An account of the asylum for the insane established by the Society of Friends: Near Frankford, in the vicinity of Philadelphia

A landmark in the history of humanitarian care, An Account of the Asylum for the Insane Established by the Society of Friends by Robert Waln Jr. documents one of the earliest American institutions founded on the principles of compassion, dignity, and moral treatment. Written in the early nineteenth century, this detailed report describes the establishment and daily operation of the Friends’ Asylum near Frankford, Pennsylvania, created by the Quakers to provide a humane alternative to the neglect and cruelty common in asylums of the age.

Waln outlines the asylum’s architecture, methods of care, and moral philosophy, emphasizing the belief that insanity could be alleviated through kindness, routine, and spiritual calm rather than punishment or restraint. His account reflects the enlightened social ideals of the Quaker community, whose commitment to human worth helped pioneer the field of modern psychiatry and institutional reform.

At once historical and deeply moral, this work remains a testament to faith-driven philanthropy and early mental health advocacy, preserving the origins of one of America’s most progressive social experiments.

Complete edition of Robert Waln Jr.’s early 19th-century account of the Friends’ Asylum

Describes one of the first humane institutions for mental health care in the United States

Highlights the Quaker philosophy of moral and spiritual healing

Essential for readers of medical history, social reform, and Quaker studies