Tuberculosis Thursday: Hobbies

In honor of January being "National Hobby Month," this Tuberculosis Thursday we're sharing this photo of Helen Ratner (and friends) working on her knitting at Trudeau Sanatorium. Many of the patients took up knitting and other hobbies as a way to pass the time while curing.

Patients could also learn knitting and many, many other arts and crafts skills at the Scholfield Memorial Workshop and the Study and Craft Guild. Many patients sold their works, and some even turned their skills into lifelong careers!

Learn more about the use of hobbies and occupational therapy in the TB industry in the virtual version of our Art of the Cure exhibit.

[Photograph of Helen Ratner and friends at Trudeau Sanatorium, c.1923. Historic Saranac Lake Collection, TCR 410. Courtesy of Mary Tim Baggott.]