Angels in the Architecture: A Photographic Elegy to an American Asylum (Great Lakes Books) [Paperback]

Heidi Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2004 | ISBN-10: 0814332129 | ISBN-13: 978-0814332122

Angels in the Architecture is a photographic and historical study of one of America's last architecturally significant asylums, The former Northern Michigan Asylum, also known as the Traverse City State Hospital.

Author and professional photographer, Heidi Johnson photographed and studied the site for 3 years from 1997 - 2000. Johnson's photographs of the institution today are juxtaposed with rare images from private collections and state archives. The photographs are augmented by powerful firsthand accounts of former staff members and patients that reveal both sad realities and surprising acts of kindness.

The book takes readers on a rare tour through a nineteenth century asylum. Of particular interest is the hospital's "Building 50", a four block long structure topped with twelve castle like spires that is now on the National Registry of Historic Places

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Heidi Johnson is a professional photographer whose clients have included The Detroit Free Press, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Mastercard International Inc. and Best Buy Corporation.

She is a former Artist-in-Residence and guest Marketing Photographer at Interlochen Center for the Arts. She makes her home in Traverse City, Michigan. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Wayne State University Press (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814332129
• ISBN-13: 978-0814332122
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 10 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was an experience, October 6, 2002

By 

David M. Heldreth - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels in the Architecture: A Photographic Elegy to an American Asylum (Great Lakes Books) (Hardcover)

The somewhat haunting photographs of the interior of the asylum makes one try to imagine how life was for those souls who lived there. The beautiful architecture of those majestic buildings and well-manicured grounds is a testament to an era of compassion. There is one photograph in particular that caught my attention, on page 185 that has what appears to be a ghostly image of a man standing in the doorway of room 50. A book you can look at over and over again and see new things in the detailed photographs.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular!, April 29, 2002

By 

"topiony" (Benzonia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angels in the Architecture: A Photographic Elegy to an American Asylum (Great Lakes Books) (Hardcover)

This book should be required reading in Psych 101 classes. Photography classes as well.

The author gently uses her camera and prolific writing style to tell a story that both inspires and shocks you at the same time. There are incredible amounts of patient and staff histories both touching and surprising. The book inspires one to ponder the life of each person profiled.

One can only hope that Johnson continues along the same lines and creates another masterpiece like Angels in the Architecture.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a touching and true history..., November 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Angels in the Architecture: A Photographic Elegy to an American Asylum (Great Lakes Books) (Hardcover)

As a former employee of this hospital, I give this book my stamp of approval. It is a great history because it is told through the voice of people that were there and their stories brought memories flooding back to me. I laughed and I cried. The photographs reminded me of everything that happened at this place...good and bad. It is masterfully crafted book...the photographs are amazing...the stories are riveting and more importantly, true. I have read everything printed on the history of the former Traverse City State Hosptial and this is far and away the most informative...I thought I knew all the history but Miss Johnson revealed facts and details I never knew...the research is terrific.
I am so happy a book like this was finally published and I am honored to have it in my collection.