Logan Reid
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer-songwriter known for songs like This Land Is Your Land, spent his final years in a psychiatric hospital. Guthrie suffered from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time. He was first hospitalised at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1956, and remained there until 1961. He was later transferred to Brooklyn State Hospital, where he lived until 1966, before spending his final year at Creedmoor Psychiatric Centre in Queens, New York, until his death in 1967.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of hospital | Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital |
| Location | Morris Plains, New Jersey |
| Year of admission | 1956 |
| Year of discharge | 1961 |
| Duration of stay | 5 years |
| Diagnosis | Huntington's disease |
| Symptoms | Weight loss, loss of speech, muscular degeneration |
| Treatment | "Yes" and "No" cards to aid communication |
| Family involvement | Visited by ex-wife Marjorie and children every weekend |
| Artistic output during hospitalization | Continued to write and work |
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What You'll Learn
- Woody Guthrie spent five years at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
- He was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a genetic illness
- His mother also had Huntington's and was committed to the Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane
- Guthrie was initially hospitalised after being found wandering along a highway in New Jersey
- He was visited by Bob Dylan, who considered him a musical idol
Woody Guthrie spent five years at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer-songwriter, spent his final years battling Huntington's disease, a genetic condition inherited from his mother. In 1956, after displaying symptoms such as weight loss and an inability to control his muscles, he was hospitalised at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey. This period of his life, lasting five years until 1961, has been described as "lost years" and was marked by a decline in his health and demeanour.
Guthrie's time at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital was not a solitary one; he was visited regularly by his family and friends. His ex-wife, Marjorie, and their children made the four-hour round trip from their home every weekend. To make the visits enjoyable for the children, Marjorie would bring them outside for family picnics under a weeping birch tree they affectionately called the "magicky tree." This tree provided a magical, secret fort for the children to play in while their mother fetched their father from the psychiatric ward.
As Guthrie's condition progressed, he eventually lost the ability to speak. However, Marjorie ensured that his mind remained active by creating “yes” and “no” cards for him to touch, demonstrating that his mind was still sharp despite his body's deterioration. The singer's time at Greystone was also creatively productive; he continued to write, work, and even feed other patients during his stay.
Guthrie's battle with Huntington's disease and his time at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital have been documented in various forms. The book "Wardy Forty: Greystone Park Hospital State Hospital Revisited" by photographer Phillip Buehler offers a poignant insight into Guthrie's life at the hospital through photographs and excerpts of previously undisclosed letters. Additionally, the film "A Complete Unknown" sheds light on Guthrie's hospitalisation, with Bob Dylan playing a pivotal role in both reality and the film, visiting his idol during his time at Greystone.
Woody Guthrie's five-year stay at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital was a challenging period marked by his deteriorating health due to Huntington's disease. However, it was also a time when he found support and comfort in his family and continued to create, leaving a lasting legacy in the face of adversity.
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He was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a genetic illness
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer-songwriter, was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a genetic illness that was passed down to him by his mother, Nora Belle. Huntington's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that causes a loss of muscle control and can lead to dementia and muscular degeneration. At the time of Guthrie's diagnosis in the 1950s, the disease was not well understood by the public.
Guthrie's mother, Nora, was also afflicted with Huntington's disease, although it was not diagnosed during her lifetime. She was committed to the Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane in 1927 due to symptoms of dementia and mobility issues. She passed away in 1930 while still institutionalised.
After his diagnosis, Woody Guthrie voluntarily admitted himself to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1956. He remained there until 1961. During his time at Greystone, Guthrie continued to write, work, and even feed other patients. His family, including his ex-wife Marjorie and their children, visited him regularly, making the four-hour round trip every weekend. To make the visits enjoyable for the children, Marjorie organised family picnics under a weeping birch tree outside the hospital, which they affectionately called the ""magicky tree".
As Guthrie's condition progressed, he lost the ability to speak and communicate verbally. Marjorie created ""yes" and "no" cards for him to touch, demonstrating that his mind remained sharp even as he lost control of his body. Despite his illness, Guthrie continued to have a significant impact on the folk music scene, with Bob Dylan citing him as a musical idol.
Guthrie spent the final years of his life at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village, New York, until his death on October 3, 1967, at the age of 55. His death was due to complications of Huntington's disease, and his remains were cremated and scattered at sea.
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His mother also had Huntington's and was committed to the Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer-songwriter, was institutionalised at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1961. Guthrie suffered from Huntington's disease, a genetic neurological disorder that causes the degeneration of brain cells over time. This disease was passed down to him from his mother, Nora Belle, who also suffered from it. At the time, however, Nora's illness was not recognised as Huntington's, and she was committed to the Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane in 1927 when Guthrie was 14 years old.
Nora Belle's illness presented as dementia and a decline in her mobility, with muscular degeneration. In 1930, she died in the Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane from complications of Huntington's disease. Guthrie himself began to exhibit symptoms of the disease in the 1950s, including slurred speech, emotional outbursts, and erratic behaviour. After receiving a diagnosis in 1952, he voluntarily committed himself to Greystone Hospital, where he remained for five years.
Guthrie's time at Greystone Hospital was marked by a slow decline in his health and demeanour. His family, including his wife Marjorie and their children, visited him regularly, making a four-hour round trip every weekend. To make the visits more enjoyable for the children, Marjorie would bring Guthrie outside to a weeping birch tree, which they named the "magicky tree," creating a fun and magical atmosphere.
Guthrie's stay at Greystone Hospital and his battle with Huntington's disease have been documented in various forms. The book "Wardy Forty: Greystone Park Hospital State Hospital Revisited" by Phillip Buehler includes photographs, letters, and interviews that provide insight into Guthrie's time at the hospital. Additionally, the Woody Guthrie Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, serves as a study centre for researchers, an educational facility, and a concert space for live music performances.
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Guthrie was initially hospitalised after being found wandering along a highway in New Jersey
Woody Guthrie, the country/folk singer-songwriter, was initially hospitalised after being found wandering along a highway in New Jersey. Assuming that he was a vagrant, the police thought his mumblings about being famous were hallucinations. However, when they dialled the phone number he gave them for his manager, they realised he was, in fact, a legend.
Guthrie, who wrote "This Land Is Your Land" and more than 3,000 other folk songs, was suffering from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time. He was soon hospitalised at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1961.
During his time at Greystone, Guthrie was visited by his family, friends, and acolytes, including a 19-year-old Bob Dylan, who considered Guthrie his musical idol. To make the visits more enjoyable for their children, Guthrie's wife, Marjorie, would bring him outside for family picnics under a weeping birch tree they nicknamed the "magicky tree." When Guthrie could no longer speak, Marjorie made "Yes" and "No" cards for him to touch, demonstrating to doctors that his mind remained sharp even as he lost control of his body.
After his time at Greystone, Guthrie was transferred to other hospitals, including Brooklyn State Hospital and Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, where he died in 1967 at the age of 55. Despite his deteriorating health, Guthrie continued to write and work during his hospital stays, and his ex-wife, Marjorie, remained dedicated to supervising his complex health needs until the end.
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He was visited by Bob Dylan, who considered him a musical idol
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer-songwriter, was admitted to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1956. He suffered from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time. Although his family visited him every weekend, a cone of silence descended on the five years he spent at Greystone and his subsequent stays at other hospitals.
One of his visitors at Greystone was a 19-year-old Bob Dylan, who considered him a musical idol. In a Time interview from 1963, Dylan stated that he was "at the high point of [his] life from seein' Woody" and called him a genius. Dylan's biopic, 'A Complete Unknown', also shows the singer visiting Guthrie in the hospital.
Guthrie's time at Greystone is documented in a book titled "Woody Guthrie's Wardy Forty," by photographer and curator Phillip Buehler. It includes photographs of the abandoned wards, letters from Guthrie to his family, quotes from friends and relatives, and unpublished photographs from the Woody Guthrie Archives. The book also features a photo of Dylan's handwritten lyrics for "Song to Woody," found by Buehler during his research.
Guthrie was first hospitalised in 1952, when he was admitted to Brooklyn State Hospital. He was advised to divorce his wife, Marjorie, due to his raging paranoia and occasional violent acts against family members. They divorced in 1953, but she remained close to him and supervised his health needs until his death.
After his time at Greystone, Guthrie was transferred back to Brooklyn State Hospital, where he stayed until 1966. He spent the final years of his life at Creedmoor Psychiatric Centre in Queens, where he died in 1967.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Woody Guthrie was admitted to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1956. He lived there until 1961.
Guthrie was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time.
Yes, after Greystone, he was admitted to Brooklyn State Hospital (now Kingsboro Psychiatric Center) in East Flatbush, where he stayed until 1966. He then spent the final year of his life at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village, New York, until his death in 1967.
Yes, his family, including his ex-wife Marjorie and their children, visited him regularly at Greystone. Other visitors included friends, fans, and the musician Bob Dylan, who was a devoted fan of Guthrie.
