Incredible, abandoned suitcases from the patients of the Willard Asylum

This is unbelievable. Photographer Jon Crispin has visited the remains of an old psychiatric hospital, formerly known as The Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane, and has discovered hundreds of old suitcases belonging to its former patients. Packed with trinkets ranging from letters to ornaments to photographs, these images tell the stories of every person who was committed to this famous psychiatric hospital back in the late 1800’s.

Although tinged with a sense of morbidity, looking through these images are actually a pretty joyous experience — perhaps due to Jon’s unbridled enthusiasm for studying the objects and bringing each story back to life. His blog, which documents in detail this extraordinary building and it’s stories is truly fascinating, and you can see it here.