Committed Against Her Will: The Story of the Eau Claire Poetess Maud Phillips Also Known as Violet Leigh

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the life and times of Maud Phillips, also known as Violet Leigh, an Eau Claire poetess who came under intense scrutiny at the turn of the century for the actions she took both in her personal life and the ideas she chose to publish. Because of her actions, Maud was twice institutionalized in the Mendota Mental Health Institute. Though it was believed she was suffering from a mental illness it was actually Maud's inability to conform to the social standards set at the turn of the century that lead to her confinement which was believed to be for the benefit of both her and society.