Wow! This was a picture I had not run across before. This picture was taken about a year after OT was established as a formal profession. As an occupational therapist and a veteran this picture means a lot to me. Thanks for sharing such an important part of American history!

Yes, how do you suppose that poor fellow wound up with a window sash growing out of his temple.

Perhaps they look so pleased because the textile crafts rehab is working well for them. Some years ago the husband of a friend of mine had a pretty severe stroke that retired him from his high-level engineering consultancy. His wife had been a nurse, and had developed a business as an West Asian carpets broker. She put him to work repairing the fringes and bindings on old Turkish and Persian carpets, which is fairly simple but very time-consuming. It was really hard for him at first, but within a few months he had regained an impressive level of not just hand mobility but metal acuity as well, and continued to improve long after that from what had originally been assessed as incurable damage. He had that glad look too when I saw him. Every day was a good day.

It's strange to see so many men sitting doing handicrafts. I can see loom knitting, knitting, tatting (or is it bobbin lace?), and weaving. Not many men would want to be photographed doing that today. I knew a fellow from WWII who became an avid weaver after using weaving for rehab after being injured in the war in the UK.

Maybe second guy from left didn't make it back after all.