The Lobotomist’s wife timeline
Walter Freeman II introduced lobotomy to the U.S. in 1936. He later refined the procedure to be performed through the eye socket (AKA the “ice pick” version) as an out-patient surgery. The Lobotomist’s Wife is inspired by his story.
The FACTS: Lobotomy and Walter Freeman II are represented in black
The FICTION: As depicted in The Lobotomist’s Wife is represented in blue
“Walter Freeman II is born
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“Graduates from medical school, second in his class”
“Nominated by his grandfather W.W. Keen, Freeman becomes director of labs at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Marries Marjorie Franklin, they have six children: Lorne (1925), twins Walter & Franklin (1927), Paul(1928), Keen (1934) and Randy (1936)
Robert Apter’s relationship with his grandfather, George Hogarth is modeled after Freeman’s relationship with Keen
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“Freeman becomes chair of Neurology department at George Washington University
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“James Watts (later Freeman’s neurosurgical partner) was impressed by a lecture Freeman gave at GWU
Robert starts working at Emeraldine Hospital
Dr. Edward Wilkinson is loosely based on Watts
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“August
Freeman and his wife travel to Europe for the Second International Neurological Congress
Ruth and Robert’s honeymoon is based on the actual conference
Freeman, there to hawk his version of a cerebral angiography, meets Dr. António Moniz (there to present)
Freeman sees Fulton & Jacobsen’s presentation on chimpanzees
November
Dr. Moniz performs his first brain surgery to treat mental illness which he calls “leucotomy”
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“ Robert reads about Moniz’ leucotomies, the hire Edward Wilkinson to be Robert’s neurosurgical partner
Robert and Edward perform their first lobotomy on Penelope Connor in October
May
Freeman reads the published results of Moniz first 20 lobotomies, corresponds with him and Moniz sends him the information for his leucotome manufacturer
September
Freeman modifies Moniz’ procedure, renames it lobotomy and, with Watts as his partner performs the first even prefrontal lobotomy in the US on Alice Hood Hammatt, a housewife from Topeka, Kansas
Freeman and Watts set and achieve a goal of performing 20 lobotomies by the end of the year
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“NY Times article praises lobotomy calling it “Surgery for the Soul”
Newspapers praise transorbital lobotomy in 1948
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“Freeman and Watts lobotomize Rosemary Kennedy at Joe Kennedy’s direction; the procedure is not a success, and she is immediately institutionalized
Robert and Edward lobotomize Rosemary Kennedy with the same results
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“Freeman begins to experiment with entering the brain through the eye socket, a technique first used by Italian doctor Amarro Fiamberti
Robert tells Ruth about an Italian doctor who is entering the brain through the eye socket
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“Performs first transorbital (“ice pick”) lobotomy in his private office in Washington D.C. on 29-year old housewife, Sally Ionesco
Robert performs his first ice pick lobotomy on Manolia Darner in his carriage house office at Magnolia Bluff
Freeman’s second youngest son, Keen, dies at 11 years old in a freak accident, while hiking with his father
Ruth walks in on Robert performing this lobotomy and he asks her to take a photo; when Robert tells Edward, they fight and break ties - Edward becomes chair of the Columbia neurology department
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“Moniz wins the Nobel prize for lobotomy, was nominated by Freeman
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“Watts walks in on Freeman performing transorbital lobotomy in his office, Freeman asks Watts to hold the ice picks so he can take a photo, Watts dissolves partnership with Freeman but they remain co-chairs of GWU neurology dept
Freeman declares at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association that transorbital lobotomy can replace prefrontal in most cases and can be used as a much earlier intervention
He travels the country teaching and performing transorbital lobotomies at state mental hospitals
Freeman lobotomizes a man, who had failed to show up for 3 lobotomy appointments, in a Bethesda, MD motel room and files an insurance claim”
“ Robert lobotomizes Sam Orenbluth in his boarding house room and files an insurance claim
Operation Ice Pick: Freeman performs 228 lobotomies over two weeks in W. Virgina for a state-sponsored lobotomy project
Robert lobotomizes 228 people in 12 days
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“Soviet Union bans lobotomy as “an antiphysiological treatment that violates the principals of humanity”
Ruth references this article at the dinner where she first confronts Robert
Ruth has Robert’s license revoked, stopping him from performing any future lobotomies
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“Thorazine introduced and the medical community shifts away from lobotomy
Freeman moves to California where he continues to perform lobotomies until 1967
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“Moniz dies at age 81
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“Helen Mortensen, long time patient of Freemans, dies of a brain hemorrhage after he performs a third transorbital lobotomy on her; he loses his license
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“Freemans travels cross-country following up with lobotomy patients
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“Freeman dies of cancer at age 76
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