Tessa Quinn
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer-songwriter who wrote This Land Is Your Land and thousands of other songs, spent his final years at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, New York, until his death in 1967. Prior to this, Guthrie was a patient at Greystone Hospital, also known as Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, in Morris Plains, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1961. Guthrie's initial diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia, but it was later discovered that he had Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was inherited from his mother. Despite his illness, Guthrie continued to inspire a new generation of musicians, including Bob Dylan, who visited him at Greystone and maintained a musical connection with his idol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Hospital | Greystone Hospital, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Greystone Park State Hospital |
| Location | Morris Plains, Morris County, New Jersey |
| Patient | Woody Guthrie |
| Diagnosis | Huntington's Disease, Paranoid Schizophrenia |
| Year of Admission | 1956 |
| Year of Discharge | 1961 |
| Duration of Stay | 5 years |
| Age at Admission | 43 |
| Visiting Hours | Family and friends, including Bob Dylan, visited regularly |
| Subsequent Hospitals | Brooklyn State Hospital, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center |
| Death | October 3, 1967, at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center |
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What You'll Learn
- Woody Guthrie was initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia
- He was admitted to Greystone Hospital after being found wandering along a highway
- Guthrie was suffering from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder
- He was a patient at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital from 1956 to 1961
- Bob Dylan visited his idol, Woody Guthrie, at Greystone Hospital
Woody Guthrie was initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer who wrote "This Land Is Your Land" and thousands of other folk songs, was initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. This mistake was made due to the lack of understanding of his actual condition, Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was not well understood by the public at the time.
Guthrie was hospitalized at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1961. He was admitted after being picked up for "vagrancy" in New Jersey in 1954 and displaying symptoms of mental illness, including murmuring to himself and wandering along the highway. Once at Greystone, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and his health continued to deteriorate during his time there.
During his time at Greystone, Guthrie was visited by his family, including his ex-wife Marjorie and their children, who made the four-hour round trip every weekend. They would have family picnics and play in the "magicky tree," a weeping birch tree that created a magical, secret fort. Marjorie also brought yes" and "no" cards for Guthrie to touch, as he had become verbally noncommunicative, proving that his mind was still intact even as he lost control of his body.
Guthrie was also visited by a new generation of musicians who took an interest in folk music, including Bob Dylan, who idolized him, as well as Joan Baez, The Greenbriar Boys, and Phil Ochs. These young musicians brought their guitars and songs to play for Guthrie, perhaps as a way of thanking him for his influence.
Despite the mistaken diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, Guthrie remained at Greystone for five years, after which he was transferred to Brooklyn State Hospital, and later to Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, where he died on October 3, 1967, at the age of 55.
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He was admitted to Greystone Hospital after being found wandering along a highway
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer who wrote "This Land Is Your Land" and over 3,000 other songs, was admitted to Greystone Hospital in 1956 after being found wandering along a highway in New Jersey. Initially, police assumed he was a vagrant, and his murmurings about being famous were hallucinations. However, when they called the phone number he gave them, they discovered he was, in fact, a legend.
Guthrie had been suffering from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time. The condition caused him to become increasingly unable to control his muscles, and he had already been hospitalized several times prior to his admittance to Greystone. He had also been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and his behaviour had become more unpredictable during his final series of road trips.
Guthrie was hospitalized at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1961. During this time, he was visited by his family, including his ex-wife Marjorie and their children, who made the four-hour round trip every weekend. Friends also visited, including a young Bob Dylan, who idolized Guthrie and maintained their connection until the end of Guthrie's life.
Guthrie's time at Greystone was marked by a decline in his health and demeanor. Eventually, he lost the ability to speak and could only communicate through "yes" and "no" cards provided by Marjorie. After leaving Greystone in 1961, Guthrie was transferred to other hospitals, including Brooklyn State Hospital and Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, where he died on October 3, 1967.
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Guthrie was suffering from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder
Woody Guthrie, the legendary folk singer-songwriter who wrote "This Land Is Your Land" and over 3,000 other folk songs, spent his final years at Greystone Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, from 1956 to 1961. Guthrie suffered from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time.
Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder that was passed down to Guthrie by his mother, Nora Belle, who died of complications from the disease in 1930 while institutionalised at the Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane. Guthrie began exhibiting symptoms of the disease in the 1950s, including muscular degeneration and dementia, which led to his hospitalisation.
Guthrie's initial diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia, and he was admitted to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital after being picked up for vagrancy in New Jersey in 1954. It was here that he finally received the correct diagnosis of Huntington's Chorea, now known as Huntington's Disease or HD. This disease caused a decline in Guthrie's physical and mental health, eventually rendering him verbally non-communicative. Despite this, his family remained dedicated to his care, with his ex-wife, Marjorie, and their children visiting him regularly and ensuring he remained a part of their lives.
During his time at Greystone Hospital, Guthrie received visits from a new generation of musicians, including Bob Dylan, who idolised him. Dylan's visits inspired a wave of young folksingers, including Joan Baez and Phil Ochs, to visit Guthrie and play their music for him. Despite the support and admiration he received, Guthrie's condition continued to deteriorate, leading to his transfer to Brooklyn State Hospital in 1961, where he remained until 1966.
Guthrie's final years were spent at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, New York, where he passed away on October 3, 1967, at the age of 55. His legacy continues to inspire musicians and activists worldwide, with his songs becoming folk standards that are known and performed globally.
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He was a patient at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital from 1956 to 1961
Woody Guthrie, the folk singer who wrote "This Land Is Your Land" and over 3,000 other songs, was a patient at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital from 1956 to 1961. Guthrie suffered from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time.
In May 1956, police in New Jersey found Guthrie wandering along the highway. Assuming he was a vagrant, they thought his claims of being famous were hallucinations. However, when they called the phone number he gave them, they discovered he was a legend. Soon after, he was hospitalized at Greystone Park State Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
Guthrie's time at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital was marked by a decline in his health and demeanor. He was visited by family, friends, and acolytes, including a 19-year-old Bob Dylan, who idolized him. Despite their support, Guthrie's condition worsened during his five years at the hospital.
Guthrie's stay at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital was the result of his initial diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. However, it was later discovered that he was actually suffering from Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder passed down from his mother, Nora Belle. Huntington's disease caused a decline in Guthrie's physical and verbal communication abilities, and he eventually became unable to speak.
After his time at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Guthrie was transferred to other hospitals, including Brooklyn State Hospital and Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died on October 3, 1967, at the age of 55, from complications of Huntington's disease.
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Bob Dylan visited his idol, Woody Guthrie, at Greystone Hospital
In 1956, Woody Guthrie was hospitalised at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey. Initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, it was later discovered that he had Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder. During his time at Greystone, Guthrie experienced a decline in both his physical health and demeanor. He eventually lost the ability to speak and control his body.
Among those who visited him at the hospital was a 19-year-old Bob Dylan, who idolised Guthrie. The exact nature of their relationship is unclear, but Dylan is said to have known Guthrie "pretty well for a time". He is also known to have visited the Guthrie family home on some weekends, playing songs for Woody and his family.
Dylan's visits to his idol at Greystone Hospital may have been motivated by a desire to protect Guthrie and his loved ones from the intrusion of fame and reporters. Guthrie's time at the hospital has been described as a sad convalescence, and the hospital grounds were abandoned for over forty years after his stay.
Guthrie's time at Greystone and his encounters with Dylan have been the subject of exhibitions and books, including "Woody Guthrie's Wardy Forty" by photographer Phillip Buehler, which features photographs, captions, and text illuminating Guthrie's time at the hospital.
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Frequently asked questions
Woody Guthrie was admitted to Greystone Hospital, formally known as Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, because he was suffering from Huntington's disease. Initially, he was misdiagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Huntington's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that was widely misunderstood by the public at the time. It is an incurable degenerative nerve disorder that is passed down from parents to children.
Woody Guthrie was admitted to Greystone Hospital in 1956 and remained there until 1961.
After leaving Greystone Hospital, Woody Guthrie was transferred to Brooklyn State Hospital and lived there until 1966. He then spent the remainder of his life at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens until he died in 1967.
Yes, Woody Guthrie received visits from his family, friends, and acolytes. Notably, the musician Bob Dylan, who idolized Guthrie, visited him regularly at Greystone Hospital.
