University of Michigan. Department of Psychiatry

The early history of the Department of Psychiatry corresponds to the career and numerous titular changes of William James Herdman. Herdman had been a faculty member at the university since 1875, and developed an interest in the new field of psychiatry. In 1888, his title became Professor of Practical Anatomy and Diseases of the Nervous System, and Demonstrator of Anatomy. When the Medical Department initiated the four-year program in 1890, Herdman was assigned to the new chair of nervous diseases and electrotherapeutics. In 1898, his title changed again to Professor of Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System and Electrotherapeutics.

The Regents, in 1893, asked him to explain to them the nature of his work, and by 1901, Herdman had convinced them of the necessity for a psychopathic hospital to be administratively connected to the University Hospital. $50,000 was appropriated for its construction.

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