New Mexico State University history professor, Jamie Bronstein, has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend to conduct research on New Mexico's "Territorial Insane Asylum." Bronstein's project, titled "The 'Insanity' of Colonialism: Mental Health in New Mexico, 1889-1930," aims to shed light on this lesser-known aspect of New Mexico history.
In discussing her interest in the project, Bronstein stated, “The ‘Territorial Insane Asylum,’ as it was first called, has been an interest of mine since around 2019-2020, when I discovered that nobody had written anything about the asylum even though some of the records survive.” She highlighted the various sources she is utilizing for her research, including databases, territorial archives, and records from the National Archives and Records Center in Denver.
Elizabeth Horodowich, the head of the NMSU history department, praised Bronstein's achievement, emphasizing the competitive nature of NEH grants. Horodowich noted that Bronstein's success in securing the stipend was also due to the support she received from the NMSU Arts and Humanities Seed Grant program, enabling her to conduct preliminary research.
The NEH Summer Stipend program, which supports full-time humanities projects for two consecutive months, is highly competitive, with a funding rate of 10%. Bronstein's project is set to contribute valuable insights into the history of mental health in New Mexico during the covered period.
Bronstein will be sharing insights on applying for the NEH Summer Stipend program at an information session for faculty at NMSU. Additionally, she plans to continue her research during her sabbatical in fall 2024, aiming to have a book proposal and sample chapters ready for publication queries by the end of the year.
Overall, Bronstein's research project represents a significant contribution to the understanding of mental health history in New Mexico, showcasing the importance of scholarly endeavors supported by programs like the NEH Summer Stipend.