Willard Asylum Scrapbooks

Dr. Horace G. Hopkins (1843 - 1918) was a physician and surgeon at Willard Asylum for the Insane. He was born in Williamsville, Erie County, New York. He enlisted at Buffalo as a Private in the Union Army on September 30, 1862 in the 27th NY Light Artillery. He was promoted to Corporal in 1862, and then to 2nd Lt., NY 2nd Artillery. He was honorably discharged in January 1865. Horace Hopkins began medical studies at the University of Buffalo in 1869 and graduated in 1872. In 1874 he joined the staff of Willard Asylum and remained until 1894. Anne Maycock Hopkins (1847-1919) married Dr. Horace G. Hopkins in March 1884. Both were active in the local Presbyterian Church as well as participants in numerous plays and performances produced at the asylum. The two-volume scrapbook was originally owned and compiled by Dr. and Mrs. Horace G. Hopkins, and many of the photographs are believed to have been taken by Horace, or his brother Nelson S. Hopkins. The United States Federal Census of 1870, lists Horace as "photographer.". Following his tenure at Willard Asylum, Dr. Hopkins returned to Buffalo and operated a private practice until his death in 1918. Both Horace and Anne are buried in Ovid Union Cemetery next to their infant daughter who died on October 15, 1886. The collection of two scrapbooks were donated by Dr. Robert E. Doran, Jr. (1899-1983) to the Edith B. Ford Memorial Library. Dr. Robert E. Doran, Sr. was First Assistant Physician at Willard State Hospital, and his son spent a great deal of his childhood at Willard. Dr. Doran, Jr. returned to Willard State Hospital in 1934, as a consulting surgeon.