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Malformed: Forgotten Brains of the Texas State Mental Hospital
Hidden away out of sight in a forgotten storage closet deep within the bowels of the University of Texas State Mental Hospital languished a forgotten, but unique and exceptional, collection of 100 extremely rare, malformed, or damaged human brains preserved in jars of formaldehyde.
Decades later, in 2011, photographer Adam Voorhes discovered the brains and became obsessed with documenting them in close-up, high-resolution, large format photographs, revealing their oddities, textures, and otherworldly essence. Voorhes donned a respirator and chemical gloves, and began the painstaking process of photographing the collection. Desperate to know more about the provenance of the brains, Voorhes, together with journalist Alex Hannaford, traveled down the rabbit hole of the collection's history.
Sifting through a century's worth of university documents, the truth-seekers discovered that rival universities had bitterly fought over the collection. But after winning the "Battle for the Brains" (against Harvard University among others) the University of Texas at Austin secured the collection. Now, however, the collection has been reduced to half its original size and is in a state of neglect. Voorhes and Hannaford's hunt for the medical records became a hunt for the missing brains, but with no scientific or medical documents to pair with the body of photographs, Alex began following the trail to the researchers who had worked with them and the caretakers in whose trust they were placed. The result of the duo's efforts has been a revived interest in the collection with various science journals publishing writings and research about the brains. And the university is now creating MRI scans of the specimens and intends to showcase them at its new medical school. Alas, for now, the hunt for the missing brains seems to be far from over.
Decades later, in 2011, photographer Adam Voorhes discovered the brains and became obsessed with documenting them in close-up, high-resolution, large format photographs, revealing their oddities, textures, and otherworldly essence. Voorhes donned a respirator and chemical gloves, and began the painstaking process of photographing the collection. Desperate to know more about the provenance of the brains, Voorhes, together with journalist Alex Hannaford, traveled down the rabbit hole of the collection's history.
Sifting through a century's worth of university documents, the truth-seekers discovered that rival universities had bitterly fought over the collection. But after winning the "Battle for the Brains" (against Harvard University among others) the University of Texas at Austin secured the collection. Now, however, the collection has been reduced to half its original size and is in a state of neglect. Voorhes and Hannaford's hunt for the medical records became a hunt for the missing brains, but with no scientific or medical documents to pair with the body of photographs, Alex began following the trail to the researchers who had worked with them and the caretakers in whose trust they were placed. The result of the duo's efforts has been a revived interest in the collection with various science journals publishing writings and research about the brains. And the university is now creating MRI scans of the specimens and intends to showcase them at its new medical school. Alas, for now, the hunt for the missing brains seems to be far from over.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 16, 2015
If the zombie Apocalypse was happening now, this would be the best seller of all time. Hey do zombies read, or just look at pictures? Would this book be then a cookbook, or soft core porn for them?!?!? Do they like their brains pickled?
Seriously now, you know I adore my strange medical books. This one I was hesitating to get. A book of old, formaldehyde pickled brains, of poor souls long departed, and the part that made them individuals left behind and forgotten. Hey, I just finished a 12 hour shift in the ER, so my sentences run on. I am not a grammar Queen , like you top reviewers are. I have a theory, that these people were excited, whenever term papers were assigned! I mean really writing like they do, just for fun!!!!!!!?!
Back to the book. So it sold out. I was bummed. I missed out another macabre book earlier this year. I ordered the it, and finally appeared in my hands, and heart this evening. The pictures are with respect, and delicate plays of light. Yes, the book makes you eager for more details-the lives that these visages experienced. These records lost to the ravages of time. I hope these specimens are respected, and cared for generations to come. A reminder of how we treated others-treated the crazy in us. The insane. The psycho. The nut job. The wrongly diagnosed.
The book is well made and has its own dignity and beauty. So much more, than I expected from a tome covering this topic. Not a book to be passed around at a Halloween party, but a book to discuss over coffee, and think of the memories these brains held.
For those that want to know more about lives lived in such places. There the book about the discovered suit cases. It was heart breaking to read, about all the records left behind due to decay and neglect. All we are is dust in the wind, or pickles in a jar I guess.
Seriously now, you know I adore my strange medical books. This one I was hesitating to get. A book of old, formaldehyde pickled brains, of poor souls long departed, and the part that made them individuals left behind and forgotten. Hey, I just finished a 12 hour shift in the ER, so my sentences run on. I am not a grammar Queen , like you top reviewers are. I have a theory, that these people were excited, whenever term papers were assigned! I mean really writing like they do, just for fun!!!!!!!?!
Back to the book. So it sold out. I was bummed. I missed out another macabre book earlier this year. I ordered the it, and finally appeared in my hands, and heart this evening. The pictures are with respect, and delicate plays of light. Yes, the book makes you eager for more details-the lives that these visages experienced. These records lost to the ravages of time. I hope these specimens are respected, and cared for generations to come. A reminder of how we treated others-treated the crazy in us. The insane. The psycho. The nut job. The wrongly diagnosed.
The book is well made and has its own dignity and beauty. So much more, than I expected from a tome covering this topic. Not a book to be passed around at a Halloween party, but a book to discuss over coffee, and think of the memories these brains held.
For those that want to know more about lives lived in such places. There the book about the discovered suit cases. It was heart breaking to read, about all the records left behind due to decay and neglect. All we are is dust in the wind, or pickles in a jar I guess.
February 15, 2016
Inside your head, right this very minute, sits your brain. It probably weighs about three pounds. It's probably covered in folds and wrinkles. It's probably got two clearly defined hemispheres, one on the left and one on the right.
Probably. But not necessarily.
Part textbook, part sideshow, part anatomy class, part cabinet of curiosities, "Malformed" unveils the collection of abnormal brains housed for decades at The University of Texas at Austin with a series of stunning photographs and a captivating write-up about the specimens, the collection's history, what we've learned and, more often, what we've neglected to record about each. It wasn't what I had expected, being more than two-thirds pictures. But it's tasteful, respectful, provocative, and fascinating.
In these modern times, as medical science progresses by leaps and bounds, more and more people equate the brain with the self. "Malformed" raises some intriguing questions about how we've come to know what we know. It represents a mile-marker of how far we've come in understanding the brain, and also a springboard for asking what's next.
This book doesn't tackle the nuts and bolts of neurology, and leaves detailed explanations of how the brain functions to other works. Nor does it delve into the complexities of psychiatry or give a full exploration of the history of American mental health treatment. But through the story of one institution's founding and progression from the late 1800s to the present day, it does serve as a tantalizing introduction to those subjects, and whets the reader's appetite to learn more.
4 stars out of 5.
Probably. But not necessarily.
Part textbook, part sideshow, part anatomy class, part cabinet of curiosities, "Malformed" unveils the collection of abnormal brains housed for decades at The University of Texas at Austin with a series of stunning photographs and a captivating write-up about the specimens, the collection's history, what we've learned and, more often, what we've neglected to record about each. It wasn't what I had expected, being more than two-thirds pictures. But it's tasteful, respectful, provocative, and fascinating.
In these modern times, as medical science progresses by leaps and bounds, more and more people equate the brain with the self. "Malformed" raises some intriguing questions about how we've come to know what we know. It represents a mile-marker of how far we've come in understanding the brain, and also a springboard for asking what's next.
This book doesn't tackle the nuts and bolts of neurology, and leaves detailed explanations of how the brain functions to other works. Nor does it delve into the complexities of psychiatry or give a full exploration of the history of American mental health treatment. But through the story of one institution's founding and progression from the late 1800s to the present day, it does serve as a tantalizing introduction to those subjects, and whets the reader's appetite to learn more.
4 stars out of 5.
April 25, 2018
Beautifully photographed, slightly unsettling and thought provoking. The text about the history of the collection is an unexpected bonus. One of the coolest books I have ever seen. Gives one a lot to think about. Extremely well done and highly recommended! Brains are fascinating.
A lovely memorial to the unnamed patients.
A lovely memorial to the unnamed patients.
January 20, 2015
Possibly the best coffee table book ever printed. The photography was excellent, and the essays were well done. I would have liked more information on the conditions represented, but the direction the authors took with their investigation was intriguing. I hope to see more from the continuing investigation.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews