My Miller and Mather ancestors, their friends, neighbours and associates.
Abt 1852 - 1910 (~ 58 years)| 1. | Florence Workman was born about 1852 (daughter of Dr. Joseph Workman and Elizabeth Wasnidge); died on 4 Jan 1910. Other Events and Attributes:
|
| 2. | Dr. Joseph Workman was born about May 1805 in Ireland; died on 13 Apr 1894 in Toronto (York), Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Toronto Necropolis Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Other Events and Attributes:
Notes: Superintendent of the toronto insane asylum from 1854 - 1875 responsible for cleaning up the "hell hole" Dr. Joseph Workman (May 26, 1805-April 15, 1894), known as the "Father of Canadian Psychiatry," was in 1845 the principal founder of the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto. He largely wrote the church's constitution which affirms "the free exercise of private judgment in all matters of belief" and provides that "females" were to "exercise the same privileges as. . . males. Workman taught high school while he studied medicine at McGill University. After his graduation in 1835 he was for ten years a hardware merchant in Toronto. From 1846-53 he practiced family medicine and taught at Dr. Rolph's School of Medicine in Toronto. During this period he served as City Alderman, helped to establish a Hospital for poor immigrants, guided a Royal Commission which established the University College, Canada's first secular college, and served as the first Chair of the Board of Education. Workman fought for free, non-sectarian, yet Christian education, which in his view should not include any imposed ritual, such as daily recitations of the Lord's Prayer. He wrote, "The first step in any educational process is to inculcate in the mind of youth the great principles of honesty, truth, benevolence, loyalty to just authority and withstanding of tyranny and oppression of any sort. Next is to be placed the acquirement of that knowledge necessary to our immediate comforts and interests; and after that, accomplishments and refinements." He said that the exclusion of women "from the study of the more profound branches of literature and science" savored of "barbarism," though women should, of course, not neglect the study of "plum pudding," "the darning needle [and] the smoothing iron." A social reformer, Workman advocated publicly financed aid for the poor, extension of the franchise, and women's rights. In his many articles he showed concern for poverty, poor health care, alcoholism, and especially fetal alcohol syndrome and infant mortality. Working as a forensic expert, he denounced capital punishment. Workman served by appointment as Superintendent of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum (1853-75). He advocated kindness to the mentally ill and sought in them "that spark of humanity which dwells in each of us." Workman fought to end asylum staffing systems based on political patronage, promoted healthier living conditions for asylum inmates, and initiated an internship program for future psychiatrists. His establishment of the framework of asylum management in Canada brought many international speaking engagements and honours. Joseph married Elizabeth Wasnidge about 1835. Elizabeth was born about 1813 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England; died on 16 May 1885 in Toronto (York), Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Toronto Necropolis Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart] |
| 3. | Elizabeth Wasnidge was born about 1813 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England; died on 16 May 1885 in Toronto (York), Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Toronto Necropolis Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Other Events and Attributes:
Notes: FindaGrave Memorial ID:
|
We make every effort to document our research. If you have something you would like to add, please contact us.
