Massachusetts Commission on Mental Diseases, a position he held until his death.
Dr. Kline held a reputation as a foremost administrator in psychiatry. He was among the first to organize state supported outpatient clinics for adults and children and establish services for mentally retarded children. He sought to integrate the Massachusetts State Hospitals with the general health facilities in communities. He advocated successfully for the psychiatric examination of prisoners and supported research in state hospitals. He served as a consultant on psychiatric needs for a number of state governments.
Dr. Kline was president of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society and president of the New England Psychiatric Society. He was President of the American Psychiatric Association (1926–27).